Otowa-san Kiyomizu-dera Temple
Founded in 778, Kiyomizu-dera Temple was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994. Its 130,000-square-meter (about 1.4-million-square-foot) grounds extend across the slopes of Mt. Otowa and contain more than 30 temple buildings and monuments, including National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties. The temple is also worth seeing throughout the seasons, framed by cherry blossoms in spring, lush greenery in summer, colorful leaves in autumn, and snow in winter.
The view from the stage is super open and wide—on a clear day, every shot looks great.
The old streets around it are really fun to wander, but the crowds are no joke. If you want photos without people, be prepared.
Still, it’s absolutely worth visiting at least once.


