Kiyomizu-dera

Kiyomizu-dera, or Temple of the Pure Water, is recognizable for its massive wooden stage that juts out over a steep hillside, supported by one hundred and thirty-nine towering pillars. Built without the use of a single nail, this structure rests thirteen meters above the ground, offering an expansive view of the city of Kyoto and the wooded slopes of Mount Otowa. The temple grounds are named for the Otowa Waterfall that flows nearby, a site that has drawn pilgrims for over twelve centuries.