Every traveler in Japan must have had the Byodo-in in his hands at least once, without paying attention. For this magnificent building in Uji, a small town in Kansai, simply decorates the back of ¥10 coins.
Built in 998, at first the Byodo-in was used as a second home for the politician Minamoto no Shigenobu. Bought after his death by one of the senior members of the Fujiwara clan, the villa was converted into a Buddhist temple in 1052. The building which can be visited today did not appear until the following year (under the original name Amida-do). The other ones were destroyed during a civil war in 1336.
Thus, of the original building, remains only this main element: Hoo-do, literally the "Phoenix Hall". It takes its particular name from the form created by structures on each side, which unfold like the wings of the famous bird. On the roof, there are also two golden phoenix statues.
It is possible to visit the interior of the lobby and admire and a (three meters high) sitting sculpture of Amida Buddha covered with gold leaf. The guided tour in Japanese lasts about twenty minutes, but taking pictures is forbidden. Classical Yamato-e paintings adorn the great doors of the surrounding woods.
The outside visit is organized around the pond, in a beautiful frame even accompanied by a few cherry blossoms in spring. Further back, a modern building is dedicated to the treasures and history of Byodo-in.
A World Heritage and Unesco site, Uji is located just a short distance south of Kyoto. Going to the Byodo-in, National Treasure of Japan, is a short and very pleasant stroll, if somewhat expensive. On the JR Nara line, the tour also combines ideally with Fushimi Inari Taisha or Tofuku-ji in one single day.
Information
How to get to Byodo-in
By train -- Uji Station (from Kyoto Station, 16 minutes by express train on JR Nara line) and then 15 minute walk
By car or taxi -- Address: 116 Ujirenge Uji-shi, Kyoto Prefecture 611-0021 (tel: 774 212861)
Location reachable with the JRP : order your Japan Rail Pass (from ~US$ 281)
Admission
Adults: ¥600 (~US$ 5.50)
College / school students: ¥400 (~US$ 3.70)
Schoolchildren: ¥300 (~US$ 2.80)
Handicapped people and one accompanying: half price
¥300 extra fee to visit the interior of the Phoenix hall
Get your Japanese Yens free of charge
Opening hours
Open every day of the year
Temple gardens: from 8:30am to 5:30pm (last entry at 5:15)
Inside the Phoenix hall: from 9:10am to 4:10pm (50 people maximum every 20 minutes)
Hoshokan museum: from 9am to 5pm (last entry at 4:45)
How long / when to visit
Between one and two hours
Best season: cherry blossoms
In Japanese
平等院 (Byôdôin)
Construction work
Phoenix hall restoration from September 2012 to September 2014
Connexion internet
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Related topics
Resources
Official website (in English)