4.7/5
一直在路上的猫It is a temple garden with a pond and spring boat tour style in the Heian period. It is a must-see when visiting Uji. The ticket is 600 yen, and the ticket for the Hoshokan alone is 300 yen more, but you have to wait for 50 people every 20 minutes to enter, and you are not allowed to take photos inside. So I didn't go into the Hoshokan. • Historical evolution: During the Zhenguan period, Minamoto Ryū opened a villa, and many emperors built villas here afterwards. In 998, Fujiwara Michinaga got this place and rebuilt the garden house. In 1052, Fujiwara Yorimichi rebuilt it into Byodoin, and in 1062, the house was abandoned for a temple. After the 12th century, the Hokke Hall and the Five Halls were successively built. In 1336, most of the courtyard was destroyed by war, and it was gradually rebuilt. It was listed as a World Cultural Heritage in 1994. • Architectural features: Byodoin is centered on the Aji Pond. The Phoenix Hall is located on an island in the pond, forming a complete axis layout with the ruins of the small imperial palace on the east bank. This layout has had a profound impact on buildings such as Toba Imperial Villa and Hojuji Temple in Kyoto. The Phoenix Hall is in the Tang Dynasty style, with a symmetrical central axis in the plane and elevation, both resembling a phoenix. The Central Golden Hall and the Wing Corridor Building have overlapping brackets, high eaves, and a phoenix carved on the main ridge, as if a phoenix spreads its wings. It is regarded as a classic of ancient architecture. ◦ Phoenix Hall: The official name is "Amitabha Hall". Because there is a golden bronze phoenix statue on the roof, it has been called "Phoenix Hall" since the Edo period. It combines national treasures such as painting, architecture, crafts and sculptures in one hall. The design concept imitates the Pure Land of Paradise. The plane resembles the flying shape of a phoenix. The main hall is the phoenix body, the left and right corridors are the phoenix wings, and the back corridor is the phoenix tail. The hall enshrines the seated statue of "Amitabha Tathagata Buddha", and the walls are painted with the Eight Phases of Sakyamuni, the Nine Pure Land Transformations, and the Cloud Offerings. ◦ Guanyin Hall: Built in the 13th century, the hall enshrines the statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva. It was rebuilt from the ruins of a Buddhist temple in the Kamakura period and is an important cultural property of Byodo-in Temple. ◦ Bell Tower: There is a three-ton bronze bell inside, which is a rare national treasure of Japan. ◦ Hosho-kan: It is a museum that displays the treasures of Byodo-in Temple. The museum displays a Heian-era Buddhist bell, the original Phoenix Chiwen, 26 cloud-supporting Bodhisattva statues, Heian-era sculptures headed by the Eleven-faced Guanyin, and a reproduction of the colorful decorations inside the Phoenix Hall.
4.6/5一直在路上的猫• Historical origin: Uji-Kami Shrine is located in Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. It was built in the late Heian period and was listed as a World Cultural Heritage in 1994. In the Meiji period, it was merged with Uji Shrine to form the "Rikyu-Kami-Shrine". ◦ Main Hall: It is the oldest existing shrine building in Japan. It is in the Ryu-zukuri style of the Heian period. It uses cypress bark roofs, beautiful roof curves, and finely carved brackets. It is listed as a national treasure of Japan. ◦ Worship Hall: It was built in the early Kamakura period. It is a rare site of the shinden-zukuri style. The roof curves to the left and right ends, and the eaves board at the connection is folded. • Deities enshrined: Emperor Ojin is enshrined in the center, Umichi Wako is enshrined on the left, and Emperor Nintoku is enshrined on the right. • Surrounding landscape: The Kirihara water, which was selected as one of the seven famous waters of Uji, flows out from the shrine, making it an excellent choice for brewing Uji tea. The Uji River behind the shrine is breathtakingly beautiful when the cherry blossoms in spring and maples in autumn.
No. 1 of Best Things to Do in Uji
