Kiyomizu Falls

Kiyomizu waterfall is situated upstream Kiyomizu River, which is a tributary running into Kasegawa River, and it is also known as Tamasudare Waterfall (meaning "Precious Stone Screen"). The 13-meter wide waterfall is magnificent as it hurtles down a 75-meter sheer drop, and its beauty is a sight to behold. The stone beside the waterfall is in memory of Kiyo Kuranaga, a samurai of Munenori Nabeshima, the 6th ruler of Hizen, who had come to the falls to pray for his master's recovery from a serious illness, but died from the cold while doing so. This stone was erected in 1787, and apparently it was from around that time that the custom of purification ceremonies at waterfalls began to spread. Since ancient times, Kiyomizu waterfall has been famous among Kannon followers and Kiyomizu Kannon Hojiin, at the exit of the waterfall basin, is a temple on hallowed ground. Every year on the Day of the Ox, Kiyomizu waterfall is visited by crowds of people coming to pray. The waterfall's water is so fresh it has been chosen as one of the top 100 waters of Japan, and the nearby city of Ogi is famous for various cuisine using carp, such as koikoku (carp soup) and koi-no-arai, which have been exposed to this fresh water.