UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan

For UNESCO World Heritage Site nerds like me, the prefecture of Kyoto, having 16 sites inscribed in the list under "Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto", is a wonderland:

Also part of the "Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto" list is Enryakuji 延暦寺. This temple is located in Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture.

I would probably need a week to visit all these sites! But we didn't have a week, we only had a day left in Kyoto and we decided to visit the three most popular...and probably the most crowded.

Directions to Kiyomizu-dera: Take bus 86 / 100 / 106 / 110 / 202 / 206 / 207 to Gojozaka or Kiyomizu-michi bus stop. From either stop, it is a 10-minute uphill walk to Kiyomizu-dera.

It was my mistake that I did not read up on Kiyomizu-dera before visiting. Had I done so, I would have spent more time in this temple rather than just let myself get caught in the sea of visitors having a look-see at the vermilion gates, pagoda, and buildings.

Right by the base of the Hondo (main hall), I'd have drank a scoop of water from one of the streams of Otowa Waterfall (there are three streams: for study, for good health, for a romantic relationship) rather than just observe the other visitors do so. And I'd have elbowed my way through the crowd to get to Jishu Shrine, located behind the Hondo, just to touch the love stones! Guess I will have to go back to Kiyomizu-dera to try my luck at love! ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).