Byodo-in Temple

UNESCO World Heritage

平等院

Byodo-in is a temple in Uji City, outside Kyoto City, and part of the World Heritage site. It was first a villa by the Uji River, and Fujiwara no Yorimichi made it a temple in 1052. The famous Phoenix Hall has a phoenix on its roof and a statue of Amida Buddha by the sculptor Jocho, with 52 Bodhisattva figures playing music on clouds. You can also walk in the garden and see National Treasures up close in the Hoshokan museum. Entry inside Phoenix Hall is limited and first come, first served, so arrive early.

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Visitor information

Opening hours: Garden: 8:45–17:30 (last entry 17:15). Hoshokan Museum: 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:45).
Closed: The garden and Hoshokan Museum are open every day of the year.
Admission: Garden + Hoshokan Museum: adults 700 yen, junior high/high school students 400 yen, elementary students 300 yen. There is no garden-only ticket.
Getting there: About a 10-minute walk from Uji Station on the JR Nara Line, or from Uji Station on the Keihan Uji Line. The temple is in Uji City, not in Kyoto City.
Time needed: About 40 minutes to see the outside of Phoenix Hall and the Hoshokan Museum.

Hours and fees can change. Please check the official website before you go.

Good to know

Phoenix Hall interior: 9:30–16:10, groups of up to 35 people every 20 minutes, 300 yen per person. Tickets are given first come, first served from 9:10 at the counter inside the garden, until they run out.
Crowding: in busy seasons there is a wait only for the Phoenix Hall interior, because time and numbers are limited.
Wheelchairs: the Phoenix Hall interior, part of the garden (behind the hall) and Saisho-in have steps and cannot be visited in a wheelchair. Both toilets on the grounds have wheelchair-accessible toilets.

Tips for Muslim visitors

Only 35 people can enter Phoenix Hall at a time, with a set-time ticket. You may have to wait, and waits are longer at some times of year.
Viewing the outside of Phoenix Hall and the Hoshokan Museum usually takes 40–50 minutes. The time inside Phoenix Hall comes on top of that.
Buddhist temples welcome visitors of all faiths. You can enjoy the buildings and gardens without joining any prayer, burning incense or buying charms.
Many halls ask you to take off your shoes. Wear socks and shoes that are easy to slip off, and keep a bag for your shoes if none is provided.
Photography is often not allowed inside halls. Follow the signs and ask staff if you are unsure.
Plan your visit around prayer times. Below are today's prayer times for Kyoto and the verified places to pray nearby.
Food stalls and shops near popular sights usually do not have halal certification. Check the ingredients, or choose from the verified places on this site.