The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, will begin selling a stay plan on Friday, October 23, 2026, that includes an early morning visit to Kiyomizu-dera led by a Kiyomizu-dera monk. The plan, "Journey to Open a New Chapter in Life" (人生の新章をひらく旅), is aimed at people reaching a milestone in life.
Through a prayer for warding off misfortune in the inner sanctuary of the Main Hall, which is normally closed to the public, and a Buddhist talk by the monk, the plan offers time to reflect on the years ahead.
A Journey for Life's Turning Points
The plan speaks to those who have finished raising children, seen their parents off and spent their days centered on work and family, and who are now moving toward a life for themselves. Life has turning points, known as "life transitions," at which a person closes a chapter on the roles they have carried and steps toward a new way of living.
The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu has prepared this special stay plan for people at such a milestone.
The plan takes place around Setsubun, when winter turns to spring. Before the city wakes up, guests walk through the quiet grounds of World Heritage Kiyomizu-dera with a monk as their guide. The guide is Reverend 大西 晶允, a monk who grew up within the Kiyomizu-dera grounds. Through the history of Kiyomizu-dera and the teachings of the Buddha, he invites guests to spend quiet time facing themselves.
By the time the visit ends, Kyoto, wrapped in the stillness of night, gradually takes on its morning look. With the excitement of a new day beginning, guests can think about the possibilities and pleasures that lie ahead in life, and the trip is meant to be a first step toward them.
Plan Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Sales start | Friday, October 23, 2026 |
| Stay date | Saturday, January 30, 2027 (limited to 30 guests) |
| Included | One night with breakfast and a special early morning visit to Kiyomizu-dera |
| Visit date | Sunday, January 31, 2027 |
| Rate | Member rate: from ¥106,600 per person (when two guests share one room) |
| Details | Plan page (official site) |
| Inquiries | TEL: 075-532-1130 (9:30 AM to 6:00 PM) |
Course Schedule
The schedule may change depending on the weather on the day.
- Depart the hotel (6:30 AM)
- Arrive at Kiyomizu-dera (6:40 AM)
- West Gate, an Important Cultural Property (normally closed to the public)
- Main Hall, a National Treasure
- Prayer for warding off misfortune in the inner sanctuary of the Main Hall (normally closed to the public)
- Okunoin
- Buddhist talk at Jojuin (normally closed to the public)
- Disband at Kiyomizu-dera (around 8:00 AM)
A goshuin (temple seal) from Kiyomizu-dera and an original goshuin book from the hotel are also presented.
From Kiyomizu Elementary School to a Heritage Hotel
The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu opened in 2020 in the historic school building of the former Kiyomizu Elementary School. The school opened in Meiji 2 (1869) as 下京第二十七番組小学校 and moved to its current site in 1933, when a new building was constructed. It was a beloved community hub, but it closed in March 2011 because of the declining number of children, ending its role as an elementary school.
The hotel carries on the history and design of the school building that the community cherished for many years, under the concept of "engraving memories and connecting them to the future," and has taken on a new role as a heritage hotel. Facing the approach to World Heritage Kiyomizu-dera, it offers a memorable stay through views that can be seen only from this location and experiences unique to the hotel.
