When our bus arrived at Kiyomizumichi bus stop, it was already afternoon (about 16.30). I had a good nap during the bus trip hehe... Too bad, we had to walk uphill for about 15 minutes to the temple and I wanted to pee... Arggh! (We heard that we could take another bus uphill but the traffic was very bad; so bad that walking was faster than any vehicles.) When we found the public restroom, it was so crowded with Chinese tourists. You know what happened when Chinese tourists flooded a restroom. Yep. One of most disgusting place in earth. Urrggh...
Never mind, I decided to delete the scene from my memory. We headed to the temple, but wait! Why the entry was closed? We saw some tourists from inside the temple were ushered out while some that wanted to get in were rejected politely (there were some adamant tourists trying to trespass so they got a harsher warning). It turned out that during sakura season, the temple would be illuminated so the temple was closed earlier to be reopened later at 6 PM (we asked an officer in mixed-Japanese-and-wild-guesses-languages). The ticket at noon costs JPY 300 (like usual) and JPY 400 at night. The temple usually closed at 6 PM, but in illumination period (3 times a year at spring, summer, and autumn) it's closed later.
We shopped for some souvenirs while we waited for about an hour then joined the queue. At exactly 6 PM, the entrance was opened. We bought tickets (honestly, the officers wouldn't know if we didn't buy one; it was so crowded!) and got in.
The place was huuuuge! Kiyomizudera was initially built in 8th century and burnt down several times. Current buildings were built during the reign of third Tokugawa shogun, Iemitsu (what a cool person, he rebuilt many of Kyoto's heritage sites). Its name literally means pure water temple; derived from the waterfall on the site which was named Otowa waterfall. Its water is divided to three streams and people could drink from them. It was said that each stream could give long life, success in study, and fortunate love life, separately. However, people were discouraged from drinking water from all three streams. Kemaruk amat cyiiin? We didn't drink from it though. What for? We already finished our study, found the love of our lives (and were expecting a baby from it), and longevity only came from God. *tsaaahhh*
Kiyomizudera also most widely known from its large wooden stage which juts out of the main hall (Hondo). There was not a single nail used to make the whole structure! Crazy, huh! It stands 13 meter above the hillside and provides good view to sakura and maple trees below and city view in the distance.
Like I said, crazyyyy! (In a good and funny way)
It was a shame that many buildings were in reconstruction; it didn't affect our visit much but kinda ruined the atmosphere *halah*. We followed the path with the crowds, took some pics, enjoyed the illuminated sakura. We couldn't see the buildings very clearly because of the dusk (most of the buildings only had minimum lighting; I think it's because they usually already closed at 6 PM). In overall, the temple was quite nice but not my fave place to be since I was a bit agoraphobic during my pregnancy. I saw Kiyomizudera a lot in mangas and doramas; I should have known that it wasn't that serene in reality, LOL. The illumination was beautiful, though.
When we got out of the temple, it was already 19.00 and we were hungry. Most of the shops at the road to Kiyomizudera was already closed. We entered one restaurant that was still open. The waitress, as usual, was very kind although she had to try hard just to ask us if we wanted hot or cold drink hahaha... The food was not good, we didn't even keep its pics.
We hopped on a bus to go home but on the way there I asked my hubby to drop by at Hirano Shrine near our rented house. Previous days we passed by and saw that the shrine was holding a sakura matsuri and I was very interested. I knew there wouldn't be any chance to go there since we would go to Yoshinoyama at the next day. We arrived at Hirano shrine at 21.00. Thankfully the shrine was still opened!
Never mind, I decided to delete the scene from my memory. We headed to the temple, but wait! Why the entry was closed? We saw some tourists from inside the temple were ushered out while some that wanted to get in were rejected politely (there were some adamant tourists trying to trespass so they got a harsher warning). It turned out that during sakura season, the temple would be illuminated so the temple was closed earlier to be reopened later at 6 PM (we asked an officer in mixed-Japanese-and-wild-guesses-languages). The ticket at noon costs JPY 300 (like usual) and JPY 400 at night. The temple usually closed at 6 PM, but in illumination period (3 times a year at spring, summer, and autumn) it's closed later.
