Kiyomizu Temple is one of the most famous temples in Kyoto and a beautiful site with brilliant views over the rest of the city. It is dedicated to the Goddess of Mercy (Kannon) and named after the clear natural spring that allegedly offers wisdom, health and hapiness if you sip from its three spouts. The main temple is on a huge high platform that was once used for performances and is famous as the origin of a well known folk tale about the ten thoughts of a man who was falling from it to his death. It is a great place to go if you want to see Geisha as they tend to pray their - especially in the first 3 days of January. It is one of the cheapest temples to visit at a cost of only 300yen all in (most temples charge additional fees for every building inside the compound). You can also act like a local and go in the exit which is a bit cheeky but allows you to access all the site except for the main temple building. The temple is on a hill to the East of Kyoto station and can be seen to your left if you are catching trains heading towards Tokyo. Althought it is near the JR train track there is no station. There is by bus (No 100 sight seeing loop) or you can take the Keihan railway. Either way you have to make the final climb up a street full of tacky shops yourself. Kyoto city buses are usually full to capacity and very hot so it may be as well to just walk. Behind the temple there is a shinto shrine. It charges extra fro admission and is nothing special. One fun thing to try there is to walk with your eyes closed between two rocks. If you can do it without openning your eyes you are destined to find the partner of your dreams.
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