THE GIST OF THIS ARTICLE

• Page 1    Introduction, Kiyomizudera, Kinkakuji
• Page 2　Eikando, Tenjuan, Nanzenji, Eikando night illumination, Kiyojmizudera Night illumination.

The following is the contents of this article

Introduction

In this post, I’ll show you an itinerary to enjoy the autumn leaves in iconic places: Kiyomizudera, Kinkakuji, Eikando, Nanzenji, Tenjuan, and the night illumination of Eikando and Kiyomizudera.

ICONIC PLACES

たけちよ

We visit famous places and this itinerary would be behind schedule. I can’t guarantee you can visit all the places.

Kyoto sta. bus stop @ 05:31 京都駅発　5時31分

たけちよ

This itinerary begins at Kyoto sta. bus stop. In case you don’t start at Kyoto sta., be Niohmon gate of Kiyomizudera around 06:00.

At Kyoto sta. D2 bus stop (the red circles), take no. 206 for Gion via Kiyomizu-dera temple. 

シカさん

No. 206 is a loop line. There are 206s depart at A3 for the opposite direction. Don’t take them. TAKE 206 AT D2 BUS STOP.

七里ヶ浜親方

Be on time. We visit Kiyomizudera before it gets crowded with tourists.

Kiyomizu michi bus stop @ 05:43 清水道バス停　5時43分着

The nearest bus stop is Kiyomizu Michi bus stop. It takes about 20 minutes to Kiyomizu-dera.

たけちよ

Check this out.

Kyoto station to Kiyomizudera by bus: To avoid busy route

Kiyomizudera temple is the most popular destination for tourist in Kyoto. From Kyoto station, the route 206 bus is always crowded. In this post, I'll show you the other ways to avoid that busy route. 

kyotokankoyagi.com

2023.01.17

Kiyomizudera is one of the most famous places to visit in Kyoto. Actually, it is always crowded with many tourists.

We can enjoy the extraordinary autumn leaves on the iconic stage.

たけちよ

Check out the video. The renovation was finished on the day before. Enjoy them on the brand-new stage, BAAAAH!!!!!

There are many Momiji trees near the stage and we can admire them on the stage of Okuno-in.

七里ヶ浜親方

Kiyomizudera has many facilities. We are on the stage of Okuno-in around 10:00. Check the video out.

KIYOMIZUDERA temple guide: Deities, stage, renovation, mainhall, must-sees 清水寺につき英語で説明

The absolute guide of Kiyomizudera temple. Deities, stage, renovation, main hall and othre must-sees, all the things available.

kyotokankoyagi.com

2018.08.14

シカさん

There are many things to see there.

Gion bus stop @ 07:40 祇園バス停　7時40分頃

Be at Gion bus stop B around 07:40. It takes about 30 minutes from Kiyomizudera temple. Take no.12 for Kinkakuji at 07:50 (weekdays) or 07:49 (weekends and holidays).

We’ll gat to Kinkakuji michi bus stop around 08:30.

シカさん

There are 3 Gion bus stops and bus stop B is located in front of Japan Kanji Museum and Library. You’ll find this gate on the right.

Kinkakuji @ 08:45 金閣寺着　8時45分頃

There are 3 Kinkkauji michi bus stops. No. 12 arrives at the red one. The red alien is the entrance of Kinkakuji temple.

シカさん

Walk in the same direction the bus you were on goes. Turn right at the second traffic light (indicated as 金閣寺前/ Kinkakujimae) and you’ll find the entrance.

Kinkakuji opens up the gate at 09:00. In the autumn leaves seasons, we usually wait in line to enter.

たけちよ

I would takes hours to enter. I waited about 2 hours couples of years ago. Kinkakuji is a large place and it takes about 1 hour to get through to the exit. So, I planed to leave there around 11:00.

