Kyoto Arrival and Kiyomizu-dera

After a crowded, but efficient train ride with barely any time wasted getting lost we arrived in Kyoto, the second historical capital of Japan. And we promptly got lost in a mall in the basement of the second biggest train station in Japan.

When we finally found the right exit closest to our apartment, we locked our bags into a locker and walked, like idiots, to our first temple. I say that in hindsight because we walked 13.98 miles by the end of the day.

Kiyomizu-dera, the pure water temple
Established 778, the Otowa waterfall flowing through is believed to grant health, longevity, and academic success. People line up to drink from the corresponding spill.

Also famous for its huge wooden stage built without nails.

As with most larger temple complexes, it has a shopping street leading into it. That's where we got our roasted chestnut ice cream.

It's a huge complex, very beautiful surroundings, thirty buildings in all. It has burned/ been damaged many times. Most recent rebuild by Tokugawa Iemitsu in 1633.Read more