Kiyomizu Temple hosts Seiryu-e on 15 October

Kiyomizu Temple hosts the Seiryu-e procession in Kyoto on 15 October 2026. The religious procession begins at about 2pm and moves through the temple grounds and surrounding approach streets before ending at the Main Hall.

Seiryu-e procession crosses Kiyomizu Temple on 15 October

Seiryu-e is held at the temple on 15 October 2026 as part of its recurring religious programme. The procession starts at Okuno-in Hall at about 2pm, reaches Otowa Waterfall and continues towards the Sai-mon Gate and the approach streets.

The route then passes the Niomon Gate before reaching the Main Hall at about 3.30pm. The temple's English official Seiryu-e programme describes the procession as a public observance in which participants chant Namu-kannon and pray for good fortune. A separate Kyoto tourism event listing confirms the date, venue and afternoon schedule.

Seiryu-e links Kiyomizu Temple with its sacred landscape

The procession is centred on the relationship between Kiyomizu Temple, the Otowa Waterfall and the temple's Buddhist devotion to Kannon. The official programme describes the dragon as an incarnation of Kannon and places the route between the inner temple buildings, the waterfall, the gates and the town approach.

That route gives the 15 October 2026 event a physical connection with the site rather than treating it as a performance in a separate venue. Visitors will encounter the procession at several points as it moves from Okuno-in Hall to the Main Hall, while the surrounding streets form part of the published route.

The temple stands at 1-294 Kiyomizu in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto. Its visitor guidance identifies two routes into the grounds: one through the Niomon Gate at the top of Kiyomizu-zaka and another from the emergency-road entrance at the top of Chawan-zaka.

Visiting Kiyomizu Temple: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• Seiryu-e takes place at Kiyomizu Temple on 15 October 2026. The procession begins at about 2pm at Okuno-in Hall and reaches the Main Hall at about 3.30pm.
• The published route passes through the temple grounds, Otowa Waterfall, the Sai-mon Gate, the approach streets and the Niomon Gate. Access may therefore involve moving between several outdoor points rather than staying in one viewing area.
• From Kyoto Station, city bus 206 or 100 serves Gojozaka, followed by an eastward walk to the temple. Routes from Kiyomizu-Gojo Station and other Kyoto transport stops also require walking uphill.
• The approach includes the Kiyomizu-zaka and Chawan-zaka hills. The operator warns that some mapping applications show routes that do not lead into the temple grounds, so the named entrances matter for arrival planning.
• Japan's official language is Japanese and the 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 Temple

When does Seiryu-e take place at Kiyomizu Temple?

Seiryu-e takes place on 15 October 2026. The procession begins at about 2pm and reaches the Main Hall at about 3.30pm.

Where is Kiyomizu Temple and how do you get there?

Kiyomizu Temple is at 1-294 Kiyomizu in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto. City buses 206 and 100 serve Gojozaka, from where the route continues uphill on foot.

What is Seiryu-e at Kiyomizu Temple?

Seiryu-e is a religious procession linked by the temple to Kannon and a dragon associated with the Otowa Waterfall. Its published route crosses the grounds, approach streets and gates on 15 October 2026.