Kyoto, Kiyomizudera

A must visit. A symbol of Kyoto. One of the famous ones in Kyoto, if not The Famous one. Beautifully located up on a mountain side, with narrow winding streets leading up to it. Whenever you visit this temple you won't be alone, except maybe early in the morning. The gates open at 06:00. All kinds of good luck charms can be bought, any kind of deceases can be cured, and wishes will be granted for for a small amount of money. Walking in straight line with your eyes closed between the two love stones is free, as is drinking the rejuvenating water, and the view over the city. That is, after you pay your entrance fee of course.

Many of the buildings in Kyoto have been burnt down and rebuilt during a long violent history, but kiyomizudera remained intact. It never favored any of the warring parties, and consequently, there was never any reason for revenge. The temple burnt down once however, but was reconstructed a few years later in 1633 by the Shogun. So, even if the now standing buildings are only 350+ years old, the original design is from more than 1200 years ago, almost twenty years before the capital was moved to Kyoto.

The founder of the temple, a priest from Nara, was told in a dream that he should look for the clear origin of the Yodo river...Problems with pollution in ancient Nara?

Many of the narrow roads up to the temple are full of souvenir shops, some small, some big, and one of the roads is mainly dedicated to the famous kiyomizu ceramic. Good bargains can be found. Close to the temple is a street with steps leading down towards the north. Don't fall if you walk down. It's called the two year steps, and if you fall, you can expect to die within two years.