Kinkakuji temple 金閣寺

About Kinkakuji temple 金閣寺について

Kinkakuji is also a famous place to visit in Kyoto and crowded especially in the autumn leaves season. It has many faculties in a large garden.

七里ヶ浜親方

The red octopus is the entrance and the yellow one is the exit. It takes about 1 hour to reach the exit in this season.

At the red octopus, we can see the golden pavilion. Kinkakuji is designed to enjoy on boat and there are few Momijis to be enjoyed with it.

The garden under the strong influence of  is a beautiful one with many autumn leaves.

シカさん

About Kinkakuji？

Kinkakuji, the Golden Temple/Pavilion 金閣寺英語で説明

 Kinkakuji temple a.k.a. as the golden pavilion in Kyoto is one of the best place to see in Kyoto. Let us learn about what to see like the golden, dry garden, and its history.

kyotokankoyagi.com

2017.10.09

Leave Kinkakuji around 11:00 金閣寺発　11時半

Take no.12, 102, 204, or 205 for Kitaoji Bus Terminal at bus stop C.

We head for Kyoto shiyakusho-mae sta. as following:

Kiyomizudera has ramps and accessible toilets for the people with disabilities. In this post, I’ll show the way to visit it.

たけちよ

Kiyomizudera? Check them out!

KIYOMIZUDERA temple guide: Deities, stage, renovation, mainhall, must-sees 清水寺につき英語で説明

The absolute guide of Kiyomizudera temple. Deities, stage, renovation, main hall and othre must-sees, all the things available.

kyotokankoyagi.com

2018.08.14

Kiyomizudera

Absolute guide, stage, renovation, Daikoku-san, Senju Kannon, Sennichi mairi, Seiryue

kyotokankoyagi.com

七里ヶ浜親方

Visit it virtually.

In front of Nioh mon gate to Todoroki mon gate スタート地点　仁王門～轟門

七里ヶ浜親方

On taxi, we can get to the pond I’ll show you later.

This is the entrance of Kiyomizudera. The gate is Niohmon gate. Others pass through it but we turn left.

七里ヶ浜親方

Taxis are on the same way.

Find the ISA.

On the road, there are ISAs and arrows.

Go straight. Gentle hill.

We’ll reach a pond.

Make sure we’re on the way.

Climb up the gentle hill. The circle indicates an accessible restroom.

シカさん

Taxis reach there.

We’ll find this gate. This is Todorokimon gate. On wheelchair, we enter the temple through the gate indicated with the circle.

Before entering, buy tickets at the ticket booth.

Early in the morning, I guess before 8:00, we buy tickets at Todorokimon gate.

The main hall 御本堂

There are many ramps inside of the temple. The statue is Daikkuten and we can be in front of him.

シカさん

Sometimes, he is not located there. Don’t worry, we can find him somewhere in the main hall.

The circle indicates the stage. To our regret, there are no ramps to reach there.

たけちよ

Don’t worry, ASK FOR HELP.

七里ヶ浜親方

The view from the stage.

We leave the main hall.

Okuno-in to Niohmon gate 奥の院～仁王門

Go straight ahead and turn right. There is Jishu shrine behind us but it is closed due to a renovation.

In front of Amida-do there is a ramp to the stage of Okuno-in.

Okunoin also has a stage and we can have an iconic view of the main hall there.

We leave Okuno-in.

Climb up the gentle hill with cobblestones and look back to the main hall.

お福さん

Quite a view, isn’t it?

Climb down the steep hill and turn right.

Just go straight ahead.

The accessible restroom.

Turn left.

The foot of the stage.

We’ll reach a pond and turn left.

We’ll find Niohmon gate again.

Taxi and your car タクシー・自家用車の場合

七里ヶ浜親方

On your car, go to Kiyomizudera by way of Chawan Zaka. On a taxi, just ask the driver you visit the temple on wheelchair.

At Gojozaka crossing.

After Gojozaka, you’ll find a crosswalk without a signal. Turn right at the crossing and go straight. You’ll reach a gate. You can make an extension call there. After the call, the temple will open up the gate.

