Neighbourhood in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto
Kiyomizu and Sannenzaka
清水
Kyoto's most visited temple on its hillside stage, reached by stone-paved lanes of old wooden shops and the Yasaka Pagoda.
- places to see
- 12
- walk past the highlights
- 1.8 km
- Kyoto
- Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto
Kiyomizu-dera stands on the slopes of Mount Otowa and is part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto World Heritage Site. Its wooden stage juts out over the valley, and the Japanese saying "to jump off the stage at Kiyomizu" means to take the plunge. Below the main hall, visitors drink from the Otowa waterfall.
The way up is half the visit. Sannenzaka is a stone-paved slope lined with around 60 shops and restaurants, and continues into Ninenzaka. In 1972 this was the first area in Kyoto chosen as a historic preservation district. Walk down past the Yasaka Pagoda to reach Gion. More of the ward is in our Higashiyama guide.
Don't miss in Kiyomizu and Sannenzaka
Start with these, then wander the side streets.
1. Kiyomizu-dera Temple
清水寺The great hillside temple with its wooden stage over the valley. Arrive early to beat the crowds.
2. Sannenzaka
産寧坂Stone-paved slope of old wooden shops leading up to the temple. Watch your step on the stairs.
3. Ninenzaka
二寧坂The quieter lower lane, with teahouses in old townhouses.
4. Yasaka Pagoda (Hokan-ji)
法観寺The five-storey Yasaka Pagoda above the lanes, best seen from the slope of Yasaka-dori.
5. Rokuharamitsu-ji Temple
六波羅蜜寺Older, quieter temple to the west with a treasure house of Kamakura-period statues.
Walk Kiyomizu and Sannenzaka in order
The highlights as one easy walk, about 1.8 km in all.
Stop 1
Kiyomizu-dera Temple
Start here
Stop 2
Sannenzaka
7 min walk
Stop 3
Ninenzaka
4 min walk
Stop 4
Yasaka Pagoda (Hokan-ji)
2 min walk
Stop 5
Rokuharamitsu-ji Temple
10 min walk
More around Kiyomizu and Sannenzaka
Other places within walking distance. Each shows its Japanese name for maps and taxis.
Kodai-ji Temple
高台寺Temple founded by Nene, the wife of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, with gardens and a small bamboo grove. Lit up at night in some seasons.
Higashiyama Ryozen Castle
東山霊山城A castle in Kyoto, Japan.
Otani Hombyo
大谷本廟A historic site in Kyoto, Japan.
Yasui Konpiragu Shrine
安井金比羅宮Small shrine near Gion known for cutting bad ties: visitors crawl through a hole in a stone covered in paper charms.
Wakamiya Hachimangu
若宮八幡宮社A Shinto shrine in Kyoto, Japan.
Mishima Shrine
三嶋神社A Shinto shrine in Kyoto, Japan.
Otani Sobyo
大谷祖廟A historic site in Kyoto, Japan.
Kiyomizu and Sannenzaka on the map
Every place on this page. Tap a pin for directions.
Questions
How long do I need for Kiyomizu-dera and Sannenzaka?
Allow two to three hours to see the temple and walk the lanes, more if you stop at teahouses.
How do I get to Kiyomizu-dera?
Take a city bus to Gojo-zaka or Kiyomizu-michi and walk uphill about 10 minutes, or walk 20 to 25 minutes from Gion-Shijo Station.
Sources
We checked the facts on this page against these sources.
More areas in Kyoto
- GionKyoto's best-known geisha district, with wooden teahouses along Hanamikoji, the Shirakawa canal and Yasaka Shrine at the top of Shijo-dori.
- PontochoA narrow lantern-lit alley of restaurants and teahouses beside the Kamo River, a few minutes from Nishiki Market and the Teramachi arcades.
- OkazakiKyoto's cultural quarter around Heian Shrine's giant torii, with art museums, the zoo, villa gardens and the great Zen temple of Nanzen-ji.
- Fushimi InariThe head shrine of Inari at the foot of a sacred mountain, with thousands of red torii gates forming tunnels up the trails.
- ArashiyamaKyoto's western edge, where the bamboo grove, Tenryu-ji temple and the Togetsukyo Bridge sit below forested hills along the river.
