The Byodo-In Temple image

The Byodo-In Temple

Tourist attraction Memorial park Buddhist temple Wi fi spot

One of the Best Places To Visits in Ahuimanu


Address

47-200 Kahekili Hwy, Kaneohe, HI 96744, United States

Website

byodo-in.com

Contact

+1 808-239-8811

Rating on Google Maps

4.70 (5.1K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Tuesday: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
  • Wednesday: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
  • Thursday: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
  • Friday: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
  • Saturday: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
  • Sunday: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
  • Monday: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: temple (61) beautiful (38) visit (29) bell (22) fish (17) peaceful (16) shop (16) gift (15) grounds (14) parking (13)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Dragan A. 1 year ago on Google
    This was the most peaceful place I visited. There is a large Peace Bell at the entrance that you can give it ring (3 times), and then you can enter the Buddhist Temple if you like. You can walk around the grounds, they are beautiful and peaceful part of this magnificent structure. You can also buy some food for the fish and the birds and fed them. Small birds will come in to your hand (local birds, Hawaiian mini pigeon like) and the black Swans will eat out of your hand. I walked around and spend some time there. There is Bamboo forest in the back. This was really something I enjoyed!
    19 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Anand R. 2 years ago on Google
    Quiet and serene a must see. $5 entrance to the temple. The vibration of the bell on entrance and the shrine gave a lot of peace. A nice place to forget the hustle and bustle of the world, sit for a few minutes and enjoy the calm / meditate. You can feed koi fish, and they have a great gift store. Ample parking is available.
    18 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Annabelle B. 1 year ago on Google
    This is a WOW place! Totally unexpected, tucked away - you feel like you traveled to an entirely different country as soon as you start to drive down Valley of the Temples Street. The views for scenic photos are incredible. The black granite tombstones are stunning. Definitely drive the full circle and get out to capture photos. There was plenty of parking even though it was a holiday weekend and parking is free. Bring cash so you can pay the small entry fee to go to the temple. Bring extra cash in case you want to pick up a handmade unique souvenir, get one of there AMAZING coffees or make an offering inside of the temple. No sunblock or bug spray needed. Be mindful, quiet and respectful and enjoy the spectacular scenery.
    7 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jacob 2 years ago on Google
    I’ve visited this temple two times and I can say, I don’t think I will ever tire of the beauty. Located in a valley and surrounded by high rising Hawaii mountains, this place is extremely picturesque. While it can be touristy at times, it’s not all bad because the funds generated go back towards the upkeep of the grounds and temple. If you decide to visit, please do so with peace in your heart. Also, please mind your children as this is not a place for those who act feral. People come here to meditate often so please be respectful.
    7 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Thomas A. 1 year ago on Google
    What an absolutely beautiful place to visit. The peace and serenity is detectable. When you enter the temple you are asked to remove your shoes out of respect. The Buddha statue is very beautiful as is every part of this property. Ringing the bell was an additional part of the visit that I loved. It made me feel relaxed inside. There were a lot of people there but nobody was shoving or pushing, it was quite relaxed atmosphere. Would like to spend more time here.
    7 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Obie T. 2 years ago on Google
    The grounds are amazingly well kept. The wildlife chooses to hang around as a result of the amazingly peaceful and serene environment. The small circle you take is worth a visit as there is a lot of history here. I wish they would let you tour the buildings and not restrict you to a small 8x10 viewing platform. This is a replica of a Japanese temple and I would put it on your list of to-dos.
