清水寺, Buddhist temple in Higashiyama, Kyoto, Japan
Kiyomizu-dera is a Buddhist temple on Mount Otowa featuring a wooden stage that extends about 13 meters above the hillside. The complex spreads across different levels and contains several buildings, halls, and the Jishu Shrine with views over eastern Kyoto.
The temple was founded in 778 after the priest Enchin Shonin discovered the Otowa spring. Most of the structures visible today were rebuilt in the 1600s during the Tokugawa period.
The Jishu Shrine within the temple lets visitors walk between two stones with their eyes closed to test their romantic fortune. This ritual draws many people who come to seek guidance about love.
Access involves walking up stairs and paved paths that can be steep, so good footwear is recommended. Expect crowds, particularly during cherry blossom and autumn foliage seasons.
The Otowa waterfall has three separate streams, each offering different benefits: longevity, academic success, or fortune in love. Visitors are advised to drink from only one, as taking from all three is considered greedy.
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