Up before the crowds
Our last morning in Kyoto, and we wanted Kiyomizu-dera without the crowds from yesterday’s slopes. Kamuroan is close, so we were up the hill before 7.
Kiyomizu-dera
The red Niomon gate at the top of the steps, and nobody on them.
The three-storey pagoda, bright red in the morning light.
And the pagoda with the hall behind it.
Tickets were ¥400 each.
The stage
The main hall’s wooden stage sticks out over the valley on a frame of huge pillars, without a single nail. “To jump off the stage at Kiyomizu” is the Japanese for taking a big leap.
The classic photo is from the viewpoint across the valley, with the stage and Kyoto behind.
Down the steps to the Otowa waterfall, and a small pagoda among the trees.
Sannenzaka, empty
Yesterday Sannenzaka was wall-to-wall people. At 7.30am it was just us.
Breakfast at Kamuroan
Back at Kamuroan, the okami had laid out a hand-roll breakfast: nori and rice with ham, salmon, tamago, beef and veg, and we rolled our own temaki. Breakfast and the stay tax came to ¥6,800.
The okami, the lady who runs the inn, took such good care of us. We gave her the souvenir from Amanohashidate and took a photo together outside before we left.
Onward to Osaka!
Information About Kiyomizu-dera
The temple with the huge wooden stage hanging over the hillside, on the eastern edge of Kyoto. Entry is ¥400.
PS: It opens at 6am. Come before 8 and you get the stage, the pagoda and the slopes up to it almost to yourself.