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Dean M. 9 months ago on Google
    It's a nice place to visit, but on the whole it was a little underwhelming. It is $5 per person to get in which is reasonably priced, however it is really just to ring the dong and get a photo in front of the temple. It is nice, but won't be a highlight of your trip (well it wasn't for me anyway). It is relatively easily wheelchair accessible, but requires travelling over some gravel on hard packed ground which might be a little more difficult for somebody without higher levels of function. If this is you and you have somebody to provide minor assistance, it will be no issue. There are also wheelchair accessible toilets if required.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Sarang R. 2 years ago on Google
    It's beautiful, it's pretty, it's scenic with its own vibe. It's a temple, but a very big one, has a huge campus and ample of parking space. They also have 2 people helping with parking. Has an entry fee which is worth the amount. Temple is huge, surrounded by lots of trees, and man made streams for ducks, seams, and fishes. The statue of Buddha is big and there's a fast going queue to offer your prayers. There are benches inside the campus. Restrooms are present too. Definitely worth visiting.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Wendell H. 1 year ago on Google
    Absolutely stunning temple. You wouldn't know it was here if you weren't specifically looking for it. They have a great little gift shop where you can buy fish food to feed the ridiculous amount of coy and other fish in the various ponds. You'll also see turtles, ducks, black swans and peacocks. Must see!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Preet S. 2 years ago on Google
    A very peaceful and zen like experience. Could be a quick stop or a longer rest and walk around. Property isn't too big but inside the mortuary. Tickets were $5 I believe. Parking attendant will help you find parking. Afternoon wasn't too busy. Not much too see inside but the grounds are beautiful and lots of water and nature. Definitely a stop to make if you can. Keep kids close and watch them closely since there's water ponds for the ducks and fishes. Small local gift shop there too.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Aiyana H. 2 years ago on Google
    We visited this establishment on Thursday, our fourth day in Oahu. I called ahead before we arrived to book a tour of the temple, but they do not offer tours. We actually passed by the Valley of the Temples Memorial Park on our way to Kualoa Ranch on Wednesday and had no idea the Byodo In Temple was located in there! Upon arrival in the Memorial Park, there were great signs to show which direction to go towards to reach the Temple. The beautiful grounds of the Valley of the Temples Memorial Park is the final resting place of many who have fallen. In the back of the park is where the Byodo-In Temple was located. There is very little parking, but there are parking attendants to inform patrons of where they should park as they come in. Parking is free of charge as well. Upon arrival there is a booth where an attendant takes payment for entry. The cost is $5 per person which can be payed via cash or card. After we payed, we walked across a beautiful bridge to the main area of the temple grounds. To the left there is the Bon-sho (sacred bell) which visitors lined up for to take photos and videos ringing the bell. The bell is said to ward off evil and promote positivity and good will in one’s life. My boyfriend and I took videos of each other ringing the bell. Some people rung the bell quite hard, but we tried to be respectful of the temple and ring the bell a bit softer. Ringing that bell was an exhilarating experience and made me feel at peace and balanced within myself. We proceeded to take photos in front of the temple itself which was a simply breathtaking backdrop! It was so awe-inspiring it almost appeared to be a fake backdrop. The surrounding ponds were filled with nice healthy size koi fish which swam around excitedly. We did get bitten a couple of times by mosquitoes so I would recommend visitors wear bug spray to avoid this. We took photos at the white awning nearby and went upward towards another statue to pose with. There were other visitors sitting at what appeared to be a meditation area so we couldn’t get photos there. Afterwards we