Seiryue, or “The ritual of the blue dragon,” is a mobile ritual held in Kiyomizu-dera temple. The temple enshrines Senju Kannon. She is well known as the shape-shifting Deity of mercy. In Kiyomizu-dera, she transforms into a blue dragon. Take a look at the picture above. Over the roof of the temple, there is a beam of blue light. It stands for the dragon.

In the ritual, the dragon and monks stroll around in the temple and its neighborhood to bring it good fortunes.

シカさん

We can enjoy it spring and fall.

七里ヶ浜親方

Make sure what it is.

Starring　行列の順番

The parade

As described before, Seiryue is a mobile ritual. It looks like a parade. Participants stroll around Kiyomizu-dera temple and its neighborhood. In this chapter, let us see who they are.

The blue dragon 青龍

Previously introduced, Senju Kannon of Kiyomizu-dera temple becomes a dragon. It is believed that she leaves the main hall and visit Otowano Taki fall to drink water. The fall is located in the temple.

Heiankyo (the ancient name of Kyoto) is constructed in “Shijin Soh Oh” philosophy. In this, the Four Sacred animal saves a city. They stays in north, south, east, and west of it. Kiyomizu-dera is in the east of Kyoto and a dragon saves it there. I suppose this is one of the reasons people saw Seinju Kannon as a dragon in Kiyomizu-dera.

In Seiryue, She appears as a 60′ paper dragon.

会奉行（えぶぎょう）

He is a chief of Seirue. He holds a stick which has a dragon head.

Tenpoh shu 転法衆

They plays sea-shell instrument called “Hora-gai” and lead the parade.

Shiten noh 四天王

Shiten noh are the four Deities who guards Buddhism. In this ritual, they are guardians of the dragon.

Juroku zenshin 十六善神

They are the 12 guardians of the Mahaprajnaparamita Sutra. They stroll around saying, “Namu Kanzeon Bosatsu (We believe in Kannnon).”

Yasha shin 夜叉神

They also are the guardians of Buddhism. He is enshrined in a small temple belongs to Okuno in temple in Kiyomizu-dera.

In Seiryue, he transforms into two ladies. They splash “Hako Kudoku Sui” water over us with sticks to give us good fortune.

The parade

3 must-sees

Seirue consists of 3 must-sees. Let see us what they are.

#1 Hakko Kudokusui no Gi at Okunoin temple　八功徳水の儀於奥の院

In Okunoin temple, Kannon is enshrined as in the main hall of Kiyomizu-dera temple. In Hakko Kudokusui no Gi, she gives Yasha Shin Hakko Kudoku Sui water. It is the sacred water found in Fudaraku Jodo paradise Kannon rules. Yasha Shin give us good fortune for us as described before.

After the ritual, the parade heads for Saimon Gate by way of Otowano Taki and Kyodo temple.

#２ Seiryu no Mai dance at Sai Mon bridege 青龍の舞於西門

Saimon used to be the main gate of Kiyomizu-dera temple. In Seiryue, the parade walk through it. In front of the gate, the dragon performs “The dragon dance.”

After it, it goes to it to a couple of shops in the neighborhood to give them good fortunes.

シカさん

This is the most exciting thing in Seirye. Have splashes of Hakko Kudoku Sui water!

#3 Rakkei no Gi　落慶の儀

After that, the parade goes back to Okunoin by way of the main hall. Yasha Shin give back Hakko Kudoku Sui water to Kannnon to complete Seiryue.

About Kiyomizu-dera temple 清水寺の基本情報

How to get to Kiyomizu-dera temple? 清水寺へのアクセス

About 15 minutes walk from Gojo Zaka or Kiyomizu michi bus stops.

