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Hi, I'm Yusuke Nasu from Japanesquest
where we introduce cool Japanese culture and hot sightseeing spots.
and today, we are going to--
Kiyomizu-dera
[Theme music]
So, what is Kiyomizu-dera?
Well its a Buddhist temple founded in 778,
and famous for its dramatic structure.
It is located in Kyoto, and definitely one of the most celebrated temples in the city.
Okay, so let's take today's quest!
The first fun of visiting Kiyomizu-dera, is the approach.
This slope leads to the temple’s entrance,
and here you can feel the good old Japanese atmosphere.
And there are tons of souvenir shops.
They have SENSU--
They have KIMONO--
And of course, they have HELLO KITTY.
This slope so interested that you can easily spend half an hour.
And After the slope, you will see a big red gate in front of you.
This is where the majestic temple begins.
Now we are here at the famous "Kiyomizu no Butai".
It's a large wooden stage, 13 meters high, and built without nails.
In Japan, we have a popular expression "to jump off the stage at Kiyomizu",
meaning same as "to take the plunge".
And did you know where this expression came from?
Well back in the Edo period, it was believed that--
"if you were to survive a jump from the stage, your wish would be granted."
There is more.
Actually two hundred and thirty-four jumpers were recorded, and 85 percent of them survived.
Well I can only hope that their wishes were granted.
The Kiyomizu temple complex includes several other shrines,
among them the "Jishu Jinja".
It's a shrine dedicated to the god of love and matchmaking.
In front of the shrine, there are two stones placed 18 meters (59 feet) apart.
It is said that "If you success to find your way from one stone to the other with eyes closed,
then you will find your true love."
You can have someone as a guide, but it means you will need a guide in your love life as well.
Beneath the wooden stage, you will see a small waterfall, "Otowa no Taki".
Its waters are divided into three streams which you can drink with a cup,
and it is believed that each stream has different wish-granting power.
Right one is for "longevity", middle one is for "success at school",
and the left one is for "fortunate love life".
Considering my previous failure, I decided to take the... left one.
you can drink two streams if you want, but taking all three is considered greedy.
As for me, I drank the "love"... and “love” again.
You know, just to make sure.
Okay, so that's the Kiyomizu-dera.
It is one of the most popular temples in Kyoto, and a great place to visit in any seasons.
Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter.
So, if you visit Kyoto for the first time and don't know which temple to go, KIYOMIZU DERA is the one I recommend the most.
Okay, that's the todays episode of Japanesquest. I hope you liked it.
For more detail of Kiyomizudera, you can check that on our website. The link is in the description below.
And I will continue to show you every bit of Japan, so don't forget to subscribe.
Okay, arigato, matane!