Byodo-in, Uji

宇治平等院

The Phoenix Hall pictured on the 10-yen coin, a prime example of Heian-period Pure Land garden design, paired with Uji River and the tea shops of Byodo-in's approach for a classic matcha day trip from Kyoto.

Byōdō-in is located in Uji, Kyoto Prefecture. In 1052, the regent Fujiwara no Yorimichi converted his father Fujiwara no Michinaga's villa into a temple. The Amida Hall, completed the following year, is the Phoenix Hall, a masterpiece of Pure Land Buddhist architecture from the Heian period. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1994 as part of 'Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto'. The Phoenix Hall stands on an island in the Aji Pond. Its central hall has wing corridors extending from both sides, and a pair of gilt bronze phoenixes stands on the roof. Reflected in the pond, it resembles the palace of the Pure Land paradise. Its image appears on the 10-yen coin, and the phoenix on the roof is printed on the 10,000-yen banknote. Inside, the seated Amida Buddha by the sculptor Jōchō (a National Treasure) is enshrined, and 52 bodhisattvas on the walls playing music among the clouds (some of the originals are displayed in the Hōshōkan). Entry to the interior requires a separate ticket of 300 yen, issued in groups of 50 every 20 minutes. During peak season, get a ticket early. The Hōshōkan is a beautifully designed underground museum displaying a temple bell, original phoenix sculptures, and bodhisattva figures. The combined admission for the garden and Hōshōkan is 700 yen. Outside the temple, the Byōdō-in omotesandō is a street of historic matcha shops: Nakamura Tokichi Honten (matcha raw-matcha jelly and matcha soba, often with a queue), Itō Kyūemon, and Tsūen, founded in 1160 beside Uji Bridge. Across the bridge, you can visit Ujigami Shrine (a World Heritage site and home to Japan's oldest existing shrine main hall) and the Genji Museum, and take a stroll along the Uji River. Getting there: JR Nara Line to Uji Station (about 20 minutes from Kyoto Station, 17 minutes by rapid train), or Keihan Uji Station, then a 10-minute walk. A half-day to a full day is recommended, and you can combine it with Fushimi Inari, which is on the same JR line. Note: during the wisteria and autumn-foliage seasons, the interior tickets for the Phoenix Hall often run out before noon. Some shops in Uji close on Mondays.

Opening hours

Garden 08:30–17:30; Hosho-kan 09:00–17:00; Phoenix Hall interior 09:30–16:10

World Heritage · Phoenix Hall · Matcha · Pure Land gardens

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