Kiyomizu-dera Temple held Seiryu-e on 15 October
Published on 10/18/2026 at 01:29 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Kiyomizu-dera Temple held Seiryu-e on 15 October 2026 in Kyoto. The temple listed the traditional event from 2pm to 3.30pm, placing a fixed autumn date within its programme of religious observances.
Seiryu-e brought a fixed October date to Kyoto
Seiryu-e is one of the traditional events and rituals listed by the temple. Its official event page gives 15 October as one of three annual dates, alongside 15 March and 3 April.
The procession begins at Okuno-in Hall at 2pm and reaches Sai-mon Gate at 3.30pm, according to the official Seiryu-e programme. The schedule connects the event with several named parts of the temple grounds rather than presenting it as a city-wide festival.
The October event followed a long temple history
Kiyomizu-dera Temple was founded in 778 on Mount Otowa, in the Higashiyama range in eastern Kyoto. The grounds extend across 130,000 square metres and contain 30 Buddhist temple buildings, including the Main Hall, a national treasure.
Most of the present buildings were reconstructed in 1633 after repeated fires. The Main Hall and its wooden stage were also reconstructed in 1633, giving Seiryu-e a setting shaped by a building history that reaches back more than 1,200 years. The temple is part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto listed as a World Heritage property.
Seiryu-e follows routes through the temple grounds
The event's published route starts above Otowa Waterfall at Okuno-in Hall and reaches Sai-mon Gate later in the programme. That path places the procession between the waterfall, the western gate and the Main Hall, the complex's best-known wooden structure.
The Main Hall stands on a steep cliff above the stage. Its traditional timber construction uses pillars and rails joined without nails, while the veranda rises nearly 13 metres above the slope. The event therefore takes place within a compact sequence of historic buildings, water and hillside paths.
Visiting Kiyomizu-dera Temple: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Seiryu-e took place at Kiyomizu-dera Temple on 15 October 2026, with the published programme running from 2pm to 3.30pm.
- The event involved the temple grounds, beginning at Okuno-in Hall and reaching Sai-mon Gate. The published schedule does not announce a separate access restriction for the rest of the site.
- The temple stands on Mount Otowa in eastern Kyoto. Kyoto Station and city bus services provide access to the Higashiyama area, followed by an uphill approach to the grounds.
- Visitors encounter a steep hillside setting, steps and raised wooden structures. The Main Hall stage stands nearly 13 metres above the slope, so the route is not level throughout.
- Japan's official language is Japanese and its national currency is the yen.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Kiyomizu-dera Temple
When did Seiryu-e take place at Kiyomizu-dera Temple?
The 2026 autumn date was 15 October, with the published programme scheduled from 2pm to 3.30pm.
What is Kiyomizu-dera Temple?
It is a Buddhist temple founded in 778 on Mount Otowa in eastern Kyoto. Its grounds contain 30 Buddhist buildings, including the Main Hall.
Where is Kiyomizu-dera Temple and how do you get there?
The temple is in eastern Kyoto's Higashiyama area. Bus services from Kyoto Station reach the area, followed by an uphill walk to the temple grounds.
