Byodo-in is a Heian-era Buddhist temple in Uji, Kyoto Prefecture, founded in 1052 when the court regent Fujiwara no Yorimichi converted a family villa into a temple. Its iconic Phoenix Hall (Hoo-do), an Amida hall built in 1053, mirrors on its pond to evoke the Buddhist Pure Land and appears on Japan's 10-yen coin. It was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994 as one of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto.
The Phoenix Hall (Hoo-do): its symmetrical, winged silhouette and paired phoenix ornaments reflect in the Aji Pond to recreate a vision of paradise.
The National Treasure seated Amida Buddha, carved by the Heian master Jocho using the joined-wood 'yosegi' technique.
A pair of gilt-bronze phoenixes crowning the hall's roof and the finely carved 'praying bodhisattvas on clouds' along the walls.
The Hoshokan Museum, where original phoenixes, the temple bell, and cloud bodhisattvas can be viewed up close indoors.
Spotting the real-life subjects of the 10-yen coin (the hall) and the 10,000-yen note (the phoenix).
Good to know
RulesPhotography is prohibited inside the Phoenix Hall and inside the Hoshokan Museum. Photos of the garden and the hall's exterior are allowed.
RulesEntering the Phoenix Hall interior requires a separate fee on top of garden admission (verify latest), sold same-day on site as timed, capacity-limited slots at roughly 20-minute intervals.
SeasonInterior tickets often sell out by midday on weekends and in peak seasons, so secure a timed slot immediately upon arrival.
MannersThe hall interior is a National Treasure space: do not touch or lean on the doors, pillars, or beams, do not sit, and follow the guide quietly during the escorted viewing.
SeasonWisteria peaks from late April to early May, drawing large crowds to Uji and Byodo-in; check bloom status and arrive early to avoid congestion.
Practical info
About a 10-minute walk from JR Uji Station (Nara Line) or a 15-minute walk from Keihan Uji Station. The garden and Hoshokan are generally open 8:45-17:30 (last entry 17:15; the museum closes a bit earlier), with Phoenix Hall interior viewings offered in timed slots roughly 9:30-16:10. Fees, hours, and interior access can change for ceremonies, so confirm the latest details on the official website before visiting.
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