Kiyomizu-dera — Wooden Stage Over Cherry Trees

Kiyomizu-dera (清水寺, 'Pure Water Temple') is a UNESCO World Heritage temple famous for its wooden stage (清水の舞台, Kiyomizu no Butai) that juts 13 meters over the hillside, constructed entirely without nails using traditional joinery. The stage offers panoramic views over Kyoto's eastern mountains and, in spring and autumn, the surrounding cherry blossoms and maple trees.

The temple dates to 778 AD, predating Kyoto's founding as Japan's capital. The Otowa Waterfall at the temple's base is considered sacred — visitors drink from three streams believed to grant longevity, academic success, or romantic fortune (choose only one, or risk greed).