Kiyomizu-dera, Buddhist temple in Yasugi, Japan.
Kiyomizu-dera is a Buddhist temple in Yasugi with a main hall, three-story pagoda, and several buildings spread across mountain slopes surrounded by dense forest. The complex makes clever use of the natural hillside, with structures positioned at different elevations to create a unified layout that flows with the terrain.
The temple was established in 587 during the Asuka period and suffered damage in the Battle of Amago-Mori before being restored during the Edo period. This restoration preserved its religious function through a time of political upheaval in the region.
The temple has maintained a sacred flame for more than 1400 years and serves as the 28th station on the Chugoku Kannon pilgrimage route, giving visitors a sense of its spiritual importance. The daily practice of keeping this flame alive shows how the place continues to shape the religious life of the region today.
You can join sutra copying and meditation sessions from April to November, with instructors available during morning and afternoon hours. Arriving early gives you a chance to avoid crowds and experience the place in its quieter moments.
The three-story pagoda was built in the late Edo period and is the only structure of its kind in the San'in region. This rare architectural feature makes the temple a notable example of local building traditions from that era.
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