Kiyomizudera, Buddhist temple in Kato, Japan.
Kiyomizudera stands on the hillside of Mount Otowa, featuring traditional Buddhist architecture with wooden structures that showcase centuries-old construction techniques without using nails.
Founded over 1,250 years ago by a priest who discovered a sacred spring deep within Mount Otowa, the temple has served as a place of worship dedicated to Kannon for generations.
The temple serves as an important station on the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage route, where visitors offer prayers to the eleven-faced, forty-two-armed statue of Kannon, the bodhisattva of mercy and compassion.
The temple grounds provide accessible pathways for visitors to explore the historic buildings, with seasonal festivals and special evening visits offered throughout the year for enhanced spiritual experiences.
Visitors can participate in the Tainai Meguri experience, walking through a dark tunnel that symbolizes the womb of the bodhisattva, representing spiritual rebirth and meditation practices.
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