Kiyomizu-dera
Kyoto, Japan
Sanjusangen-do, Kyoto
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Photo: 663highland, CC BY 2.5, Wikimedia CommonsFit in nearby today
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- About ¥600; students ¥400 and ¥300
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Hours
- Approximately 8:30–17:00 (1 April–15 November); 9:00–16:00 (16 November–31 March)
- Time on site
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A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 45 min
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Summer hours
- 1 April–15 November: about 8:30–17:00
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Winter hours
- 16 November–31 March: 9:00–16:00
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Highlight
- 1,001 statues of the thousand-armed Kannon
- Rules
- Shoes off; no photos inside
- Getting there
- Bus 86, 206 or 208 from Kyoto Station; Shichijo station 7 minutes
Key facts
1,001statues of the thousand-armed Kannon in the main hall
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en.wikipedia≈120 mthe hall's length — Japan's longest wooden building
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travel guides1266the year the present hall was built
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en.wikipedia1164the year the temple was founded
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en.wikipedia33bays between the columns — hence the name
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en.wikipedia28guardian deities in front of the statues
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en.wikipediaTendaithe Buddhist school the temple belongs to
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en.wikipediaJanuaryan archery contest on the temple veranda
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en.wikipediaWhat is Sanjusangen-do?
Sanjusangen-do, the 'hall of thirty-three bays', officially Rengeo-in, is a Buddhist temple of the Tendai school in Kyoto's Higashiyama district. It was founded in 1164 by the powerful samurai Taira no Kiyomori for Emperor Go-Shirakawa.
The present main hall was built in 1266. At about 120 metres long, it is Japan's longest wooden building and a National Treasure. The name comes from the 33 bays between the columns along its front. Inside, in rows, stand 1,001 statues of the thousand-armed Kannon, the goddess of mercy, with a large principal Kannon seated in the centre.
What's inside the hall
The Kannon statues stand in ten tiered rows, 500 on each side of the seated principal figure. They are carved from wood and covered in gold; most were made by sculptors of the Kei, En and In schools in the 13th century. It's said that among the thousand faces you can find one that resembles someone you love.
In front of the rows stand 28 guardian deities, and at the ends Fujin and Raijin, the gods of wind and thunder. All of these, like the principal Kannon, are National Treasures of Japan.
What to see
- 1,001 Kannon statues — ten rows of gilded figures.
- The seated principal Kannon in the centre of the hall.
- 28 guardians in front of the rows.
- Fujin and Raijin, gods of wind and thunder.
- The west veranda, about 120 metres long.
- The garden and pond beside the hall.
How to get to Sanjusangen-do
Step-by-step directions are below; the map shows where you arrive.
Where are you starting from?
We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.
More tips
- From Kyoto Station — bus 86, 206 or 208 to Hakubutsukan Sanjusangendo-mae, about 10 minutes.
- On foot from the station — about 20 minutes east.
- Keihan line — to Shichijo station, then about 7 minutes on foot.
- Opposite — the Kyoto National Museum.
- To Kiyomizu-dera — about 20 minutes uphill on foot.
Sanjusangen-do or Kiyomizu-dera
| Sanjusangen-doyou are here | 1,001 statues inside a hall | All under a roof | Not inside | 30–45 minutes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kiyomizu-dera | A wooden stage and views | Best on a clear day | Allowed | 1–1.5 hours |
How long do you need?
Allow 30–45 minutes for Sanjusangen-do: walk past the statues, then round the veranda and garden. The temple is close to Kyoto Station, so it works well as the first or last stop of the day, before climbing to Kiyomizu-dera or carrying on to Gion.
The hall is entirely under cover, which makes it a good choice for a rainy day. Groups are fewer at opening time.
In January, usually on a Sunday around the middle of the month, a large archery contest takes place on the west veranda, with young people who turn 20 that year taking part. It is very crowded that day.
Is Sanjusangen-do worth visiting?
Yes: a thousand gilded statues in a single hall is a sight you won't find anywhere else in Japan.
The YesGo take: from outside the temple looks modest, and you can't take photos inside, so many people walk past. That's a mistake — it's worth going in, especially if you're heading to Kiyomizu-dera anyway. Inside it's cool, dim and quiet, and the point is the sheer scale of the hall.
We took prices and hours from guides, because the temple's official site didn't load when we checked. Double-check the times from 16 November in particular, when the temple switches to winter hours.
Before you go: checklist
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You are ready for the visit
Kyoto temples: compare and choose
Temples and shrines in Kyoto rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.
| Fushimi Inari Shrine | 55 | 2 h | Free | 40 min walk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kiyomizu-dera | 51 | 1 h 30 min | ≈ ¥500 | 25 min walk |
| Kinkaku-ji | 48 | 45 min | ¥500 | 7.0 km |
| Yasaka Shrine | 48 | 30 min | Free | 32 min walk |
| Philosopher's Path | 40 | 1 h | Free | 4.7 km |
| Sanjusangen-doyou are here | 38 | 45 min | about ¥600 | — |
| Ryoan-ji | 37 | 45 min | ¥600 | 7.1 km |
| Arashiyama | 28 | 3 h | Free | 9.9 km |
Eastern Kyoto in a day
The thousand statues of Sanjusangen-do in the morning, the Kiyomizu-dera stage in the afternoon, and the lanes of Gion in the evening. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.
- Sanjusangen-doyou are here45 min · about ¥600
- 25 min walk from the previous stopKiyomizu-dera1 h 30 min · ≈ ¥500
- 23 min walk from the previous stopGion1 h 30 min · free
3 places · about 4 h 33 min with walks · 48 min on foot in total
Nearby — add to your day
How to do it right
- No photos inside.
- Shoes off at the entrance.
- From 16 November: 9:00–16:00.
- Good on a rainy day.
- Next: Kiyomizu-dera, 20 minutes on foot.
Questions
How much is entry to Sanjusangen-do?
About ¥600 for adults, ¥400 and ¥300 for students — according to guides.
What are the opening hours?
Roughly 8:30–17:00 from April to 15 November and 9:00–16:00 from 16 November to March.
How many statues are there?
1,001 statues of the thousand-armed Kannon, plus 28 guardians, Fujin and Raijin.
Can I take photos?
Not inside the hall; outside is fine.
How do I get there?
Bus 86, 206 or 208 from Kyoto Station, about 10 minutes.
Why the name?
'Sanjusangen' means the 33 bays between the hall's columns.
How long do you need?
30–45 minutes.
What's nearby?
The Kyoto National Museum opposite and Kiyomizu-dera 20 minutes away.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- English Wikipedia: Sanjūsangen-dō — founding, the 1266 hall, statues, Toshiya
- Travel guides — prices, seasonal hours, hall length, buses (unofficial; the official site sanjusangendo.jp didn't load on 09.11.2026)
- Wikidata Q653319 — coordinates
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