Byodoin Temple
Byodoin Temple
4.5
Historic SitesPoints of Interest & LandmarksReligious Sites
8:30 AM - 5:15 PM
Monday
8:30 AM - 5:15 PM
Tuesday
8:30 AM - 5:15 PM
Wednesday
8:30 AM - 5:15 PM
Thursday
8:30 AM - 5:15 PM
Friday
8:30 AM - 5:15 PM
Saturday
8:30 AM - 5:15 PM
Sunday
8:30 AM - 5:15 PM
About
Temple near Kyoto; famous statue of seated Buudha by 11th-century sculptor, Jocho.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Southern Kyoto
Southern Kyoto has a reserved air. Though the Fushimi Inari Shrine is one of Kyoto's major tourist attractions, the surrounding nature, parks, gardens, temples, and shrines provide less-visited spaces for strolling and reflection. The Fushimi Inari Shrine itself is made up of 32,000 sub-shrines, and the mountain they are dotted across beckons hikers, picnickers, and lovers of the outdoors. Many of the mountain's off-set paths aren't frequented by tourists, and the mountain's serenity can be enjoyed at a leisurely pace. Southern Kyoto is the place to enjoy being outside, and to pay your respects to the ancient architecture and gods of the land that are celebrated here.
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See what travellers are saying
  • Daydream52743860885
    Agui-cho, Japan6 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Byodoin Temple: A Nice Side Trip
    It is a gorgeous temple with a long and storied history. It's featured on the ten yen coin which every guide book will tell you ad nauseam. The view from the outside is picture perfect in sun and rain. The museum is also interesting and you can download an English recorded tour on the On The Trip app for iPhones and Android phones for a little less than 500 yen. We skipped the tour inside the temple itself as the lines were long and it was raining and my kids were hungry. On that front, there are a lot of great places to eat. If you like matcha (green tea) flavour you will be in heaven. Only my oldest kid likes it but you can find non-green tea flavoured things to eat. 2 thumbs up for the green tea flavoured ramen noodles and gyoza (pot stickers). The green tea flavour wasn't too strong for those of us who don't like it. It is a nice walk from the nearest station, JR Uji Eki, and there are plenty of touristy shops mixed with local shops along the way to keep you interested. Be warned that most of the shops are cash only. No credit cards accepted. So bring enough cash. Definitely worth the visit.
    Visited February 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written March 10, 2024
  • Frank M
    Long Beach, California523 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Go here to avoid Inari Shrine crowds
    If you want to miss the maddening crowds of Inari Shrine or other overrun Kyoto attractions, take a 12 km train ride to Uji and visit this gorgeous temple (the image on the ÂĄ10 coin). Lovingly restored in the last 15 years, the crowds were in the 100s rather than the thousands and well worth your time to get there. The well-organized museum is worth a spin through and the side gardens and structures are also worth a look.
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled solo
    Written June 9, 2024
  • Toru O
    Setagaya, Japan3,223 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A piece of history worth visiting
    Built in 1052 and was never destroyed by fire, natural disaster, or war, this piece of history is located in Uji, Kyoto. It's also the image of the 10-yen coin. You can take a guided tour and go inside the temple for 600 yen. Unfortunately, they only offer guidance in Japanese and it would have been nice if they offer a headphone set that describes the details regarding the temple complex. They have a museum within the premises that you can visit for no added fees.
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written June 16, 2024
  • ZN9999
    Mollymook, Australia465 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    A classic in Kyoto while worth going too
    Been too Kyoto many times but never stopped here. Seen it from the train on the way to Nara. So I wonder why I hadn't gone before. It's another unique temple and garden, different from the others in Kyoto. Not bust at all during our visit but we had missed the wisteria displays. Still again well worth the trip. Close by the tea from Uji.
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written June 30, 2024
  • Sean C
    Haleiwa, Hawaii1,739 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful temple& grounds, must see!
    Must see! We had to stop here and see this temple, as we have been to the replica located on Oahu, Hawaii. The temple is breathtaking, and the grounds are beautiful. With admission there is option to go inside the temple at an assigned time. We assembled 15min before entry time and went with a large group inside the temple. It was nice to see and hear the history. Also, there was a tea room on the grounds for tea and small snacks, which was a nice touch.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written August 6, 2024
  • geo3
    Calgary, Canada1,893 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful temple, nice gardens
    Worth the short trip by train from Kyoto, as this is a beautiful temple. It was also quite uncrowded. The walk from the train station to the temple passes many good restaurants, tea shops, or places serving green tea ice cream (yum). There were quite a few Japanese women walking around in traditional costumes, which added to the atmosphere.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written August 8, 2024
  • OntarioTraveler9
    Burlington, Canada755 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing temple structure
    Byodo-in Temple in Uji is simply an amazing place with gorgeous Phoenix Hall and its reflection in the water. The museum is also quite impressive with its collection of artifacts. You have to pay extra to visit the museum and the Phoenix Hall in addition to the admission to the ground, and no photos are allowed inside. However, just walking around the ground I think is still worth the trip.
    Visited July 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written August 19, 2024
  • Cme1234
    Singapore, Singapore1,076 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The main attraction in Uji
    This is the main and only attraction in Uji. If you can afford the time, you can consider visiting this when you visit Kobe. The temple is beautiful but definitely not the best. You will have to pay extra for a guided visit into the temple and I definitely do not recommend joining this unless you understand Japanese as the narrator only spoke Japanese.
    Visited August 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written August 19, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles1,675 reviews
Excellent
872
Very good
650
Average
133
Poor
13
Terrible
7

