Byodoin

Temple

4.5

A Buddhist temple located in Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture that was founded in 1052 when Fujiwara no Michinaga, the father of Fujiwara no Yorimichi, turned a villa he had inherited into a temple. Due to the pessimism of the time which believed the world was coming to an end, Pure Land Buddhism grew in popularity, and the temple’s hall was designed to recreate the Western Paradise, a key aspect of the faith. The luxurious hall enshrines a seated figure of Amitabha created by the Buddhist sculptor Jocho. Most of the original temple excluding the main hall, Kannon hall, and bell tower were destroyed by fire. In the Byodoin Museum Hoshokan, however, visitors can view a Chinese Phoenix depicted on the ceiling and temple bell (National Treasures) as well as 26 of the 52 floating bodhisattva figures suspended from the ceiling of the main hall.

Spot details

Address: Kyoto Ujishi Uji Renge 116
Area: Around Uji Area
Phone: 0774212861
Hours: [Garden] 8:30-17:30 (Information desk closed 17:15) [Museum Hoshokan] 9:00-17:00 (Information desk closed 16:45) [Visit inside Phoenix Hall] 9:30-16:10 (Reception starts from 9:00, 20 people each every 20 minutes from 9:30)
Closed: open everyday
Fees: [Admission fee (Garden Byodoin Museum Hoshokan)] Adults600yen, junior and senior high school students 400yen, Elementary school students300yen * The phoenix hall is 300yen separately
Parking Lot: Not available * Fee parking lot available nearby
Credit Card: Not available
Smoking: Not available
Wi-Fi: Available (docomo Wi-Fi, Kyoto Free Wi-Fi, etc.)
English Menu: Available
Can be enjoyed even on a rainy day: Yes
Average budget: [Lunch] 1-1,000yen
Estimated stay time: 60-120 minutes
Wheelchair accessible: Yes (rental available)
Infant friendly: Available
Pet friendly: Possible (Museum Phoenix Hall, Phoenix Hall, Chabo Fujihana excluded)

Information Sources: NAVITIME JAPAN

Articles about this spot

Review

Very nice UNESCO site

Reviewed：2021.03.16

Easy access from either train stations. Well kept buildings and facilities. Need to pay extra ¥300 to go inside the main hall. The museum was nice but not many explanations in English. This temple is...
Shrine on your ¥10 Coin

Reviewed：2020.03.01

This is the shrine on your ¥10 coin. Located in uji around 20 minutes with train from kyoto station to uji station. You can find this shrine around 10 minutes walk from uji station. This place is not...
Exquisite

Reviewed：2020.02.20

Byodo-in must be one of the most underrated attractions in Japan - usually guidebooks and websites highlight the Kinkaku-ji, Himeji-jo and the Kiyomizu-dera as places to visit, without mentioning the...