Byodo-In Temple

“Absolutely stunning must see! We arrived early and beat the buses! It took us about 30 minutes to walk around the property. We bought fish food and fed all of the Koi fish, which was a lot of fun. They have a small gift shop. When in the temple, they ask you to be quiet and take off your shoes. The temple inside is very beautiful. On a hold the place is just absolutely serene and breathtaking. Make sure you bang the gong even if you have to wait in line it’s definitely worth it.”

— I Know Places

“In the quiet riverside town of Uji, just outside Kyoto, stands one of Japan’s most breathtaking cultural treasures: Byodo-in. Visiting this UNESCO World Heritage Site is not merely sightseeing — it is stepping into the elegance and spiritual refinement of the Heian period. I highly recommend taking your time here. Slow down and truly absorb the graceful architecture of the temple and the harmony of its surrounding gardens. Every angle reveals thoughtful design, where structure and nature exist in perfect balance. The gardens are especially enchanting. I visited Byōdō-in in the winter, when the grounds carried a peaceful, almost meditative stillness. The bare trees and crisp air created a calm, reflective atmosphere that felt intimate and serene. Your entry ticket includes access to the on-site museum, which offers fascinating insight into the temple’s history and artifacts. However, if you wish to enter the Phoenix Hall, there is an additional fee of 300 yen. It is well worth it. Inside, you can view the magnificent golden Amida Buddha statue up close — an awe-inspiring experience that feels both humbling and sacred. Photography is not permitted in the Phoenix Hall, and visitors are required to remove their shoes before entering, preserving the sanctity of the space. Leaving the temple grounds, you carry more than photographs. You carry a sense of grace, history, and reverence that lingers long after the gates close behind you. Byōdō-in is not just a landmark — it is a living testament to timeless beauty. 🌸”

— Rathida Oum

“Beautiful temple you could definitely feel the spiritual energy and peace that’s surrounds it. Parking is a bit of a hassle if you don’t get there early and there is a entrance fee, which isn’t bad. They have a fruit/juice stand on site which serves really good drinks but are a little pricey. They also have a small gift shop with very unique stuff as well as a few vendors on each side of the temple which I find a little weird, but it’s nice to see them support local businesses. It was really an enlightening experience being inside the temple as well as ringing the bell. They sell bird/fish food at the gift shop for relatively cheap for the amount that you get and you could feed both the fish and the birds with the same food. The birds will land on you and eat right out of your hand and a fish will literally jump on top of each other to get a few bits of the food, it lasted quite a while so you do get your moneys worth. It seems that this place stays pretty crowded so it’s hard to get solid pictures, but everybody seems to be respectful of everything so there are areas where you could find a good angle or take some solid pictures and also just enjoy with the scenery if you want. I would say it’s definitely a place to stop by once on your trip and spend an hour or two enjoying everything.”

— Jose Florian