Kiyomizudera ("Pure Water Temple") is one of the most celebrated temples of Japan. It was founded in 780 and remains associated with the Hosso sect, one of the oldest sects within Japanese Buddhism. In 1994, the temple was added to the list of UNESCO world heritage sites.

Kiyomizudera stands in the wooded hills of eastern Kyoto and offers visitors a nice view over the city from its famous wooden terrace. Below the terrace, you can taste the spring water, which gives the temple its name and which is said to have healing power.

Behind Kyomizudera's main hall stands Jishu Shrine, a shrine dedicated to the deity of love. In front of the shrine are two rocks, placed several meters apart from each other. Walking from one to the other rock with your eyes closed is said to bring luck in your love live.

Ojizosan is said to be one of the most revered of the Japanese pantheon of divinities, even if he had his birth in the more massive Indian god pantheon. Kshitigarbha (Jizo) is a Bodhisattva (Bosatsu), one who achieves enlightenment but postpones Buddhahood until all can be saved. He promised to remain among us doing good works, to help all those spinning endlessly in the six realms, until the advent of Miroku Nyorai (Maitreya; the Buddha of the Future). Miroku is scheduled to arrive, according to the Shingon Sect, about 5.6 billion years from now.