Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Macchu Picchu
Peru • 10 days, 9 nights
Peru: Machu Picchu & the Last Incan Bridges
from
Central Asia yurt night stars
Uzbekistan • 15 days, 14 nights
Central Asia Road Trip: Backroads & Bazaars
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Saquon Barkley Plaque
Kirkkasik Bedesten inside
Kirkkasik Bedesten
Someshwar Temple
Someshwar Temple
Grilled cheese and tomato soup are soulmates.
The Palisades Restaurant
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
A skeleton on display contemplating its own mortality.
Kid Mai Death Awareness Cafe
This classic London pub has a surprising history behind it.
John Snow
The beef, Guinness, and oyster pie sports a rich, flaky crust.
The Guinea
Welcome to one of the only floating pubs in the world.
Tamesis Dock
This may be the oldest pie in the world.
St Helens 'Oldest Pie' at The Turks Head
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Decoy’s wines reflect the terroir of California.
How a Wooden Duck Migrated From the California Wetlands to a Wine Label
12 days ago
There’s more to the French capital than the Eiffel Tower.
Dear Atlas: What Are Some Non-Touristy Things to Do in Paris?
16 days ago
The plants around Liz Dauncey in this photo are not poisonous, but many common garden and houseplants are.
Are Some of Your Favorite Houseplants Poisonous? AO Wants to Know.
22 days ago
“There may be a collective sense of a dark loneliness,” Dahl says, referring to Norway’s natural landscape.
In Norway, Easter Means Tucking Into Crime Stories
23 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Japan Kyoto Kiyomizu-Dera Temple

Kiyomizu-Dera Temple

A shrine contains nearly 200 statues of the Buddhist deity Jizo, dressed in bibs by parents who have lost a child.

Kyoto, Japan

Added By
Abby Solomon
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Parents of deceased children place colorful “bibs” on Jizo statues to show their gratitude for his protection in the afterlife.   abbyzoom / Atlas Obscura User
Parents of deceased children place colorful “bibs” on Jizo statues to show their gratitude for his protection in the afterlife.   abbyzoom / Atlas Obscura User
Jizo statues with bibs   Bobak Ha'Eri/CC BY SA 2.5
Kiyomizu-Dera Temple   Jordy Meow/CC BY SA 3.0
  im71202 / Atlas Obscura User
  im71202 / Atlas Obscura User
  im71202 / Atlas Obscura User
  im71202 / Atlas Obscura User
  CoolCrab / Atlas Obscura User
  im71202 / Atlas Obscura User
Across from the spring at the base of the temple is a tea house that serves tea with snacks   eliauw / Atlas Obscura User
Below the temple, you can drink from the spring for luck and health.   eliauw / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

In a shrine adjacent to the main hall of the Kiyomizu-Dera Temple in Kyoto, nearly 200 small, stone sculptures of the Buddhist deity Jizo wear bibs, placed by grieving parents who have lost children.

Jizo is the protector of unborn children and children who die very young and cannot cross the Sanzu River into the afterlife. It is believed that since they have caused their parents grief by dying so young and they did not live long enough to accrue good deeds, the souls of these children are condemned to having to pile stones by the Sanzu River to help their parents eventually reach the afterlife. They must constantly start over, because the piles are knocked over by demons. Jizo helps the children through this trial, hiding them in his robes when they feel afraid and encouraging them with mantras.

Dressing a Jizo statue is related to dressing a monk statue, a Buddhist tradition that helps one accrue merit for the afterlife. But grieving parents dress the statues of Jizo specifically as a way of thanking him for taking care of their children. They may put hats or robes on Jizo, or anything else, but the most common garment is a bib, like children of earlier times are believed to have worn (the bib can be any color, red is most common because it represents safety). 

The Kiyomizu-Dera Temple, a historic monument of ancient Kyoto, was founded 1,200 years ago, and the buildings that can be visited today have stood since 1633 without the benefit of nails. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was a finalist in the New 7 Wonders of the World campaign. An ancient statue of Kannon Bodhisattva, another deity (goddess of mercy), who has 11 faces and 1,00 arms, is put on display at the temple every 33 years.

The Japanese expression that translates to “to jump off the stage at Kiyomizu,” akin to “taking the plunge,” refers to the temple’s stage off the main hall, 43 feet off the ground. Many years ago, jumping off the stage was a way of determining whether or not you would get a wish granted. It is not allowed anymore.

