Spectacular Fall Foliage Viewing at Kiyomizu-dera Despite Heavy Crowds!

Kiyomizu-dera is one of the most iconic temples and undoubtedly one of the most spectacular destinations to see fall colors in Kyoto. This temple draws crowds year-round, but during our November visit, it was noticeably more crowded than when we had previously visited in May. Despite that, the vibrant fall foliage (though not even at its peak yet) was truly a sight to behold.

I’m not sure if it is because we currently live in a big Asian city, or maybe it was the sheer magnificence of the scenery, but we were not overly bothered by its crowdedness. On this trip, we had already seen stunning fall foliage at quite a lot of places across Kyoto and Nara. Initially, we had planned to make Kiyomizu-dera an optional stop, unsure of how overwhelming the crowds might be. In hindsight, we are glad we decided to visit after our lunch at Himatsuri Kodaiji in Gion and witness its fiery foliage in golden afternoon sun. All the photos we took were on November 28, 2024, when the fall color progress was around 80%.

To get to Kiyomizu-dera, most visitors will need to walk through Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka. We normally avoid these streets since there are much quieter and nicer areas in Gion. This time, the crowds along these streets were quite intense, so we made our way briskly toward the Niomon Gate without lingering.

Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka streets leading to Kiyomizu-dera packed with tourists in autumn in Kyoto. — Busy streets leading to Kiyomizu-dera

From the gate through the Main Hall and Okuno-in Hall, the crowds remained heavy, though the wider spaces allowed people to spread out a bit more compared to Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka. If you are hoping to take photos with yourself or your companions free of strangers in the background, it might be challenging. However, there are countless opportunities to capture the stunning scenery on its own.

crowded Niomon Gate in November at Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto. — Niomon Gate

Looking out from the Main Hall’s wooden stage, supported by hundreds of wooden pillars, we were in awe of the panoramic views of the surrounding hillside. The valley below had transformed into a sea of fiery maple leaves, a breathtaking sight that sets Kiyomizu-dera apart from many other places (also why it is worth seeing!). Unlike most locations where you look up to admire the foliage, here, you look down from the balcony, and it feels as if an ocean of vibrant red and orange leaves stretches out before you.

spectacular fall foliage below Kiyomizu-dera's main hall wooden stage, the best in Kyoto. — Fall foliage below the wooden stage

Though there was also a sea of people, the vivid valley ablaze with fiery maple leaves against the temple’s dark wooden architecture left us a lasting impression. I actually think some of the photos may not look as good without the crowds in them! The scene extended to the far side, where the Koyasu Pagoda peeked through the trees, providing a stunning focal point.

view of Koyasu pagoda with beautiful fall foliage at Kiyomizu-dera temple in Kyoto. — View of Koyasu Pagoda

view of Okunoin Hall with fall colors Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto. — Okuno-in Hall

Otowa waterfall at Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto in the fall. — Otowa waterfall

The temple grounds have several paths winding through the gardens and trees, and the crowds will thin out a bit as you explore deeper. Along these paths, we paused to admire and photograph the vibrant three-storied pagoda framed by the striking autumn leaves. The intricate architecture of the pagoda stood out against the bright blue sky, while the red and orange hues of the foliage added a dramatic touch.

view of Sanjunoto, Kiyomizu-dera's three-storied pagoda framed by vibrant fall colors. — Sanjunoto, the three-storied pagoda at Kiyomizu-dera

a walking path framed by fall foliage at Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto. — A walking path

We continued our walk to the Koyasu Pagoda, and from there, we could see a full view of Kiyomizu-dera’s Main Hall perched on its wooden stilts, surrounded by colorful foliage. This area was the least crowded part of the temple grounds.

view of Kiyomizu-dera Hondo main hall with fall colors. — View of the Main Hall from Koyasu Pagoda

In the end, we found it worth navigating through the crowds to view the spectacular and unique fall foliage at Kiyomizu-dera. Compared to our visit in May, the scenery was far more memorable. Yes, it was crowded, and some visitors seemed to spend more effort posing for photos than necessary, but the stunning beauty of the surroundings quickly made us forget any minor inconveniences.

Kiyomizu-dera also holds special night illuminations during the fall foliage season. While we decided not to attend this time, we think the scenery would also be enchanting, judging from what we saw at the night illuminations of Eikando temple.

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