These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
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A&S
125 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Friends
Beautiful temple on the outskirts of Kyoto, the only flaw is that to enter the Phoenix Hall you need to book for the first available group (every 20 minutes) and pay an additional ticket of 300 yen. The problem is that once inside the guide's explanation is only in Japanese, you cannot have a simultaneous translator turned on and you cannot take photos. Yes, the Buddha statue is very beautiful, but for a foreigner the wait to enter and visit is not worth the price paid.
Visit to the temple recommended, entrance to the Sala della Fenice no.
Google
Written October 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

izyphotos
Mascot, Australia691 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2021
The temple was designated to UNESCO World Heritage Site. The most famous building in the temple, the Phoenix Hall which hold the Amida Buddha statue and two statues of phoenix on the roof. The hall is pictured on 10 yen coin. Although Byodo-in Temple is one of the greatest and most spectacular temples in Kyoto, many visitors skip to visit there since it’s located in Uji city, which is approx 30 mins away from Kyoto station by train. So if you want to avoid mass crowds at Kyoto’s tourist sights, this temple is a really great destination. It really is spectacular to see. From Kyoto station, take the Nara line to Uji and walk about 15 mins. Don't forget to try some matcha in town as it is famous for this.
Written January 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Daniel Setiawan
South Tangerang, Indonesia169 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
This is the shrine on your ÂĄ10 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 that huge so you can just allocate less than 1 hour. This city is also famous for their matcha so don't forget to buy one is you a big fan of matcha.
Written March 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

akashi-rokuro
16,750 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2024 • Family
Byodo-in is probably the Phoenix Hall, which is popular with the entire nation for its 10 yen coin. The admission to the inside is extra. The number of visitors to the inside is limited, and you can't enter until much later when it's crowded. I didn't have time for an internal visit. Most people took photos from the same front as the 10-yen coin composition. I saw many people taking selfies with 10-yen coins. I was surprised to learn that the phoenix symbol of the Phoenix Hall is a replica. The real one is in Hoshokan.
Automatically translated
Written August 4, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Paul P
Singapore, Singapore235 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2022 • Couples
The temple everyone will visit if you go Uji. It’s a 10-15min walk after alighting at Uji Station. No worries about directions since everyone heads there. The attraction itself requires a 600 yen entry fee, and more if you wish to visit the Central shrine.

Nice and calming place to visit, good to come when there are not so much tourists yet. The attraction itself you can spend 1-2 hours just sitting around and enjoying the nice landscape/softscape.
Written December 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Matteo Pedroni
Cremona, Italy12 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Friends
We stayed at the temple during our stay in Kyoto. What can I say... magnificent! The temple is very suggestive and the fact that it is built inside a lake makes everything more fascinating with the reflection of the red walls in the water.
There is an entrance fee, both for the temple complex (including the museum) and for the visit inside the Buddha hall, but it is definitely worth it. A must for anyone visiting Uji.
Google
Written February 22, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Daydream52743860885
Agui-cho, Japan6 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Family
It is a gorgeous temple with a long and storied history. It's featured on the ten yen coin which every guide book will tell you ad nauseam. The view from the outside is picture perfect in sun and rain. The museum is also interesting and you can download an English recorded tour on the On The Trip app for iPhones and Android phones for a little less than 500 yen.

We skipped the tour inside the temple itself as the lines were long and it was raining and my kids were hungry. On that front, there are a lot of great places to eat. If you like matcha (green tea) flavour you will be in heaven. Only my oldest kid likes it but you can find non-green tea flavoured things to eat. 2 thumbs up for the green tea flavoured ramen noodles and gyoza (pot stickers). The green tea flavour wasn't too strong for those of us who don't like it.

It is a nice walk from the nearest station, JR Uji Eki, and there are plenty of touristy shops mixed with local shops along the way to keep you interested. Be warned that most of the shops are cash only. No credit cards accepted. So bring enough cash.

Definitely worth the visit.
Written March 10, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Cme1234
Singapore, Singapore1,076 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2024 • Friends
This is the main and only attraction in Uji. If you can afford the time, you can consider visiting this when you visit Kobe.

The temple is beautiful but definitely not the best. You will have to pay extra for a guided visit into the temple and I definitely do not recommend joining this unless you understand Japanese as the narrator only spoke Japanese.
Written August 19, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

neko_don
Osaka, Japan3,151 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Friends
Wear comfortable shoes.
There are toilets in the temple grounds and elsewhere, and they are very clean.
I was surprised to see that they even have washlets.
The temple grounds are large, so I recommend wearing comfortable shoes to walk in.
There is also a building that displays the decorations inside Byodoin Temple, and the facilities are well-equipped.
There is also a wide selection of souvenirs, so it's fun to choose.
The matcha tea at the attached cafe is delicious and fragrant, and I highly recommend it.
Google
Written February 18, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

OntarioTraveler9
Burlington, Canada755 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2024 • Family
Byodo-in Temple in Uji is simply an amazing place with gorgeous Phoenix Hall and its reflection in the water. The museum is also quite impressive with its collection of artifacts. You have to pay extra to visit the museum and the Phoenix Hall in addition to the admission to the ground, and no photos are allowed inside. However, just walking around the ground I think is still worth the trip.
Written August 19, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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BYODOIN TEMPLE - All You MUST Know Before You Go (2024)

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