Other attractions at the temple include the Otowa waterfall, over which the temple was built and from which the temple gets its name (which translates to “Pure Water Temple”). The waters are divided into three streams visitors can drink from for different benefits. At the Jishu Shrine, single people try to walk 60 feet between two “love stones” with their eyes closed. If they do so successfully, they will find love; if they do so with help, they will find love with assistance.

The temple itself is an amazing thing to see, as is the view from the stage off the main hall, especially in the spring and fall.

Related Tags

Temples Statues Death Clothing Shrines Unesco
Atlas Obscura Adventures

Hidden Japan: Sado Island, Nara & Kyoto

Explore a different side of Japan.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

abbyzoom

Edited By

eliauw, AaronNetsky, CoolCrab, im71202

  • eliauw
  • AaronNetsky
  • CoolCrab
  • im71202

Published

May 10, 2017

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://www.kiyomizudera.or.jp/en/learn/
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiyomizu-dera
  • http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3901.html
  • http://kyoto.travel/en/shrine_temple/131
  • http://www.japanvisitor.com/japan-temples-shrines/kiyomizu-temple
  • http://www.theworldisabook.com/21517/kiyomizu-dera-kyoto-with-kids/
  • http://www.annatrogo.com/2014/08/kiyomizuderazaka-kiyomizudera-asahizaka/
  • http://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2012/03/31/our-lives/a-guide-to-jizo-guardian-of-travelers-and-the-weak/#.WRHS5VLMzqQ
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kshitigarbha
  • https://books.google.com/books?id=Sd8NCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA65&lpg=PA65&dq=jizo+rescues+souls+of+children&source=bl&ots=BB5ti-Hb_N&sig=-_3mKNYBHzHE6p4BGazsA02Ztsc&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi72NWFjuPTAhWs5oMKHfWDDy8Q6AEIPjAE#v=onepage&q=jizo%20rescues%20souls%20of%20children&f=false
Kiyomizu-Dera Temple
Kiyomizu-Dera294 Kiyomizu 1-chōme
294 Kiyomizu 1-chōme Higashiyama-ku
Kyoto
Japan
34.994856, 135.785046
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Starbucks Ninenzaka Yasaka Chaya

Kyoto, Japan

miles away

Yasaka Kōshin-dō Temple

Kyoto, Japan

miles away

Rokudō Chin’nōji Temple

Kyoto, Japan

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Kyoto

Kyoto

Japan

Places 46
Stories 5

Nearby Places

Starbucks Ninenzaka Yasaka Chaya

Kyoto, Japan

miles away

Yasaka Kōshin-dō Temple

Kyoto, Japan

miles away

Rokudō Chin’nōji Temple

Kyoto, Japan

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Kyoto

Kyoto

Japan

Places 46
Stories 5

Related Places

  • Mythical canaries adorning the ceremonial hall.

    Tambon Pong Ngam, Thailand

    Wat Tham Pla

    A Buddhist shrine in a cave protected by macaques next to dark passages lined with creepy paintings.

  • Changu Narayan after earthquake in 2015.

    Changunarayan, Nepal

    Changu Narayan

    Dating back to the fourth century, it's the oldest Hindu temple still in use in the Kathmandu Valley.

  • Jizo statues at Zojoji Temple.

    Tokyo, Japan

    Garden of Unborn Children

    Rows of stone statues are dressed up to mourn children that are lost before birth.

  • Entrance gate to the Grand Matsu Temple

    Tainan City, Taiwan

    Grand Matsu Temple

    Only through deep darkness and tragedy did this elaborate royal palace become a sacred temple.

  • Marc Bolan’s Rock Shrine

    London, England

    Marc Bolan's Rock Shrine

    A roadside shrine to a late rock god only remains thanks to the unyielding efforts of his fans.

  • Kaohsiung City, Taiwan

    Hongmaogang Baoan Temple

    A rare Japanese-style temple and a Shinzo Abe Statue, honoring both spirits of the past and modern connections between Taiwan and Japan.

  • A strange little shrine in Osaka.

    Osaka, Japan

    Billiken-san

    Up on the iconic Tsutenkaku Tower sits an American mascot that became Osaka’s own lucky god.

  • A view from the temple.

    Taipei, Taiwan

    Hunglodei Nanshan Fude Temple

    A temple featuring a giant Tudigong statue, quirky roadside dinosaurs, and stunning Taipei panoramas.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.