平等院 – Byodo-in

As a fan of Heian period history and architecture, the Byodo-in was definitely on my list of places to visit while in Kyoto.  The Byodo-in’s Pheonix Hall is one of the few original wooden structures to survive to today.  It’s a wonderful example of what is known as Pure Land architecture.  Both the temple and the garden were influential on later temple construction.

The Byodo-in was initially built not as a temple but as a country villa for the extremely powerful and wealthy politician Fujiwara no Michinaga.  Later, his son had it turned into a temple and ordered for the construction of its most spectacular building, the Pheonix Hall.  Although the building was officially given a different name, it was nicknamed Pheonix Hall after its construction in 1053 due to its shape and the two phoenix statues on its roof.  Byodoin’s buildings were repeatedly lost to fires and other calamities over the centuries, however, the Phoenix Hall was never destroyed, further reinforcing its nickname.  The hall can now be found engraved on the back of the (Japanese) ten yen coin.

You can enter the Phoenix Hall on short guided tours (Japanese only) that start every 20 minutes and cost an additional 300 yen. It houses a statue of the Amida Buddha.  For an explanation on the temple’s construction and history in multiple languages including English, you should visit the Byodo-in’s treasure house, which is located mostly underground to keep from detracting from the Pheonix Hall.  It’s also well worth a look for it houses  an assortment of the temple’s most valuable artifacts, including dozens of designated important cultural properties and national treasures.

UPDATE:  From September 2012 through March 2014 the Phoenix Hall is undergoing renovation works and is covered up by scaffolding. Tours of the hall’s interior are suspended during the renovations.

Vital Information:

• Open: 8:30 to 17:30 (Admission until 17:15)

• No Closing Days

• 300 yen Admission during renovation works through March 2014

• Semi-English Friendly

• 10-15 minute walk from Uji Station on the JR Line or Keihan Line.