Japan time (JST)
Is Kiyomizu-dera crowded right now?
Typical day
Weekdays peak 10:00–16:00, weekends and holidays are busier. The first two hours after the 6:00 opening are the quietest. Watch Kiyomizu-zaka live
Best window: before 8:00.
An estimate from the time, day, season and Kyoto's weather, not a head count.
Typical weekday
When is it quiet today?
Quiet: 6:00–8:00.
- 6:00, 12 out of 100
- 7:00, 20 out of 100
- 8:00, 32 out of 100
- 9:00, 45 out of 100
- 10:00, 56 out of 100
- 11:00, 62 out of 100
- 12:00, 64 out of 100
- 13:00, 64 out of 100
- 14:00, 62 out of 100
- 15:00, 56 out of 100
- 16:00, 46 out of 100
- 17:00, 32 out of 100
- 18:00, outside visiting hours
- 19:00, outside visiting hours
- 20:00, outside visiting hours
- 21:00, outside visiting hours
Hours in Japan time. Colours: Quiet · Moderate · Busy · Very busy. Grey bars are outside visiting hours.
Getting there today
Is the bus a good idea today?
EX100 limited-express bus
The tourist limited-express bus from Kyoto Station, flat fare 500 yen. It runs on weekends, public holidays, 14–16 Aug and 29 Dec – 3 Jan.
See the EX100 timetable (Kyoto City Bus, Japanese)City Bus 206 from Kyoto Station is the classic route, but the queue can be long and full buses may pass you by.
Busy day: skip the bus queue. From Kyoto Station, take the JR Nara Line to Tofukuji, then the Keihan Line to Kiyomizu-Gojo. From there it is a 20–25 minute uphill walk.
See today's bus crowding (opens Pokeloke)At the temple
What's different today?
- School-trip season: large student groups fill the slopes and the main hall on weekday daytimes.
- Jishu Shrine, the matchmaking shrine inside the temple grounds, is closed for construction. No reopening date has been announced.
Tickets and hours
| Admission | 500 yen for adults. Pay at the ticket window; bring cash. |
|---|---|
| Booking | Not needed. Buy your ticket at the gate on the day. |
| Hours | 6:00–18:00 (6:00–18:30 in July and August) |
| Night illumination 2026 | 27 Mar – 5 Apr, 14–16 Aug, 21–30 Nov. Last entry 21:00, closes 21:30. |
Last checked: on the official Kiyomizu-dera website.
Weather in Kyoto
Do you need an umbrella today?
- Now
- 26°C
- Clear · Observed 8 Oct 15:00 JST
- Chance of rain
- 0%
- Sunny · High 27°C
- Sunrise
- Early
- JST, approximate
- Sunset
- Evening
- JST, approximate
JMA forecast for Kyoto, issued 8 Oct 11:00 JST.
Live camera
What does Kiyomizu-zaka look like right now?
The main shopping slope up to the temple gate. The stream loads only when you tap, to save your data.
Live stream by 京都観光混雑状況Live on YouTube.
Next 7 days
Which day is quietest this week?
Weekdays are quieter than weekends and public holidays. Cherry-blossom and autumn-leaf seasons are the busiest of the year.
| Day | Peak | Weather |
|---|
Peak = the busiest hour of that day in our estimate. Weather: JMA forecast, or Kyoto's average when no forecast is out yet.
Getting there
Which way should you go?
01 · Fastest
City Bus 206 or 86 from Kyoto Station
The shortest ride, but the stop at Kyoto Station often has a long queue. On EX100 days, the limited-express bus is the quicker choice.
02 · No bus
JR and Keihan to Kiyomizu-Gojo Station
From Kyoto Station: JR Nara Line to Tofukuji, then the Keihan Line to Kiyomizu-Gojo. No bus queue at all. From Kiyomizu-Gojo it is a 20–25 minute walk, uphill at the end.
03 · Quietest last stretch
Otani-michi, the back path
Kiyomizu-zaka, Gojo-zaka and Ninenzaka–Sannenzaka are packed. Otani-michi is a quiet local path of about 650 m (10 minutes) that runs beside the Toribeno cemetery. It is not a sightseeing street. Please walk quietly there, and don't photograph graves or people visiting them.
Avoiding the bus crowd and avoiding the crowd on the slopes are two different things: the walking routes from Gion still end on the busy Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka.
Around the temple
Carrying a suitcase?
The slopes up to the temple are steep and crowded, and a suitcase makes them hard work. Flying home from Kansai Airport (KIX)? You can send your bags from your hotel so they are waiting for your flight.
Send your bags to KIX with Bag2GateBag2Gate runs this site, so this is our own service.