Kiyomizu Kannon Temple, Tokyo

Tokyo's oldest temple is Kiyomizu Kannon Temple. Built in 1632, is one of the few surviving structures from the Kan'ei-ji temple. Most of the other buildings were destroyed in 1868 during the Battle of Ueno. It was only five years later that the area surrounding Kiyomizu Kannon was established as a public park.

Today, the park that is home to Kiyomizu Kannon is called Ueno Park. The park includes museums, public art, a Shinto shrine, a mausoleum and a monument to United States President Ulysses S. Grant.

The Ueno Zoo is a popular feature of the park. It is home to animals like the aye-aye, giant panda, two-toed sloth and the sumatran tiger.

Visitors to Kiyomizu Kannon Temple can spend a full day at the park seeing these and many other highlights. However, it is argued that the most notable structure in the park is the temple itself.

The main temple has a platform that looks over the pine tree of a moon, which is a pine tree that has grown into a circular shape. It also has an enshrined image of Kosodate Kannon, who is the protectress of child-bearing. Women wishing to become pregnant can buy charms near the temple hoping to aid in their quest.