Byōdo-in Temple

Originally built in 998 as a villa and later converted into a temple, Byōdo-in's spectacular Phoenix Hall is so iconic it is minted on the Japanese 10-yen coin. Visitors can admire the symmetrical Amida Hall reflected in the pristine pure-land garden pond and explore the modern, underground Hoshokan Museum housing national treasures. It is an essential stop for those seeking breathtaking Heian-period architecture and deep Buddhist history.

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