got into the line to visit the Amina Buddha where you are required to take your shoes off and wear a mask upon entering. We placed our shoes at the front of the temple entrance. Upon entrance of the temple, the Buddha is beheld with grandness and splendor. Visitors are permitted to say a prayer and light incense in front of the Buddha. Unfortunately there was a very rude woman who almost crossed paths with my boyfriend after he said his prayer and lit his incense. I suggest they have someone to stand and moderate entry and exit towards the Buddha so visitors can all get their allotted amount of time to pray and light incense. As we were exiting the temple, it appeared there was a staff person and a sign that stated free tours of the temple. I am unsure what part of the grounds this encompassed. We went outside and there were vendors selling merchandise and a fortune tree which visitors can tie bad fortunes onto. The fortunes can be purchased at the Tea House Gift shop. There was a line to enter the gift shop, since they only allow 6 people at a time inside. Inside the gift shop were so many Japanese souvenirs which included clothing,food, figurines, and more. Unfortunately they did not have any sugarcane juice since I read in another review that is something good to get. They also didn’t know where I could get this juice from on the grounds. I wonder if the empty stand area next to the ticket booth at the front was where it is usually sold? Upon exiting the temple we saw cats which were quite relaxed and seemed to look right at home. I would recommend tourists and locals visit the Byodo-In Temple to pay homage to the rich and historic Japanese influence in Oahu. This little piece of Japan is an outward expression of Hawaii’s unity with the people and the fusion of Hawaiian and Japanese culture. This can be seen in the cuisine and cultural practices which have been staples of Hawaii for many years.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ihor H. 3 years ago on Google
    Nice temple. Location: cemetery. Adult ticket: $5. I don't know what you will get as a pay reason, but I got "funeral services" :)))
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Bethany N. 1 year ago on Google
    Our family loved exploring the grounds of this beautiful temple. It was so serene! Our children loved feeding the Japanese koi fish and turtles, and the black swan ate directly from their hands! Food can be purchased at the small gift shop for $2.50. Go early as tour buses and large groups of people start arriving around 10 am. The parking lot fills up quickly and the noise level (and constant bell ringing) increases dramatically and it’s harder to meditate (if that’s a priority for you).
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Marcos R. 1 year ago on Google
    If you are planning a trip, I highly recommend visiting this place! It is an amazing sight. An amazing educational experience, and overall, amazing shots for photos! Local tourist offer $60-100 per person. If you go alone or rented a vehicle. It's a lot less expensive! 2 adults and 4 kids under 12, ran us about $20! Big, big difference! You will definitely kill and hour or two!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 daykyrie 3 years ago on Google
    $5 per adult ages 13-64. You get your temperature taken, pay your fee and then walk across the bridge to the temple. Masks required at all times. You can walk around a little, ring the bell on the left, walk into the temple and light incense. There's a lovely pond outside with koi that you can feed (food available for purchase at the gift shop, bread is not acceptable), black swans, and peacocks. Overall a lovely experience.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Photostaken b. 3 years ago on Google
    a must place to visit, the beautiful Swan Temple Lake is big and lots of Koi, Japanese rock garden too very peaceful and ground are very clean try to go when less people like early morning can make for a misty perfect picture. As you can see by my photos of temple and koi this is truly a beautiful Replica of a historic Japanese Buddhist temple in Kyoto
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Dallin Y. 2 years ago on Google
    This temple was beautiful. Unbelievable views of green cliffs above and beautiful gardens. We saw a black swan for the first time there. It was a very calming and very easy hike. Worth the cheap $5 entry. It was also fun to ring the bell/gong