We shopped for some souvenirs while we waited for about an hour then joined the queue. At exactly 6 PM, the entrance was opened. We bought tickets (honestly, the officers wouldn't know if we didn't buy one; it was so crowded!) and got in.
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| After shopped for souvenirs, we waited at the stair and took some pics of surrounded area |
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| The map from Kiyomizudera official website |
The place was huuuuge! Kiyomizudera was initially built in 8th century and burnt down several times. Current buildings were built during the reign of third Tokugawa shogun, Iemitsu (what a cool person, he rebuilt many of Kyoto's heritage sites). Its name literally means pure water temple; derived from the waterfall on the site which was named Otowa waterfall. Its water is divided to three streams and people could drink from them. It was said that each stream could give long life, success in study, and fortunate love life, separately. However, people were discouraged from drinking water from all three streams. Kemaruk amat cyiiin? We didn't drink from it though. What for? We already finished our study, found the love of our lives (and were expecting a baby from it), and longevity only came from God. *tsaaahhh*
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| People drinking pure water from Otowa waterfall |
Kiyomizudera also most widely known from its large wooden stage which juts out of the main hall (Hondo). There was not a single nail used to make the whole structure! Crazy, huh! It stands 13 meter above the hillside and provides good view to sakura and maple trees below and city view in the distance.
From wikipedia:
The popular expression "to jump off the stage at Kiyomizu" is the Japanese equivalent of the English expression "to take the plunge". This refers to an Edo period tradition that held that, if one were to survive a 13m jump from the stage, one's wish would be granted. Two hundred thirty-four jumps were recorded in the Edo period and, of those, 85.4% survived. The practice is now prohibited.
Like I said, crazyyyy! (In a good and funny way)
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| The view of Hondo and its wooden stage. Don't be fooled, it was very crowded! |
It was a shame that many buildings were in reconstruction; it didn't affect our visit much but kinda ruined the atmosphere *halah*. We followed the path with the crowds, took some pics, enjoyed the illuminated sakura. We couldn't see the buildings very clearly because of the dusk (most of the buildings only had minimum lighting; I think it's because they usually already closed at 6 PM). In overall, the temple was quite nice but not my fave place to be since I was a bit agoraphobic during my pregnancy. I saw Kiyomizudera a lot in mangas and doramas; I should have known that it wasn't that serene in reality, LOL. The illumination was beautiful, though.
We hopped on a bus to go home but on the way there I asked my hubby to drop by at Hirano Shrine near our rented house. Previous days we passed by and saw that the shrine was holding a sakura matsuri and I was very interested. I knew there wouldn't be any chance to go there since we would go to Yoshinoyama at the next day. We arrived at Hirano shrine at 21.00. Thankfully the shrine was still opened!
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| Sakura garden with pretty lanterns |
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| Ada yang nampang |
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| Food stalls |
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| Food stalls and people picnicking |
We had fun getting around the shrine with its illuminated sakura garden and joyous festival. The stalls sold many interesting food and snacks like yakitori, large (really large!) sugar-coated strawberries, and even yakiniku and shabu-shabu! The people were being festive in a polite manner; nobody got drunk and shouted or even talk too loud. Now I know how a Japanese festival feels; so much fun! I don't know what time the shrine was closed. When we left, there were still so many people there!
That ended our trip in Kyoto. As I mentioned earlier, we went to Yoshinoyama at the next day. Having had a tiring day, we went to bed ASAP.
PS:
Next time going to Kyoto, my to-do list is:
1. Amanohashidate's sandbar (one of Japan's 3 Most Scenic View).
2. See illuminated Randen sakura tunnel and kimono forest at night.
3. Imperial Palace, Heian Jingu, Nijo Castle.
4. Hanami at nakaragi no michi along Kamogawa and Yoshinoyama (during mankai / full blossoms) and shirakawa canal at Gion.
5. Trying more of their food! Eg: Kaniryouri FuguRyouri Kameya Nishiten (yep I really really wanna try puffer fish).
6. Nara.
7. Perhaps Sanjusangendo and Kozenji, if there's enough time.
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