The streets leading up to Kiyomizudera are very traditional Japanese style, and full of vendors selling Kyoto’s excellent mochi (if you look like you are interested, you might get a free sample), or soft-serve green-tea ice-cream (the one I had was a little short on green tea). There must be some formal reason to go to the temple, since you will always see a couple middle-aged ladies in kimono at the larger temples.