The world heritage “Byodoin-Hoo-Do” (Phoenix Hall) is located in Uji City, the southern part of Kyoto City. From Japan Railway Kyoto Station to Uji Station, it takes about 20 minutes. From there, you can reach Byodo-in Temple in about 8 minutes on foot. It can be said that it is an easy-to-visit tourist spot that is easily accessible from Osaka.
In addition, there are many lunch spots and sightseeing spots unique to Uji. You can also walk around the stage of the Tale of Genji, famous spots of Uji Matcha, and beautiful temples of hydrangea and flowers. For that reason, the quiet Uji city is a recommended place for sightseeing.
Uji City in the southern part of Kyoto, where Byodoin-Hoo-Do is located, was once the center of the city. The remnants of the Heian period where FUJIWARA no Michinaga and Murasaki SHIKIBU were active can be seen everywhere.
Byodoin-Hoo-Do has a strong presence among them. This is the bodaiji (family temple) of FUJIWARA no Michinaga, known for the song of the time of “When I reflect, this world is indeed my world, nor is there any flaw in the full moon”. It was also recognized as a World Heritage site for its beautiful architectural style.
After the death of FUJIWARA no Michinaga, it became the temple “Byodoin” in 1052, with its child FUJIWARA no Yorimichi as its foundation.
In the late Heian period when people’s anxiety increased, Buddhist temples were actively built to soothe the world with relief measures by Buddhism. It has been loved as a place to concentrate on the paradise and the teaching of Amida Nyorai (Amitabha Tathagata). Currently, it seems that the value of beautiful buildings and existing materials is great.
Phoenix Hall has all the Buddha statues and murals in the building, and the garden remains without being rebuilt due to fire. Its preciousness is immeasurable.
Byodoin-Hoo-Do has a history of 1000 years and is designated as a national treasure. Not only buildings, but also paintings, gardens, and Buddha statues are designated as World Heritage Sites as “cultural assets of ancient Kyoto”.
The time required for the tour is about 30 minutes if you are satisfied only with the appearance without entering the inside or museum. However, even if you take a quick tour of the interior, it will take about an hour to complete. In addition, if you go to see the museum, please spend a leisurely time.
Byodoin-Hoo-Do is a wonderful world heritage where buildings and treasures still exist. Moreover, it is located in Uji, a tourist attraction, where you can feel the charm of the Heian period. Along with Ujicha’s famous spots, please visit for sightseeing.
Temple representative of the 11th century
Byodoin Temple in Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture is a famous temple because it is designed as a Japanese ten yen coin. It is a temple representative of the 11th century and it is also the precious historical site existing only in the temple which the nobility of the Heian era built. In 1994, it was registered as a World Heritage Site.
Byodoin Temple has been collecting people’s faith from the Heian period to the present. Currently, many people are visiting not only from Japan but also from overseas.
Byodoin gathered the faith of the aristocrats and the emperor as a temple that recreated the Pure Land in the West in this world. Even if the samurai began to take over the administration in the Kamakura period, the temple continued to flourish without devastation or decline. In 1336, many of the cathedral burned down due to the battle between Masashige KUSUNOKI and Takauji ASHIKAGA, but only the Hoo-Do (Phoenix Hall) miraculously escaped burning.
A lot of flowers and trees are planted in the precincts of Byodoin.
Kyoto is famous for having many sights of cherry blossoms and autumn leaves, but Byodoin is a famous temple as a wisteria trees.
Here is Kyoto, Uji. There is the beautiful temple standing still on this ground which was the stage of “Genji-Monogatari” (The Tale of Genji) more than eternal time.
This is the World Cultural Heritage site “Byodoin-Hoo-Do” which finished the repair period of two years, and revived with a figure at the time of the foundation. Please see the beautiful figure which was registered with the world cultural heritage.
The origin of Byodoin dates back to AD 1052.
The figure engraved on the face of 10 yen coin is quite familiar with Japanese. However, we feel admiration for its size, dignified appearance, the vivid coloration, when we see it with our own eyes.
This scenery must have been beyond a doubt the Buddhists’ paradise appeared for people wholeheartedly wishing to go to the Land of Happiness. The architecture built on island in a pond is like the palace floating in the treasure pond of the Land of Happiness.
Jodo-shiso (Pure Land Buddhism) which was prosperous in the Heian era. Byodoin-Hoo-Do which expressed the view of its world, Like Phoenix which greatly widened a feather, is the splendid appearance which makes me recollect “the Pure Land in the West”.
Information(Access, Price/Charge, Tel, Address, Official site, etc.)
| Name: | Byodoin-Hoo-Do (Phoenix Hall) |
| Adresse: | 116 Uji Renge, Uji-shi, Kyoto 611-0021 Japan |
| Access: | JR Nara-sen line "Uji-eki Station” (10 minutes walk) |
| Tel: | (+81) 774-21-2861 |
| Price: | 600 yen (Adult) 400 yen (Junior High and High School Students) 300 yen (Elementary School Students) Please refer the official web page. |
| Official site: | http://www.byodoin.or.jp/ |
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