The Phoenix Hall
On an island in a pond.
Anagoria — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Anagoria — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Hyppolyte de Saint-Rambert — CC BY 4.0 · Marco Almbauer — CC0 · Hyppolyte de Saint-Rambert — CC BY 4.0
Byōdō-in, the «Temple of Equality», is a Buddhist temple in the city of Uji in Kyoto prefecture, built in the late Heian period, about 14 km south of central Kyoto in a straight line and part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto World Heritage Site. It began in 998 as a country villa of a high-ranking courtier. Fujiwara no Michinaga later bought it, and his son Fujiwara no Yorimichi made it a temple in 1052. The following year the Amida Hall, known as the Phoenix Hall, was completed. The Phoenix Hall sits on a small island in a pond, with wings stretching out on either side and curved roofs topped by two phoenixes, so its red form is reflected in the water like a bird spreading its wings. The hall appears on Japan's ten-yen coin. You walk around the pond among the trees, and early morning is best, before the crowds. The streets leading to the temple are lined with green tea shops, as Uji is one of Japan's most famous tea districts.
On an island in a pond.
On the water.
Uji green tea.
Uji, Kyoto prefecture, Japan
Yes, with a separate ticket.
By train from Kyoto to Uji.