Standing majestically on the wooded hills in East Kyoto, Kiyomizudera, or the Pure Water Temple, is one of the most celebrated religious buildings in Japan. A place of pilgrimage for locals and a favorite with tourists, the Higashiyama District in

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Standing majestically on the wooded hills in East Kyoto, Kiyomizudera, or the Pure Water Temple, is one of the most celebrated religious buildings in Japan. A place of pilgrimage for locals and a favorite with tourists, the Higashiyama District in which it is located bustles with souvenir shops, restaurants, and ryokans. Here, children can people-watch before taking in the wonderful city view from the iconic temple's ornate wooden terrace. Lovelorn teens might like to visit the Jishu-jinja shrine, which is dedicated to Okuninushi No-mikoto, the god of love and marriage. Trying to walk in a straight line between the "blind rocks" (they're called that because you have to do it with your eyes closed) is good fun for visitors of all ages. Success is supposed to bring luck in love. A sip of water from the Otowa waterfall, meanwhile, is said to cure all ailments.

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