How much time for Kiyomizu-dera temple and surrounds?

You wouldn’t like to miss world heritage Kiyomizu-dera temple if you are visiting Kyoto but how long does it take to see around it?

In this page, I am sharing my holiday experience and things you can do around the temple.

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How much time Do I need for Kiyomizu-dera temple?

Kiyomizu-dera temple itself is not big at all. If you get there by taxi and just look around the temple, including the main hall, which is the building you see in the tourist book, then 30 to 45 minutes will be plenty unless you want to fight to take a great shot in the crowd.

Open 6am to 6pm, closing time depend on seasons
Fee 400 yen to enter the main hall
Cherry blossom late March to early April

What’s around Kiyomizu-dera temple?

I strongly recommend visiting nearby temples, shrine and shops. Kiyomizu-dera temple is a great place, but it wouldn’t be memorable enough by itself, especially because it is so busy and you feel you are just battling to walk around it.

Fortunately, there are lots of sightseeing destinations within walking distance. These places will make your trip more special and exciting.

The sightseeing walk we did and recommend

So this is what we did when we went to Kiyomizu-dera temple.

In this walk, there are other shrines and temples to visit, old and lovely street to walk and little shops you can get street food and souvenir.

It takes nearly all your afternoon and probably most of your energy as the big walk partly includes up and down the hill which is pretty tiring! But I do recommend to check out not as famous temples because they are as special as Kiyomizu-dera temple or/and Golden temple.

South-Shirakawa Street

Traditional Kyoto looking tiny street along creek is not busy like other places near by. That makes the street is the great place to get a good photos.

Hanami-Koji Street

The main street of Gion district where restaurant, traditional cafe called Cha-ya and Izakaya are. You might see Geishas walking around here.

Kennin-ji Temple

Good size, not crowded zen buddhist temple from 1202. You can enter the tea house as well as the main hall. The traditional style tea house is very pretty and you can access the garden and it is full of old art includes Japanese national treasure of the wind and thunder gods screen.

Also a perfect place to take your instagram shots. The building is old but well looked after and there are not too many people.

Open 10am to 5pm, 4.30pm in Nov to Feb
Fee 500 yen to enter the main hall and tea room

Kodai-ji Temple

Photo by 京都フリー写真素材

Famous for its lovely garden, the temple was founded by Kodai-in, known as Nene, who was a wife of Tiyotomi Hideyoshi, one of the most important samurai in Japanese history.

We didn’t go inside. Yes, we were pretty exhausted after walking around the area after walked all the way from the hotel we were staying.

Open 9am to 5.30pm
Fee 600 yen to enter the main hall and tea room

Ninen-zaka and Sannei-zaka Streets

The street to follow to get to Kiyomizu-dera temple is full of street food, souvenir shops and tourists! Always fun to try some sample food they offer in front of shops.