🏯🌸 Byōdō-in Temple – Heaven Reflected in Water

#summervacay

Uji, just south of Kyoto, and you’ll find a place where time slows and beauty lingers.

Right at its heart stands the Byōdō-in Temple, a 1,000-year-old vision of Buddhist paradise — quiet, graceful, and perfectly mirrored in the water below.

✨ What Makes It Magical?
The Phoenix Hall (鳳凰堂) looks like it’s floating on the pond — symmetrical, golden, timeless
Built in the Heian period (1053!), originally a nobleman’s villa turned into a Pure Land temple
Two bronze phoenixes perch on the roof — guardians of peace and rebirth 🔥
The reflection of the temple in the water = pure serenity for your feed 📸

💡 Pro Tips:
Arrive early for fewer crowds & soft morning light
Don’t skip the museum next door — it holds the original phoenix statues and Buddha sculpture
Pair this visit with matcha tasting by the Uji River afterwards 🍵

Byōdō-in isn’t just a temple —
It’s a glimpse into how Japan imagines paradise: still, balanced, and beautifully imperfect.

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