Kiyomizu-dera, Buddhist temple in Higashiyama, Kyoto, Japan
The temple features a large wooden stage extending from the hillside, supported by 168 pillars and constructed entirely without nails using traditional Japanese carpentry techniques.
Founded in 778 AD by the monk Enchin, the temple was later supported by military leader Sakanoue no Tamuramaro, who donated his residence to establish the main hall.
The temple houses a statue of Kannon with eleven faces and forty-two arms, representing mercy and compassion, which has been venerated by worshippers for over twelve centuries.
The temple opens daily from 6:00 to 18:00, charges an entrance fee of 500 yen, and provides wheelchair access throughout the grounds for visitors with mobility needs.
During the Edo period, people jumped from the 13-meter high wooden stage believing survival would grant their wishes, a practice that was officially banned in 1872.
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