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Byodo-In Temple is a very peaceful place to visit in Oahu. The stunning scenery paints a beautiful backdrop to calm the mind.
Located around the Ko’olau Mountains, I found lush gardens and a serene pond. It’s a historic site with deep cultural ties.
I’ll share what to know when visiting, exploring the grounds, and tips.
Getting to Byodo-In Temple
Byodo-In is located in the Valley of the Temples, which is a memorial park where people are laid to rest.
Coming from the Waikiki area, it takes about 45 minutes to drive to Kaneohe. It’s less than 20 miles.
To get there, I usually take the H-1 East to the HI-63, which is the Likelike Highway. I love the name of this highway!
At Kaneohe, take the HI-83, Kahekili Highway. You should see the signs for Valley of the Temples.
Then follow the signs to get to Byodo-In Temple. You’ll want to drive slowly in this area.
Visiting Byodo-In Temple
The temple grounds are open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. They are closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day (and close early Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve).
We only paid $5 per person to enter the area. What you’ll see is worth every penny.
The parking area holds a few vehicles, and now you must pay. The lot gets full quickly, so you might need to wait for a spot.
I find fewer people in the morning and during the week.
Beautiful Mountain Views
After paying, I crossed the red bridge to face the temple. Here were the most beautiful views.
The majestic Ko’olau Mountains stood among the clouds on the overcast day. The temple’s red hues popped against a thriving sea of green.
Tall trees looked like feathers in the distance, with their branches pointing to the sky.
The landscape painted a gorgeous picture. I walked the grounds listening to nature’s song.
This is the kind of serenity you’ll find here, and a best-kept secret indeed.
The Sacred Bell
In the distance, visitors rang the Bon Sho, or Sacred Bell. So, that was the first thing I had to investigate.
It’s a huge brass bell contained in the Bell House. It’s customary to ring the bell before entering the temple.
I also tried my hand at it and pulled back the long, soft log. And let it go… DONG!
The deep sound resonated softly. It’s supposed to evoke a deep calm, peace, and cleansing of the mind.
Ringing the bell is also supposed to bring you happiness, blessings, and long life. So I gave it a good ring!
The Koi Pond
There’s a Koi Pond that surrounds the temple. It’s in the shape of the Chinese character that means “spirit”.
Walk around it to find the gift shop, which has souvenirs and unique Japanese gifts. There were some cute things to buy, but I didn’t spend any money.
Here you can buy fish and bird food to feed some of the wildlife. Don’t bring your own food, as it’s not allowed.
I watched people feed the colorful koi, swarming in white, yellow, and orange. There were hundreds of these fish.
People sat along the water and enjoyed the views. They have seating areas where you can relax and reflect.
You might also find black swans here, but I only saw many ducks. There are also cats, but they stayed at a distance.
Amida Buddha
Before entering the temple, a staff member told me to take my shoes off. There’s also a sign, but I think the people are there to enforce it.
You can leave them outside in the cubby or carry them with you. You can’t really enter the temple, per se, but this is to view the Amida Buddha statue.
It’s a 9-foot-tall, golden replica that sits in Phoenix Hall. This is the hall that was built just for the statue.
Some people made offerings, lit candles, and prayed. Others went over to admire it, like I did.
You cannot go further into the temple unless you schedule a tour. But the views of the grounds looking out of the temple are just as wonderful.
Meditation Pavilion
Then, I walked up the short path to the meditation pavilion. It’s on a hill behind the temple.
Mosquitoes attacked me while passing by the lush area. So, I did not sit in its serenity for long.
It’s a nice place to enjoy the temple away from the other visitors. If it weren’t for the bugs, I would’ve stayed for a while.
Heading back to the parking lot, I saw a lot more cats strolling around. They sure picked a wonderful place to live.
Travel Notes
Before visiting this place of worship, you need to dress appropriately and not show up in beach duds. I was wearing my flowy blouse, but kept it casual.
People pray and meditate here, so you must be mindful. It’s a quiet atmosphere, and people keep their voices down.
Also, there’s no running, yelling, throwing things, tree-climbing, etc. This is not a jungle gym.
When visiting the temple, you can only view the front part, where the Amida Buddha is. If you’d like to see more of the inside, you can schedule a tour.
I plan to do this next time I visit. The tickets are only a few dollars.
Overall
I like relaxing at Byodo-In Temple in Oahu, and you only need less than an hour to visit. It’s a clean, quiet place to clear your mind and visit the wildlife.
I enjoyed walking the grounds and seeing the beautiful views. This is definitely a place I’d like to return to on my next trip.
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