Kiyomizu-dera

The wooden stage jutting from the main hall, 13 meters above the hillside, is one of Kyoto's great views, and the main hall and stage were built without nails. The catch is the approach: the steep, busy lanes of Higashiyama that lead up to it. The gates open at 6:00, far earlier than most temples, which is the whole trick. Arrive then and you can stand at the railing looking over the treetops toward the city with room to breathe, then walk down through the old streets while they are still quiet.