A Famous Temple of the Bando 33 Kannon Pilgrimage
Kiyomizu-dera is said to have originated during the Enryaku period (782–806), when the renowned Buddhist monk Saicho, also known as Dengyo Daishi, established a small hermitage here and enshrined an image of Jūichimen Kannon, the Eleven-Headed Kannon.
In 807, during the Daido era, another influential monk, Ennin (Jikaku Daishi), is said to have carved and enshrined an image of Senju Kannon, the Thousand-Armed Kannon. Through its long history, the temple came to be revered alongside Kyoto’s Kiyomizu-dera and Kiyomizudera Temple in Harima, Hyogo Prefecture, as one of the “Three Great Kiyomizu Temples” in Japan.
The temple grounds contain a number of traditional buildings and sacred spaces. Surrounded by lush greenery, the scenery is said to evoke Fudarakusan, the Pure Land or paradise associated with Kannon worship.
The Main Buildings of Kiyomizu-dera
Nio Gate
The Nio Gate was reconstructed in 1993. Two imposing guardian figures, the Agyo and Ungyo Nio statues, stand on either side of the entrance and welcome visitors while protecting the temple grounds.
Main Hall
The Main Hall houses the temple’s principal image, the Senju Kannon, which is a hidden Buddhist image and is not normally shown to the public. The present building was reconstructed in 1817 and was later renovated with a copper-sheet roof in 1974.
Okunoin Hall
The Okunoin Hall enshrines an image of Jūichimen Kannon, the Eleven-Headed Kannon. The building was constructed in 1814 and originally served as a temporary main hall.
Bell Tower
The temple bell is rung twice a day, once during the daytime and again in the evening. The temple also attracts many visitors at New Year’s Eve for the traditional Joya no Kane, when people ring a Buddhist temple bell to welcome the New Year.
Shitenmon Gate
Built in 1822, the Shitenmon, or Four Heavenly Kings Gate, is dedicated to four guardian deities: Fujin (the Wind God), Raijin (the Thunder God), Jikokuten, and Zochoten. These figures traditionally protect the temple and its visitors from harm.
Historic Cultural Properties
Kiyomizu-dera preserves a number of culturally and historically valuable objects that reflect the development of Buddhist sculpture and religious culture in Japan.
Wooden Standing Statue of Jūichimen Kannon
The Wooden Standing Statue of Jūichimen Kannon is designated as a cultural property by Chiba Prefecture. It dates from the middle of the Kamakura period and was carved using the yoseki-zukuri technique, in which multiple pieces of Japanese cypress are joined together. It is believed that the statue was originally decorated with painted colors and gold leaf.
Standing Statues of the Twenty-Eight Attendants
The temple also has statues of the Twenty-Eight Attendants of Kannon, designated as a cultural property by Isumi City. Created during the late Kamakura period, these figures represent the attendants who traditionally accompany and protect the Thousand-Armed Kannon.
Basho Haiku Monument
A stone monument erected in 1826 bears a famous haiku by Matsuo Basho, one of Japan’s best-known haiku poets:
“In the winter wind,
rocks seem to jut sharply
between the cedar trees.”
The monument offers a connection between the temple’s natural surroundings and the literary culture of the Edo period.
Unique Features of Kiyomizu-dera
Chihiro Pond
Chihiro Pond is a small sacred pond associated with a traditional poem that describes its water as remaining clear even when the surface becomes muddy. The pond is said to retain water throughout the year without drying up, making it one of the temple’s distinctive natural features.
Temple Café Chihirotei
Inside the temple grounds, Temple Café Chihirotei offers dishes prepared by an owner who is a medicinal-food adviser. The menu focuses on food intended to be gentle on both body and mind. Visitors can enjoy a relaxing meal while looking out over the surrounding forest, making it a pleasant place to take a break during a temple visit.
Goshuin and Souvenirs
The Noukyosho, or temple office, offers Goshuin, traditional temple stamps collected by pilgrims and visitors, as well as protective amulets. Visitors can also purchase local products and temple specialties such as Otowa Senbei rice crackers and Butsushu Ame traditional Buddhist-themed sweets.
Access to Kiyomizu-dera
Address: 1270 Kamone, Misaki Town, Isumi City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan
By Public Transportation
From Chojamachi Station on the JR Sotobo Line, the temple is approximately a 50-minute walk or about 7 minutes by taxi. There is currently no bus service directly to the temple.
By Car
- From the National Route 128 “Misaki-cho Ebado” intersection, drive west for approximately 5 km.
- From the National Route 465 “Kokufudai Sansaro” intersection, drive east for approximately 4 km.
- From the Ichihara-Tsurumai Interchange on the Metropolitan Inter-City Expressway (Ken-O Expressway), the temple is approximately 35 minutes by car.
Free parking is available. Regular cars and minibuses can use the parking area near the top of the mountain, while large vehicles should use the parking area near the entrance to the approach at the foot of the mountain.
A Peaceful Temple Surrounded by History and Nature
Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Isumi City is a fascinating destination where Buddhist history, traditional architecture, cultural treasures, and the natural beauty of the Boso Peninsula come together. As the 32nd temple on the Bando 33 Kannon Pilgrimage, it has been an important place of Kannon worship for centuries.
From the guardian statues at the temple gates and historic Buddhist sculptures to the tranquil pond, forest scenery, and traditional temple buildings, there is much to discover throughout the grounds. Visitors to Chiba who wish to experience a quieter side of Japanese religious culture can enjoy a peaceful and memorable visit to Kiyomizu Kannon.