Kiyomizu Temple

Last weekend I went to Kiyomizu Temple with a friend. It's a fairly famous temple (like half the temples in Kyoto) that is best known for it's large veranda and a waterfall nearby.



You can buy these wooden plaques around the temple and write your wishes on them. I think certain areas/temples are for certain types of wishes, such as for marriages, newborn babies, or tests. Sometimes people write very interesting things on these.



This is the entrance to the temple grounds. Unlike many temples, this one doesn't seem to be walled off. I'm not sure if it's because of expansion around it or the nearby mountain behind it, but it's fairly open compared to most temples I've been to.



A view from near the top of Kiyomizu Temple. It's up a big hill (or little mountain) and has, in theory, a good view of the city. The day I was there it was pretty hazy. I'm told this is because strong winds picked up sand in a desert in China and blew them across the ocean to Japan. The next day, after a little rain, my car was really dirty and covered in sand.



The veranda is probably one of the most notable parts of the Temple.



These are cherry blossoms on a tree down the street from Kiyomizu. It's a little early for cherry blossoms here and unfortunately I didn't get to see many while I was there. I may yet go back sometime when there are more of them.