One quarter down and three to go. The school year is flying by! I am now on break for a week. Finally, I have some time to catch up on posts from my mini-vacation this past August with my friends from Italy.

One of the places Katia & Guido wanted to visit while spending time here in Hawaii was the Byodo-In Temple. This would be a new place for me to visit also. Thanks to Google, I was able to get directions and opening closing times.

If you are a visitor to Oahu, I highly recommend putting this place on your list of things to do if you live here, you should definitely make time to visit this beautiful, peaceful and serene temple. It was a place I could have spent hours at if I wasn’t doing the “around the island” tour.

The Byodo-In Temple is a full-scale replica of the 900-year-old Byodo-in Temple located in Uji in Kyoto, Japan. The Byodo-In Temple here in Hawaii was completed and dedicated in 1968 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants. The original temple was built entirely without nails and is said to fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. I am not sure if the replica was also built without nails.

Byodo-In Temple Entrance

Phoenix Hall

After you cross the bridge, you will find a three-ton Peace bell to the left of the temple. It is said that if you ring the bell, it will cleanse your mind of evil and temptation. I have also read that it will bring you luck. You are supposed to ring it before entering the temple.

Bell House

Peace Bell

For more on the peace bell as well as a video of the bell, check out my post – “metal” ~ photohunt.

When going inside the temple, you are asked to take your shoes off. Inside you will find a nine-foot wooden Buddha. It is said to be the largest wooden Buddha carved in over 900 years. This Buddha is covered in gold and lacquer. You will also find incense burning inside the temple.

Golden Buddah

The Byodo-In Temple is surrounded by beautiful Japanese gardens and approximately 2-acres of koi ponds.

Black Swan and Koi

Black Swan

The Byodo-In Temple is located in the Valley of Temples on the windward side of Oahu off of the Kahekili Highway. It is open daily from 8:30am – 4:30pm. There is a $2.00 admission fee.