  • 5/5 Kristina C. 2 years ago on Google
    Beautiful temple! Be respectful when there. It's meant to be zen and peaceful. There are many opportunities to leave offerings there as well, leave some spare change if you want. You can also ring the bell, don't be shy! Finally, there is a small gift shop where you can pull your fortune, buy souvenirs, and get food to feed the koi fish with. It's a wonderful experience. 😊

  • 5/5 Kaili S. 3 years ago on Google
    P cool

  • 5/5 Vanessa S. 2 years ago on Google
    Definitely worth checking out when on O‘ahu!! The temple is stunning. You can walk around, take pictures and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. We spent like 30 minutes here and got a good impression of all.

  • 5/5 Yesenia L. L. 3 years ago on Google
    Beautiful serene place.

  • 4/5 Vince M. 3 years ago on Google
    Nice area n a beautiful set up. Even tho I expected a bit more stuff inside...

  • 5/5 Dee H. 3 years ago on Google
    So beautiful, and peaceful 😊

  • 5/5 ken k. 3 years ago on Google
    Do not forget to feed the fish.

  • 5/5 D R. 3 years ago on Google
    We visit every time we come to the island. It’s a beautiful place.

  • 4/5 Sean T. 3 years ago on Google
    I'm not even a Buddhist, but this place was jaw dropping!!! The scenes here look like they're straight from a movie. You HAVE to ring the giant bell there! Would definitely visit again.

  • 5/5 Gabriel L. 3 years ago on Google
    Nice temple!:)

  • 5/5 Lisa W. 2 years ago on Google
    Absolutely gorgeous! This was a very interesting place to visit. You can ring the big bell which has an amazing deep sound, go up to the meditation area, go in the temple and pray and light incense, or just take a photo of Buddha. The cemetery and gardens are absolutely beautiful! A very peaceful place even with the large tour groups. Get there early to get parking!

  • 5/5 Dirk Harris (. 2 years ago on Google
    Always a very nice place to visit. The employees and staff are friendly, respectful, and kind. The visitors are as well. A lovely place for self thought, photographs, or simply shutting out the troubles of the world for a small amount of time.

  • 5/5 Eleonora F. 2 years ago on Google
    This is such a beautiful and tranquil place and worth the stop to visit the Temple. The gardens are beautiful, fish ponds full of koi and the building itself is miraculously stunning! You can feed the koi fish, the turtles and the swans. Small entrance fee $5.00. Parking is limited.

  • 5/5 Star S. 1 year ago on Google
    I deeply enjoyed this experience. I have visited many Buddhist temples over the years, and found The Byodo-In Temple to be one of my top 5. My children enjoyed feeding the fish, my husband lit incense in memory of his Mom, and everyone thought that ringing the bell was an adventure in itself. Peaceful, beautiful, well loved. Definitely must see.

  • 5/5 Heidi B. 9 months ago on Google
    Stunning. You can tell that the staff takes great pride in their work maintaining the temple and the grounds. We loved ringing the bell and of course, we went inside of the temple to light incense and pay our respects. The cat walking around was adorable. The fish in the pond were gorgeous and obviously very well fed from the tourists. The birds even ate out of my daughter's hands! That being said, the gift shop was very crowded within a tight space and the merchandise was extremely expensive... even by Hawaii standards. We also ordered some juice beverages in a nearby stall. While they were refreshing, they were also $10 each and 80% ice... so it felt like a rip-off. I definitely wouldn't order those again. The egg rolls were very good though. I'd love to visit the temple again someday.

  • 5/5 Carlos A. 10 months ago on Google
    A must visit when on Oahu. Beautiful, serene, peaceful (even most times when crowded). One of the island’s cultural gems. I have been here several times over many years and the upkeep is fantastic and the restoration of the grounds is well done and maintained. It definitely has changed little bits here snd there but makes sense due to the increased popularity of this cultural gem. The grounds are immaculate and the temple is a beautiful shrine. You feel the inner peace when there.

  • 5/5 Matt M. 9 months ago on Google
    This is a very nice place to visit if your spiritual or not. It's very nice to see how they have also restored the temple for this many year's. Just truly amazing and my favorite thing is that you never feel rush you can make the trip as fast or as long as you like. If you drive and are not a tour bus of course lol....but they have plenty of little trails to walk and you can feed the koi fish from Pershing food from there gift shop,visiting the wish tree and place it on the tree. It is very peaceful to walk though the property. I hope this helps you out and have an amazing day 🤙🏽

  • 5/5 Spoonie L. 8 months ago on Google
    One of the best and beautiful place to visit on Hawaii, whether you are Buddhist or another religion. The temple is located on a beautiful cemetery ground, and well kept. It is $5 per person. ( they do military discount) Definitely recommend to ringing the huge bell as you walk in is to the right and bring in good vibes. Very fun for the kids to ring.. There is a meditation gazebo that is so peaceful.The views for the temple are stunning. The koi ponds are mesmerizing to watch. There’re also ducks, swans, mongooses, small birds, and cats, when we visited. There is a small gift shop to buy souvenirs, definitely recommend stopping in and getting a fortune. North shore is an hour away, i definitely recommend to visit. Sea turtles are known to come om shore there. I would recommend taking the time to visit.