Kyoto station to Kiyomizudera by bus: To avoid busy route

Kiyomizudera temple is the most popular destination for tourist in Kyoto. From Kyoto station, the route 206 bus is always crowded. In this post, I'll show you the other ways to avoid that busy route. 

kyotokankoyagi.com

2023.01.17

Sennichi Mairi in the Nainaijin hall 千日詣り本堂内々陣特別拝観

Nainaijin is a forbidden area in the main hall. Kiyomizudera let us visit there for a week every year.

たけちよ

Jisyu shrine in Kiyomizudera is still under renovation.

Night illumination

In the days of the night illumination, we can visit Nainaijin at night.

What is Sennnichi Mairi? 千日詣りとは？

Sennnichi Mairi is a way to visit Shito shrines and Buddhist temples to make our important wish come true. With strong desire, we visit a shrines or temple to pray 1,000 times.

The one Kiyomizu-dera temple offers is a special and abbreviated one: We visit the temple on a day in Obon season and our visit and pray is considered as 1,000 ones.

たけちよ

On 8/14, 15 and 16, special night visits are available.

七里ヶ浜親方

The renovation? Don’t you worry, finished.

Kiyomizu-dera renovation finished in 2020

Kiyomizudera consists of about 15 buildings and some of them were renovated in the name of "Heisei no Daikaisyu 2008-2020(Reconstruction in Heisei period). "

kyotokankoyagi.com

2019.03.06

Goriyaku of Sennichi Mairi 千日詣りのご利益

Kiyomizu dera enshrinesJuichimen Senju Kannon 「十一面千手観音菩薩像」. He has Goriyaku (good fortune)  for our health, love affair, and easy delivery.

シカさん

Lots of guide books don’t refer to easy delivery. But Kiyomizu-dera is known as Goriyaku for that. For example, in Kiyomizu-dera Sankei Mandara (In Japanese) , we can find a married couple pray on the stage.

In Nainaijin 内々陣から参拝可能

In the Senninchi Mairi of Kiyomizu-dera, we can be in the Nainaijin. Nainaijin is the most important place in Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples because Deities are enshrined there. Usually, especially in Shinto shrine, Nainaijin is so sacred that we cannot be there.

お福さん

Take a look at this. The white line is a floor of the Nainaijin. The black one is a floor of Naijin. They consists of Seido. The blue one is a floor of Raido. We can be Raido but cannot be Seido because of its sacredness.

シカさん

The led line is a corridor and the green one is the stage. A is Jishu shrine.

The Deities of Kiyomizu-dera 須弥壇上の御本尊

Kiyomizu-dera enshrines Juichimen Senju Kannon 「十一面千手観音菩薩像」as Gohonzon, the most important Deity. It also enshrines Shoteki Bishamonten 「勝敵毘沙門天像」and Gunsyo Jizo Bosatsu 「勝軍地蔵菩薩像」.

There is a story on these Deities. Sakanoue no Tamuramaro, the founder of Kiyomizu-dera, was in the middle of the toughest battle against Ezo, the ancient ethnic group in the Tohoku region. Tamuramaro asked help for Juichimen Senju Kannon of Kiyomizu-dera. A monk Shoteki Bishamonten and Gunsyo Jizo Bosatsu on behalf of him.

In Nainaijin, there are three Zushi ( housing looks Mikoshi) . They are enshrined there.

In front of the one located in center, we can find replica of the statue of Juichimen Senju Kannon. The authentic one is in the Zushi.

There are no statues of the other Deities. Don’t worry. In the beam of the Raido, there are three disks called Mishotai. We can see the three Deities on them.

シカさん

Between Zushis, there are lots of the statues. They are Niju Hachibushu gardians.

The way of Sennichi Mairi 千日詣りの仕方

Usually, we enter Nainaijin with shoes off. Behind Zushi, we offer Tomyo Candle for the Deities. After that, we pray in front of them.

七里ヶ浜親方

At night, Kiyojmizu-dera is so amazing. Enjoy it with Aomomiji.

