Japan Trip: Maruyama Park and Kiyomizudera Temple

Maruyama park is located at the east end of Gion street in Kyoto. It was a big park that usually used for hanami during cherry blossom season. But since we came in autumn, there's no such thing like cherry blossom :(

intersection between gion street and maruyama park. the long road behind me is the gion street.

On the way to the park, we meet the famous Yasaka Shrine. This shrine also called as Gion shrine in the past. This shrine has a famous dance stage that has many lantern hanged under its roof.

Yasaka Shine Dance Stage

That afternoon, many people came to Matuyama Park and the shrines in the park. People did various activities here. When walking from Yasaka shrine to Maruyama park, I saw a few people gathered together listening somebody else story, I guess it was a story telling event. And from Maruyama park to Kodaiji temple, I saw a cowboy became a street singer. I also saw some peoples using the same costumes, and it seemed like they're joining a music contest or something similar. What I love about this place is there were many girls and women dressed in kimono. I really tempted to get their pics whenever I saw them.

the story teller

cowboy as street singer

a pond near the street singer

getting ready to perform

girls in kimono

Actually my main destination was Kiyomizudera temple. And to get there from Maruyama park, me and my travel partner had to walk uphill along the preserved historic street. The street was really beautiful and really showed the traditional old Kyoto. There also plenty foods and souvenirs seller along the street.

map to Kiyomizudera temple

souvenir shop along the preserved historic street

cute store display

the crowded preserved historic street

After the uphill track, I was welcomed by the huge Deva gate. Then I took the stairs to get to the ticket entrance. To get in, I had to pay 300 yen. And after I got in, I directly went to the Kiyomizudera stage. Because of its uphill location, from Kiyomizudera stage I could see the beauty of Kyoto city in far away. I even could see Kyoto tower from there. Not far from the porch, there’s a walkway in front of Amida and Okuno-in Hall. From this walkway's balcony, l could see the Kiyomizudera stage with beautiful background of Kyoto city. Just staring at this scenery could make me feel calm and peaceful.

Kiyomizudera temple entrance ticket

Deva Gate

the view of Kiyomizidera stage from the walkway's balcony

From walkway balcony, me and my travel partner walked to the ground of the temple. There were Otowa waterfall where people done some cleansing ritual. I also saw small restaurant in there. The restaurant looked so hommy and warm. Nearby the restaurant, if I looked at my back a three-storied pagoda behind the trees. 

view of Kiyomizudera stage from below

Otowa waterfall

restaurant under kiyozumidera temple

with three-storied pagoda as the background

After finished getting around Kiyomizudera temple, we had to walk downhill to gion street to catch up the Gion Corner performance. Many stores in the preserved historic street closed in the evening, but some of them were still full of buyers who wanted to get some fan, snacks, or chopsticks as souvenirs.

preserved historic streets at evening

XOXO, 

The Tourist