Best time to visit
When is Kiyomizu-dera least crowded?
Right after the gate opens at 6:00, before 8:00, on a weekday outside the cherry-blossom and autumn-leaf seasons.
It fills up quickly from 9:00, is busiest around 14:00, and eases after 17:00.
See how crowded it is right nowHow busy is it hour by hour?
- 6:00, Quiet
- 7:00, Quiet
- 8:00, Quiet
- 9:00, Moderate
- 10:00, Moderate
- 11:00, Busy
- 12:00, Busy
- 13:00, Busy
- 14:00, Busy
- 15:00, Busy
- 16:00, Moderate
- 17:00, Moderate
- 6:00, Quiet
- 7:00, Quiet
- 8:00, Moderate
- 9:00, Moderate
- 10:00, Busy
- 11:00, Busy
- 12:00, Busy
- 13:00, Busy
- 14:00, Busy
- 15:00, Busy
- 16:00, Busy
- 17:00, Moderate
Colours: Quiet · Moderate · Busy · Very busy. Our estimate for a day outside the busy seasons, 6:00–18:00 Japan time. How we estimate crowds
Which day of the week is quietest?
Midweek, Tuesday to Thursday, is the quietest. Saturday is the busiest day of the week, and Sunday is not far behind.
Mondays are often busier than the rest of the week. Several Japanese public holidays always fall on a Monday, and our crowd score counts public holidays as weekends.
Which seasons are the busiest?
| Cherry blossoms | Late March to early AprilNight viewing in late March and early April. |
|---|---|
| Golden Week | 29 April – 5 MayJapanese national holidays. |
| School trips | May, and autumnLarge student groups on weekday daytimes. |
| Obon | Mid-AugustSummer holidays in Japan. Night viewing 14–16 Aug. |
| Autumn leaves | Mid-November to early DecemberNight viewing in late November. |
| New Year | 29 December – 3 JanuaryYear-end and New Year holidays. |
The exact peak of the cherry blossoms and autumn leaves changes every year. The temple posts updates on its official website.
See the night viewing datesSunrise or sunset?
The gate opens at 6:00 all year. From October to March the sun rises after the gate opens, and from October to February it sets before closing time, so in the cooler months you can see either from inside the grounds. The West Gate (Sai-mon) has long been known for its view of the sun setting over the western hills.
| Mid-month | Sunrise | Sunset | Closes |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:04 | 17:07 | 18:00 |
| February | 6:44 | 17:38 | 18:00 |
| March | 6:09 | 18:04 | 18:00 |
| April | 5:26 | 18:28 | 18:00 |
| May | 4:54 | 18:52 | 18:00 |
| June | 4:42 | 19:12 | 18:00 |
| July | 4:53 | 19:12 | 18:30 |
| August | 5:16 | 18:47 | 18:30 |
| September | 5:39 | 18:06 | 18:00 |
| October | 6:02 | 17:23 | 18:00 |
| November | 6:31 | 16:53 | 18:00 |
| December | 6:57 | 16:47 | 18:00 |
Japan time, on the 15th of each month in 2026; our calculation for Kyoto. In bold: sunrise after opening, sunset before closing. Night-viewing days close at 21:30.
Day or night?
The temple is open at night only during the special night viewing, a few weeks a year. Those evenings are busy. For the quietest visit, come early in the morning.
See when it is open at nightQuestions
- What is the best time of day to visit Kiyomizu-dera?
- Right after the gate opens at 6:00, before 8:00. It gets busy from about 9:00, is busiest around 14:00, and eases after 17:00.
- Which day of the week is quietest at Kiyomizu-dera?
- Midweek, Tuesday to Thursday. Saturday is the busiest day, and Mondays are often busier than the rest of the week.
- Can you see the sunrise or sunset at Kiyomizu-dera?
- Yes, in the cooler months. From October to March the sun rises after the 6:00 opening, and from October to February it sets before the temple closes. In summer the sun rises before opening and sets after closing, except on night-viewing days.