  • 5/5 Erin P. 11 months ago on Google
    Absolutely beautiful! Grounds are well maintained and the ponds have some of the biggest koi I've seen in my life. Also, they sell fresh juiced fruit drinks out of a shack behind the temple, which came in clutch because it was hot and rainy when we were there (March). Get there early if you can. Just for parking purposes. $5 to enter the area where the temple is.

  • 5/5 Jack M. 9 months ago on Google
    Beautiful place to visit! It has a $5 admission fee for the temple. There is a cute gift shop once you get in with a place to get drinks. The temple is breathtaking and had a working bell that you can ring. There are black swans and tons of koi fish in the pond.

  • 5/5 Philip Q. 10 months ago on Google
    Not much to say about this place except it is even more spectacular looking in person. It is set in the back of an active cemetery. From the looks of it there seems to be a narrow strip of parking in front, so come early. The gift shop is nice, there are some attractive scrolls posted on the wall, some even made of silk. Cards only for purchases. I really like the large koi fish and that black swan, never saw one in person until now.

  • 5/5 Tyra L. 3 years ago on Google
    Nice place to see! There’s a gift shop, the temple statue, a bell, and bird/fish feeding. Not much else, but very peaceful!

  • 5/5 Andy C. 3 years ago on Google
    Interesting

  • 5/5 Blessed W. 3 years ago on Google
    ALOHA🧘🏽‍♀️🤙🏽❤️🙏🏽

  • 5/5 Patrick F. 3 years ago on Google
    Could not have any less of a care about the temple itself but their koi pond is amazing! From guppies, dragon koi, to an arowana! This place was a true paradise for koi and nature lovers! They even have black swans and temple cats!

  • 5/5 Angel V. 3 years ago on Google
    (Translated by Google) The most beautiful temple in the valley of temples is worth visiting, I am a fan of Asian culture and it is visited most of the countries in Asia and this r-nc temple is really like you are in Japan, It is in perfect condition and apart from being hugged by a Really Beautiful Mountain Range then it has a spectacular view of Hawai'i. It hands down became one of my favorite places during my visit to Oahu. (Original) El templo más hermoso del valle de los templos vale la pena increíble visitarlo, Soy fanático de la cultura asiática y es visitado la mayoría de los países de Asia y está r-nc templo es Real mente como si estuvieras en Japón, Está en perfectas condiciones y aparte está abrazado por una Cadena de montañas Real mente Hermosa entonces tiene una Vista espectacular de Hawai'i. Indiscutiblemente se convirtió en uno de mis lugares favoritos durante mi visita a Oahu.

  • 5/5 randy s. 3 years ago on Google
    Spiritual, serene, and beautiful. This temple is in the gorgeous valley of the temples.

  • 3/5 Sarah F. 3 years ago on Google
    It was different to see other people's culture. However, it was not the most exciting thing to me, to do in Hawaii. There was also some loud banging sounds that gave me a headache

  • 5/5 B H. 3 years ago on Google
    Small charming Japanese temple, definitely worth the visit. The entrance fee is 5 dollars per adult, pretty cheap.

  • 5/5 Dharmesh P. 3 years ago on Google
    Must visit . It's a replica they said but I didn't see the original lol so this one was the original for me . Its a magnificent temple . Worth the stop!

  • 5/5 Gary B. 3 years ago on Google
    A historical Authentic Japanese temple, unusual surroundings, in a paradise...

  • 4/5 Ankit P. 3 years ago on Google
    The showpiece at the Valley of the Temples is the nondenominational Byodo-In Temple, a replica of the 11th-century namesake temple at Uji, on the southern outskirts of Kyoto, Japan. The temple was inaugurated in 1968 to commemorate the centenary of the arrival of the first Japanese immigrant on Oahu. This isn’t actually a functioning Buddhist temple as it doesn’t have an active congregation or monastic community, but still receives thousands of worshippers of all faiths and from all around the world each year. This monument also presents a wonderful photo opportunity, in its manicured setting next to koi ponds, with the chiselled Koʻolau Range rising behind. Inside there’s a 5.5-metre statue of the Lotus Buddha, carved from wood and covered with gold and lacquer, while just outside is a three-ton brass peace bell, rung by visitors to the temple for happiness and longevity.

