Kiyomizu-dera

Kiyomizu-dera - 'dera' means temple in Japanese - is a Japanese temple which is located in eastern Kyoto and was established in 778, though present buildings are reconstructed ones completed in 1633. The main attraction of Kiyomizu-dera is its large veranda that protrudes out over the skirt of the hill and offers impressive views of Kyoto city. The name Kiyomizu means pure(kiyo) water( mizu) or clear(kiyo) water(mizu) and the origin of the naming is a waterfall within the site.

By the way, there is a famous Japanese idiom that relates with Kiyomizu-dera - do it as if you jump off the stage of Kiyomizu. This idiom is, need less to say, refers its large veranda that is seen in the photo above. For your information, its Japanese pronunciation is as follows - Kiyomizu no butai kara tobiorita tsumori de yare -. The last word 'yare' means 'do' or 'do it'. So if you want someone to do something, you substitute the verb for 'yare', translating into Japanese.

The veranda is as high as about 60 feet from bottom of the hill, and the height of the veranda itself from its basement is about 40 feet. The major part of Kyoto city can be outlooked from it. However, contrary to the meaning of above- mentioned Japanese idiom, diving from those heights cannot necessarily be fatal. In fact, although quite a few people committed suicides by diving from the veranda, about 85% of those survived, according to historical documents.

Above illustration is a panoramic view of Kiyomizu-dera. As you can see, there are many structures in the site. As for means of transportation to the site, it is located in the middle point between JR(Japan Railway) Kyoto station and Hankyu Kawaramachi station. Regardless of which station you chose, you can get on a bus from those railroad station. However, Japanese bus routes are so complicated that even Japanese people can get on a wrong bus. So I recommend walking to there.