Kiyomizu-dera Temple | The Best Time To Visit in 2024

The best time to visit Kiyomizu-dera Temple is during the spring and fall seasons. In the spring, the cherry blossoms are in bloom, and the temple grounds are awash in color. In the fall, the leaves change color, creating a stunning display.

However, the best seasons are also the busiest times of year. It’s great to plan ahead and avoid the crowds, you can have a much more enjoyable time at Kiyomizu-dera Temple.
Here is a more detailed breakdown of the best time to visit Kiyomizu-dera Temple and How to avoid crowds

・To fully appreciate the breathtaking beauty and rich history of Kiyomizu-dera Temple, a guided tour is highly recommended. Book your one-day tour through the link below.

Best Tour

Fushimi Inari-Taisha, Arashiyama, Kiyomizu-Dera Day Tour from Kyoto

What is Kiyomizudera temple

Kiyomizu-dera Temple, a famous Buddhist temple located in Kyoto’s eastern Higashiyama district, was founded by the monk Enchin. Inspired by the pure water cascading from Mount Otowa, he envisioned this place of worship. In 798, Japanese military leader Sakanoue no Tamuramaro oversaw the construction of the temple’s main hall.

The buildings are also steeped in history. For example, the wooden stage that stand out from the main hall and the Otowa Waterfall, which is said to have three different benefits. Another unique feature is the syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism architecture found throughout the temple.
At the entrance, there are the Buddhist Niomon Gate, which is guarded by two guardian kings, and the Shinto komainu, or lion-dog statues. There is also a Jinshu Shrine, sub-shrine of Kiyomizu-dera Temple.

Best seasons

Autumn Season(Middle to Late November)

Kiyomizu-dera is the most famous spot to see autumn leaves in Kyoto. There are over 1000 Japanese maple trees on the hillside and around the wooden stage. Although there are many gardens where maple trees grow, mainly maple trees in Kiyomizu-dera garden are only one species, which is Japanese maple tree, whose leaves change color at the same time. In the fall season, these trees turn a gradient fire color from yellow to red, and the view is breathtakingly beautiful.

Generally, most of the maple tree leaves start changing color from the middle to late fall season. In 2023, the peak time of fall leaves of most Japanese maple trees in Kiyomizu-dera was from the 3rd week to the 4th week of November. I think that changes will occur around the same time in this 2024. azaleas, which are shrubs planted along the walking path, were also beginning to turn red color. If you want to decide on the date to visit in fall foliage, this forecast site can help.

Fall Foliage Forecast Site

If you visit Kiyomizu-dera after the peak of the maple leaf season, I recommend admiring the lighthouse azaleas along the strolling path. These plants retain their fall colors for a long time, and you can enjoy their bright red and orange leaves.

If you visit before the maple leaves turn, the cherry blossom leaves that grow in Kiyomizu-dera will turn earlier. In addition, Maruyama Park has cherry trees that change color 2weeks earlier than maple trees. It’s a 15-minute walk away from Kiyomizu-dera Temple.

Spring Season(Late March to Early April)

The spring is also good season to visit Kiyomizu-dera Temple.“Somei-Yoshino“ cherry trees, which most familiar cherry blossom attract tourists. All Somei-Yoshino trees produce pale pink 5-petals flowers at the same time, because of identical gene, propagated by grafting onto other stick. During the cherry blossom season, Kiyomizu-dera Temple also offers special night viewing. The sight of the cherry blossoms in full bloom, illuminated by lights, is simply breathtaking and beyond words.

Although cherry blossoms views with Kiyomizu-dera Temple are stunning, it is short bloom time around 7 – 10 days.

If you want to decide on the date to visit, cherry blossom forecast site can help.

Cherry Blossom Forecast Site

There are long wisteria garden arches in front of Kiyomizu-dera gate. Typically one month after cherry tree bloomed, Japanese wisteria make beautiful lavender lace flowers, one of the Kiyomizu-dera beautiful spots. Those arches are also used for shady resting place. 
Japanese azalea, planted beside the strolling path for Japanese garden shrubs, also make cute pink and white flowers at the same time.

if you visit before blooming period of Somei-yoshino, there are early blooming cherry blossom in Kyoto area. I recommend to see weeping cherry blossoms in Maruyama Park and Honmanji Temple bloom a week earlier than Somei-yoshino.

Special Night Viewing Event

Kiyomizu-dera Temple holds a special night viewing event for a short period of time every spring, summer, and autumn, which is very popular.

The main building, the wooden stage, the three-storied pagoda, and the Niomon Gate are all lit up. In addition, the seasonal trees are also illuminated, creating a magical scene with cherry blossoms in full bloom in spring and red leaves in autumn. And above all, a single beam of blue light, symbolizing the compassion of Kannon, is cast into the Kyoto night sky.

For more information, please see the related post.

Best time of the day to visit

The shopping streets leading to Kiyomizu-dera temple are crowded with many tourists in the spring and fall.

How to avoid crowd

• Visit the temple around 8:00 a.m.
  There are few people around at this time. In addition, you can enjoy local flavors at Sannenzaka Street and Ninenzaka Street, where shops open around 9:00 a.m. If you want a special experience, I recommend visiting early in the morning. The temple gates open at 6:00 a.m., so you can enjoy a peaceful time at Kiyomizu-dera while watching the sunrise.
  
• Avoid weekends and holidays.
  Kiyomizu-dera is also popular among Japanese people, and it gets crowded with domestic tourists on weekends and holidays.
  
• Taking the train and walking
  Kyoto’s roads are jammed with tourists during the high season (March, April, November and December). If you want to get to the temple on time, I recommend taking the train and walking instead of taking a bus or taxi.
  It’s a 20-minute walk from the nearest station: Keihan Line “Kiyomizu-Gojo” Station to Kiyomizu-dera Temple.
  
• Two routes
  If you go to Kiyomizu Temple from the nearest station, Kiyomizu-Gojo Station, there are two routes: “Gojo Street” and “Sannenzaka Street“. Gojo Street is less crowded. On the other hand, the Sannenzaka Street route has become a tourist spot where you can see the five-story pagoda of Hokan-ji on the way to the temple.
  
• Using buses and taxis in the off-season
  When it’s not high season, the bus is also a convenient way to get to the temple on time. It’s an 11-minute walk from the nearest bus stop: Kiyomizu michi to Kiyomizu-dera Temple.
  
• Book a tour guide
  Local tour guides would know more about less crowded paths and times. One-day tours covering various parts of Kyoto are popular among tourists as they offer a deeper understanding of Kiyomizu-dera Temple and other spots.
  

Information

①Kiyomizu-dera temple

Open hours

※Temple is closed during after day time and before night time(5:30p.m. – 6:30p.m.)


Admission

※Children are under 15 years of age.

②Jojuin temple

Open hours

Admission

Regular holiday
None

Address
1 Chome-294 Kiyomizu, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0862

It’s a 20-minutes walking from the nearest station : Keihan Line “Kiyomizu-Gojo” station to Kiyomizu-dera temple.

Camera Use Policy

・Photography using drones, monopods or tripods, and video recording using a gimbal are prohibited.

・Unauthorized filming of weddings, cosplay, or fashion shoots with models is also prohibited.

Flowers and seasons

※The time when the flowers bloom varies slightly depending on the year.

Flower	Month
Plum blossom	Mid Feb – Early Mar
Cherry blossom	Late Mar – Early Apr
Japanese azalea	Mid Apr – Early May
wisteria	late Apr – Early May
Japanese maple tree (fall foliage)	Late Apr -Early May

Link and resource

Official website
Kiyomizu-dera temple(EN)

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