  • 5/5 Claire L. 3 years ago on Google
    This is the type of scenery that you only see in movies. A zen place to relax at 30-45 mins away from honolulu. If you have time to visit, definitely check it out!

  • 5/5 Danny F. 3 years ago on Google
    The temple was very zen, statues and scenery were great as well. Alot of Koi in the pond too 🐡🐠🐟. It was a different experience for sure but worth while.

  • 4/5 Nadie D. 3 years ago on Google
    Hidden behind a cemetery, peaceful and relaxing. Must ring the bell. It took me and my family about 30 minutes to walk through. Beautiful temple

  • 5/5 Tai E. 3 years ago on Google
    Absolutely stunning temple, and a true must see. When visiting Waikiki, it was at the top of my list alongside the Pearl Harbor USS Arizona Memorial. Definitely visit, with the smallest cost of $5/per adult, definitely worth it. 🥰🥰🥰 and I must add the maintenance of it all was well and truly beautiful

  • 5/5 Starspirit The Dutch Angel D. 3 years ago on Google
    A very nice place to visit for a sense of peace! There are a few cats there too to meet, cute koi, and lots of birds! It's a really beautiful temple with lovely souvenirs to buy at the gift shop for the memories.

  • 5/5 Tabitha S. 3 years ago on Google
    Such a beautiful place, we come here every time we visit Oahu. There's a little shop that sells feed for the birds and fish, it's lovely.

  • 5/5 Eric W. 3 years ago on Google
    A must see place while on Oahu. This is a beautiful, tranquil place which mist of us have seen in several TV shows and movies. The temple,, gardens, and ponds are all beautiful.. The grounds and buildings are beautiful and meticulously kept.

  • 5/5 kristie b. 3 years ago on Google
    Beautiful! Easy parking, friendly staff.

  • 5/5 Amanda W. 3 years ago on Google
    Beautiful temple located not too far off the main road. The drive in winds through the most beautiful cemetery grounds I have ever seen. The temple costs $5 per person to enter and is a beautiful walk around the property. The setting is absolutely stunning!

  • 5/5 Alex P. 3 years ago on Google
    Very interesting and beautiful

  • 5/5 janice C. 3 years ago on Google
    Beautiful

  • 5/5 Gustavo G. 3 years ago on Google
    A must see while visiting the windward side of Oahu.

  • 5/5 Keith S. 3 years ago on Google
    One of the most beautiful places I have ever visited.

  • 5/5 Brandon R. 3 years ago on Google
    Definitely worth stopping in on your way to North Shore

  • 5/5 Guadalupe F. 3 years ago on Google
    Great place to visit

  • 4/5 Minh H. 3 years ago on Google
    very beautiful backdrop. lovely koi and ponds.

  • 5/5 Cole M. 3 years ago on Google
    Beautiful and peaceful, low admission.

  • 5/5 Neelam L. 3 years ago on Google
    Beautiful Temple 🙏🎋

  • 5/5 taila a. 3 years ago on Google
    Such a serene place to visit and feed the black swans

  • 5/5 Rossiechaan 3 years ago on Google
    Beautiful! Must go if visiting Hawaii

  • 5/5 Mark D. 3 years ago on Google
    If your tired of the beach this is well worth the afternoon, ultimate peace and serenity.

  • 5/5 David C. 3 years ago on Google
    Very peaceful and beautiful.

  • 5/5 Deb M. 3 years ago on Google
    Absolutely beautiful place.

  • 5/5 Richa J. 3 years ago on Google
    One of the amazing place in Oahu.. Eye pleasing and best for meditating


Call +1 808-239-8811 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible car park
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible entrance

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