The temple is part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto UNESCO World Heritage Site.

[2][3] In 798, the shogun Sakanoue Tamuramaro improved the site by including a large hall that was reassembled from the palace of Emperor Kammu (r. 781–806).

[5] Jishu Shrine possesses a pair of "love stones" placed 10 meters (30 feet) apart,[8] which lonely visitors can try to walk between with their eyes closed.

The site is particularly popular during festivals, especially at New Year's and during obon in the summer, when additional booths fill the grounds selling traditional holiday foodstuffs and souvenirs.

Kiyomizu-dera is located in the foothills of Mount Otowa, part of the Higashiyama mountain range that dominates eastern Kyoto.

The main hall has a large veranda, supported by tall pillars using kakezukuri [ja], that juts out over the hillside and offers views of the city.