Kiyomizu Temple

At about noon, Ken had to get going, and left us to do some sightseeing on our own. I decided to show my mom the famous Kiyomizu Temple. In the old days, this large stage was used for noh plays, and many performers fell to their deaths from this platform. Several more committed suicide by jumping off from here. There is a saying in Japan that an endeavormay be "like jumping off the Kiyomizu stage," used to describe summoning one's courage before plunging into the unknown. Because it was almost New Year's, this temple was extremely packed.