Byodo-In Temple Oahu

Hidden away at the foot of the Ko’olau Mountain Range in the Valley of the Temples Memorial Park lies the Byodo-In Temple. It was built on June 7, 1968 to honor the 100 year anniversary of first Japanese migrants to Hawaii. It is a smaller scale replica of the a United Nations World Heritage Site in Uji, Japan.

The temple is a non-practicing Buddhist temple. People of all religions and backgrounds are welcome to relax, meditate, and enjoy the beauty of the landmark.

On the temple grounds, you are likely to find many wild peacocks, ducks, and koi around. There are also ponds and lush vegetation. You can even see some bamboo. Visitors often describe their experience as peaceful, relaxing, and beautiful.

Getting There

The Byodo-In Temple is located at the foot of the Ko’olau Mountain Range on the windward side of the island. It’s about a 35 minute drive from Waikiki. If you are coming from town, take the H1 westbound to HI-61/Pali Highway. You will then take Pali Highway to HI-83 all the way to your destination.

Address:  47-200 Kahekili Hwy, Kaneohe, HI 96744

Website: https://byodo-in.com/

You will turn left into the cemetery if you are driving northbound on the HI-83. Go past the guard gate and continue up the road. You will need to follow the signs to the temple.

When you arrive, you can park your car in the parking lot near the temple. Make sure you take your valuables with you.

Proceed to the entrance gate. You will need to pay an entrance fee to get on to the grounds. It is $5.00 per person (13-64 years old), $4.00 per senior (age 65+), and $2.00 for children (2-12 years old). Note that it is CASH ONLY.

What to Do at the Temple

Enjoy the Scenery and Take Photos!

There are so many great photo opportunities at this site. You can take photos on the bridge near the entrance, near the bamboo patch, in front of the temple, etc. You can also take photos of the wildlife there.

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Enter the Temple

During your visit, you may wish to enter the temple. In the temple there is incense burning and a Buddha statue. Note that before going in to the temple, you need to remove your shoes.

Ring the Bell

Right after you cross the bridge, you will see a peace bell on the left-hand side. Feel free to ring the bell using the wooden log.

Feed the Koi

There is an abundance of koi in the ponds at the temple. On a busy day, you will see many people feeding the fish. If you want, you can purchase fish food from the gift shop.

Take Photos on the Road up to the Temple

Although it is a cemetery, the road up to the temple offers some of the most spectacular views of the Ko’olau Mountain Range. Feel free to park your car on the side of the road and hop out for a quick picture. The tree-lined road with the Ko’olau Mountains in the background make for beautiful pictures.