About Kiyomizu-dera 清水寺基本情報

Access to Kiyomizu-dera 清水寺へのアクセス

The nearest bus stop is Kiyomizu Michi bus stop. It takes about 20 minutes to Kiyomizu-dera.

THE GIST OF THIS ARTICLE

• Page 1 Intorduction, a short history of the stage
• Page 2 The construction of tha stage, Tobiochi Gankake
• Page 3 About Kiyomizudera, access, and bibliography

The following is the contents of this article.

Introduction 概要

　いちきしま　ひめ

This site and article don’t recommend outing though the state of emergency was lifted. Make your decision with extreme care.

The information of shrines and temples are subject to be changed.

This site is not responsible for any disadvantages you have at all.

たけちよ

Kiyomizu dera had been under renovation for years. Check the link!!!

Kiyomizu-dera renovation finished in 2020

Kiyomizudera consists of about 15 buildings and some of them were renovated in the name of "Heisei no Daikaisyu 2008-2020(Reconstruction in Heisei period). "

kyotokankoyagi.com

2019.03.06

A short history of the stage 清水の舞台の歴史

Why stage? なぜ舞台と呼ばれるのか

See the photo. It is the iconic stage of Kiyomizudera temple. It is a place where performances to be practiced for Kannon, the Deity enshrined in the main hall. Between the stage, there are 2 places with an independent roof. They are called Noh dai where musicians to be placed.

The line indicated with white is a floor of Nainaijin, the most important place where Kannnon and other Deities are enshrined. We can’t be there usually except Sennnichi Mairi in August. The black line is a floor of Naijin. Nainaijin and Naijin consists of the Seido in the main hall and are on the edge of the cliff.

The blue line is a floor of the Raido. We can be there usually with shoes off. We can have a good view of the Omaedachi statue of Kannon. The authentic statue is enshrined in the Zushi (looks like a Mikoshi) and open to us every 33 years.

The red one is a corridor and the green one is the stage.

When the stage constructed? 舞台はいつつくられたか

Kiyomizudera was founded in the 8th century. A monk called Enchin (延鎮) make a figurine of Kannnon with a holy wood and enshrined it in a small hut on the cliff. By the end of the 9th century, the hut became a temple.

Like many temples in Kyoto, Kiyomizudera lost its documents due to fire and we can’t tell when the stage was constructed exactly. The oldest record is Naricmichikyo Kuden Nikki (『成通卿口伝日記』), a memoir of an aristocrat in the 12 the century. He was a Kemari master and boasted that his Kemari ball juggling on the fence of the stage.

In addition to it, other famous books in the century refer to the stage. For example,  Gikeiki (『義経紀』) , the story of Minamoto no Yoshitsune, one of the most popular historical figures, put it that he met Benkei at the stage.

On the other hand, Makura no Soshi (『枕草子』), the compilation of stories written by Seisho Nagaon says nothing about the stage.

七里ヶ浜親方

Makura no Soshi was finished in 1002. At least, Kiyomizudera developed a stage between the 11th and 12th century. But I can’t guarantee the stage was the same in size and construction.

In Honen Shonin Eden (『法然上人絵伝』) in the 14 th century, the Emaki describes the life of Honen Shonin, the founder of Jodo school, tells us the way he held a ritual. The Emaki shows us that the ritual carried on on the stage of the main hall though it took place on the stage of Okunoin.

シカさん

I’m sure the stage was iconic at least in the 14th century.

Kiyomizudera Sankei Mandala (『清水寺参詣曼荼羅』) in the 16th century narrates the renovation of Kiyojmizudera after Onin no Ran, the largest civil war in Japanese history. Its a picture of Kiyomizudera and its neighborhood. They are put in a sheet of paper and they are not described exactly but the the main hall, the stage, and other buildings resemble the ones we can see today.

The stage we can see today was constructed with a huge donation of Tokugawa Iemitsu, the 3rd Shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate.