Must visit spot if you're visiting Kaneohe. It's about 15-20 min drive from the botanical garden. You have to enter the Memorial Park to get to this temple. It's a smaller replica of the actual temple from Japan. We ordered tickets online for $10/person and $6 for parking. They don't check your tickets when you enter which we thought was very strange lol. It's very beautiful and peaceful with the mountain and smoky cloud in the background. They have a couple benches for you to sit. You can enter the temple but it's actually pretty small. They have artists and vendors under the temple too. I loved seeing all the koi fish and mini pagoda up hill. There's also a large bell that you can ring for funsies. read more

Byodo-In Temple - Buddhist Temples Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

See all

As someone who avidly visits this temple, I was very disappointed during my most recent visit. I have not been able to come as often lately due to being busy, but the changes since my last visits are honestly upsetting. According to staff, many of these changes are due to new management, and it really shows. It feels like the temple now caters heavily to tourists, even prioritizing bus and tour group parking over regular visitors. They no longer accept cash and are completely card-only, which was frustrating. On top of that, all parking now requires payment. It used to just be an entry fee, which was understandable, but now you have to pay for both parking and entry. You can really tell the shift toward a more tourist-centered experience. While the informational papers are nice, there are so many of them now that it feels excessive. They also charge for photos at certain "immersive" spots, around $20 for a single digital image, which feels unreasonable. What makes me the most sad is how the atmosphere has changed. I always loved coming here for the peacefulness, the koi, the quiet environment, and the kind staff. Now it feels less relaxing. There are no longer proper shelves for shoes inside the temple, just the floor, and the cubby areas seem to be gone. The shoe policy is also not enforced. Within 30 minutes, I saw multiple tourists walk in with their shoes on without any issue. It is disappointing to see how much has changed. Not accepting cash, increased costs with paid parking, and the overall shift in environment have made the experience feel less genuine. I have visited at least five times before, including before, during, and after COVID, and it is sad to say I will probably be coming much less often now. read more

See all

Buy parking and admission tickets online. Seniors are $8, great price! Non-Seniors are $10. Great place to spend an hour. Very tranquil and if you're high strung, it's a good place to take a breath before reality kicks in and you're back to your highly-wired self. Arrive early to grab a parking space. Restrooms are portable potties. read more

See all

My big recommendation for this beautiful spot is, COME EARLY. The actual parking lot is pretty small. The Line may tail to get into the parking lot. And the closest staff is by the ticket booth. People start parking on the main road so then the road becomes narrow. Admission is : $10 for adults, $6 Children (2-12), and seniors are $8 This place is quiet, peaceful the ambiance is happy. Great spots for photos. There are signs with descriptions of history that are interesting to read. Be respectful, take your shoes off before entering and be mindful of those who are putting in a prayer. After entering the temple, they have a cute gift shop for small souvenirs, fish feed and omamori's. Behind the gift shop they have restrooms. Be mindful when you feed the fish and birds. They possibly will fly in your face for the food. The staff members here are friendly and don't mind taking pictures for you. If you have children, please supervise, staff may communicate respectfully for too much noise inside or near the temple. Out the temple is ok. read more

See all

The Byodo-In-Temple is absolutely stunning! It's a must-see when visiting Oahu. This non-denominational Buddhist temple welcomes people of all faiths to worship, meditate or simply appreciate its beauty and history as a non-practicing Buddhist temple. It's not everyday you get to appreciate an authentic Japanese temple situated against the gorgeous backdrop of Oahu's soaring Ko'olau Mountains. It's truly a sight to behold. As you enter the property you are met with the peaceful and tranquil sounds of the bon-sho (sacred bell). Visitors are welcomed to ring the bell for happiness and longevity. Overall, it took us about 30 minutes to walk around the property. The staff were friendly and amicable. Admission was relatively low. My kids bought fish food at the gift shop and fed all of the Koi fish in the ponds, which was a lot of fun! Definitely recommend coming here and paying them a visit! read more

See all

Byodo-In Temple has been on my go-to list for awhile and we finally made it here during our recent trip. It's located in the Valley of the Temples Memorial Park. Admission is $10, $8 for seniors and $6 for children by card only. Byodo-In translates to Temple of Equality. This non-denominational temple is a Hawaii landmark that was established on June 7, 1968 to acknowledge and celebrate the centennial of the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the Hawaii. The temple is a replica of the Phoenix Hall of the Byodo-In Temple which is a UNESCO site in Uji, Japan. The temple grounds are beautiful with the Ko'olau Mountains in the background. You can ring the peace bell. You can take beautiful pictures here. The structure is designed in the shape of the mythical bird. The central room or Phoenix Hall houses the Amida Buddha statue. You must take off your shoes if you wish to enter this room. But you can walk on along the outside and get a view of the buddha without taking off your shoes. The pond in front of the temple is full of koi and at certain sections it was packed with koi. Nice getaway to a beautiful Zen area. Wished we could have stayed longer, but we had to brave the rains on this day. read more

See all

The Byodo-In Temple in Oahu is a replica of the Byodo-in Temple in Uji, and it's smaller in scale here. I was so amazed how intricate it is, very beautiful and peaceful place to visit in a sunny day, of course you'll see plenty of koi fishes as well. read more

So incredibly peaceful. Didn't expect to drive through a cemetery before getting to the temple but once there, it made sense. The temple is located at the end/top of the hill. There was parking available when we got there. $10 entrance fee for nonresident visitors. There were quite a few people but it wasn't too busy. Even with everyone there, it was quiet and peaceful. There's a gift shop where you can purchase trinkets or food for fish and birds. You can walk through the temple as well. There were vendors right outside the temple. Definitely with visiting if you have time. read more

Byodo-In Temple - Buddhist Temples Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

See all

Limited space at the front of the ticket booth. Best to come early as sun does get warmer as the day goes on. Tickets were $7 for Adults. Quick and fast ticking service along with pay online service available. There is a Bon-Sho (Sacred Bell) for you to release your negative energy and impart deep peace and brings happiness, blessings and a long life. There are fish feed sold at the gift shop store for $6. If your interest in smashing pennies for souvenirs then you're in luck 4 styles for $.51 each or for those don't have pennies $1.50 each or $5 for 4 read more

See all

New management company wants your money. Prepare to pay 6 bucks for parking. Or you can say you parked on the upper road and avoid this nonsense. Entry fee has risen dramatically, so as fish food - 6 bucks for a tiny bag worth maybe 20 cents. Oh, yes, now there are a lot of merchants selling junk. This place is not worth a visit now, unless you have extra 40 bucks to gift to greedy corporations. read more

You know, for all of the great things that we had heard about Byodo-In Temple before coming here, it somehow escaped us that this place is actually located within a cemetery. A little morbid, in that regard, but even if we had known, I doubt it would've changed anything. Between the number of folks who recommended checking it out and all of the beautiful photos of the temple, I doubt our curiosity could've resisted the urge to make the drive out here! After passing through the front gate into the Valley of the Temples Memorial Park, it's a short drive up the hill before the road winds down to the parking lot for the temple. As you approach it, though, keep an eye out to see how full it looks - it's not all that big, so if it looks busy, you may want to park along the edge of the road rather than getting stuck and having to make a U-turn out of it. Once you've parked, head over to the small security shack to pay for admission before heading in ($7 for adults, but they have discounted rates for kids, seniors, and Kamaaina). Almost immediately after you cross the small pedestrian bridge, you're greeted with a beautiful view. Even though it may only be a replica of the original Byodo-In Temple in Japan, this one is no less picturesque, especially with the buildings and grounds surrounding it and the mountains in the background. It sits behind a large pond that's full of koi (you can buy fish food from the gift shop), features a large bell that you can ring (helps cleanse your soul), and areas for meditation and prayer. Inside the temple, there's a small buddha statue and pots for visitors to light and place incense. Along with the aforementioned fish food (which, to be honest, seemed kind of expensive), the gift shop has a variety of trinkets, figurines, pictures, and a whole slew souvenirs to offer. Thankfully, some items weren't terribly priced, but it also helps to know that the money goes towards the Byodo-In Temple and the memorial park as a whole. Also, I've seen several of my fellow Yelpers mention the mosquitos around here, but we actually didn't see any (or we just got lucky). In any case, bring some bug spray just in case, as it would be a shame to let that stop you from checking out such a pretty and serene sight/site! read more

See all

One of Oahu's best kept secrets. The Byodo-In+Temple sits at the foot of the Ko'olai Mountains is a place of beauty and tranquility. A drizzly day, but we made the best of it. Take time to explore, ring the Sacred Bell and enter the templle to pause in thought in front of the great Amida Buddha. A Hawaii landmark that should not be missed. 14 read more

See all

Even though the grounds aren't large, this was such a quaint nice place to visit and walk around. Once you come in past the entrance, there's a bell on the left that people got in line for to ring. We visited early in the year so people were ringing it for good luck though I imagine it could be a year round thing. There were a few seated areas and ponds filled with lots of carp. One meditation garden and then an indoor area where you could see a Buddha statue. This area is a footwear free zone and people could light incense for blessings and good luck. The location was also surrounded by a cemetery (and there was also an indoor urn area as well). There were a few tables with people selling crafts and a gift shop as well. In general, the area was very picturesque and the place definitely gave a sense of calm (though it was quite packed that day). I'm glad we were able to visit and would recommend checking it out if you're in the area! read more

See all

Even though this is just a replica of one located in Japan, it's beautiful and I enjoyed my visit. It's not very big, but there's a lot to see in a small space. The temple itself is lovely. As with a practicing temple, you remove your shoes before entering. There's a big bell to ring before entering the temple and there was a line of about 5 people when I arrived. It wouldn't take long to get to the front of the line except when there are people with young children who want to ring it several times or who want to take lots of pictures and videos while they're doing so. There are a couple of different koi ponds with some very hungry koi as well as lots of birds around begging for food. They sell bags of fish/bird food, but I'm not sure how much they were. Lots of people were feeding both the birds and the koi. The birds were lighting on people's hands and arms to get the food; good photo ops if you're into that! The Meditation Pavilion on the hill was nice, but too many people in it to make it of much use for meditation! Definitely a nice stop while in Oahu! read more

See all

Wow! I'm not Buddhist, but I felt something. I don't know how to explain it, maybe it's simply peace. Honestly, I wish some actual monks lived there so I could connect and get some extra wisdom from them. I visited the temple using my city pass; it was a stop on one of the tours. The first thing you do is walk over the bridge, and you absolutely must stand in line to ring the sacred bell. Don't skip this! I then walked over to the meditation gazebo. I don't know guys maybe I'm being dramatic, but for the place I am in, I could sit out there for hours. Of course, I was on a tour so I didn't have that time. I made my way to the actual temple, took my shoes off, and went inside to see the most magnificent large, beautiful Buddha. The pictures don't do it justice. Very well done very beautiful very peaceful very relaxing. You don't have to subscribe to a religion to appreciate the beauty in it. Honestly, once you take pictures of this temple on the outside, it looks like a painting. Seriously something Thomas Kincaid worthy! read more

See all

Not a real temple, but it is a replica of the one in Uji, Japan. It's very beautiful but very very very small. You can walk it all in 30 minutes, or you can take your time. It's not very peaceful since there's so many tourists lol. Also, this is the most koi fish in one place I've ever seen! I like how the temple encourages visitors to try different activities such as ringing the bell, buying a fortune, etc. There are 2 food stalls, and I tried the shaved ice from Aunty Gigis which was sweet but the Volcano Tropical Punch flavor was great. You get a lot even if it's just kid size. Also, please take off your shoes inside! There are signs. There's a tiny parking lot right in front of the entrance. Also FYI it's in the back of a cemetery (very unexpected but ok). read more

See all

Byodo-In was on my MUST GO TO spots while visiting O'ahu. It was so beautiful & peaceful visiting this temple. This temple is aesthetically pleasing with the beautiful mountains in the back. My friends and I went into the temple and prayed -- PS they make you take off your shoes when you're inside the temple :-) When you drive in, you drive through a cemetery. Parking can be a bit difficult to find, but we found parking after waiting a few minutes. I will 1000% re-visit during my next trip read more

See all

Such a beautiful Temple in Oahu, HI. The fee is $7 per person and you get to explore, take pictures of the temple as long as you desire! I especially loved seeing the koi fish and ringing the bell! read more

See all

Byodo-In Temple is a small replica of the original Byodo-In in Uji, Japan. The Byodo-In was built to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Japanese immigrants to Hawaii (1968). Located in the Valley of the Temples Memorial Park, Byodo-In brings peace and tranquility to people the visit. This Temple is built to reflect on one's self and making this place as a sanctuary rather than using it for religious ceremonies. Be at peace while praying to a Buddha statue in the Temple, feeding koi fishes, or hitting the heavy bell to hear it echo throughout the plain. Donations are always welcomed. Parking is limited and there is a $7 entrance fee. !!NOTE: CREDIT CARDS ONLY NO CASH ACCEPTED!! Restroom and porta potty are available on the property. Treats, drinks, and snacks are also available on property. read more

Byodo-In Temple - Byodo-In Temple - Buddhist Temples Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

A beautiful and breathtaking temple to visit surrounded by nothing but nature. The green mountains set the vibes around the temple along with the pond in the front. There were so many little and big koi fishes in the ponds and they have a gift shop/bathrooms/food truck with refreshing drinks on the right side of the garden. The little kid in me just wanted to feed the koi fish rather than enjoy the actual temple itself and that's what I did! I bought some of the food in the store and all the fish swarmed me. So funny! The temple is a good photo opportunity for Instagram too if you want to take some artsy photos. The temple itself is so well taken care of you take your shoes off before entering. The have incense and an opportunity to pray. We ended the experience ringing the bell! read more

See all

I came to this Buddhists temple to pay respect to my grandpa who recently passed. I was in town for a few days so I made the stop here with one other person. You do have to pay to get in but it was very much affordable and worth the cost. We went to ring their large bell then went over to light some incense. The temple is well maintained. It did rain before we came so the stairs up to the mini temple area was super wet. Also if you are feeding the birds they can get aggressive. You can also feed the coi fishes. Parking was very packed and everyone was escorted to park along the hill. We got lucky with parking. Overall, it was a great experience and I recommend going. read more

When you first arrive, there's a Bon Sho (Sacred Bell). I rang the bell before entering the temple. The ringing of the bell is to purify the mind of evil spirits and temptation. Bring happiness, blessings, and long life. I was told the Byodo-In Temple is a replica of the one in Japan. Before you enter, you must take off your shoes. The temple is beautiful! When entering, I pictured it being bigger on the inside. There is a huge Buddha statue inside. In front of Buddha, there is a table where I lit an incense stick, prayed, and honored my loved ones who passed. I'm a Christian, and it was a great feeling of, "Let go and let God." Note: Make sure you pay attention to the time if you're on a tour. Give yourself enough time to explore the temple grounds, gift shop, grab food, beverages, and visit the beautiful koi fish pond. , read more

See all

We loved the Japanese temples when we were in Japan and this seemed like a great visit for us. It was beautiful! We loved the calmness and tranquility, even when it was a little busy. You can walk the grounds and go in the temple. Shoes must be removed when inside. There's also a cute gift sho, and drink stand on site. The gift shop sells fish food and that is a must for the kids! They loved watching the koi go crazy. read more

Byodo-In Temple - Buddhist Temples Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

See all

Went to visit to Byodo-In Temple with my husband on our visit to Honolulu and it was magical and peaceful experience. We loved feeding the birds (specially myself) ringing the temple bell, and taking in the serene and beautiful surroundings. We also took lots of beautiful photos and picked up some tiny decor souvenirs from Japan to remember the day, it was a meaningful and refreshing break from the city and would love to go back if given the opportunity. Went to visit to Byodo-In Temple with my husband on our visit to Honolulu and it was magical and peaceful experience. We loved feeding the birds (specially myself) ringing the temple bell, and taking in the serene and beautiful surroundings. We also took lots of beautiful photos and picked up some tiny decor souvenirs from Japan to remember the day, it was a meaningful and refreshing break from the city and would love to go back if given the opportunity. read more

Fun for kids, but bring your wallet for bird/fish food! The kids had a wonderful time exploring the grounds, but the real highlight for them was definitely feeding the wildlife. We met the resident peacocks, Angus and Malcolm, who are currently in a transition area acclimating to their new environment. The birds and fish here are absolutely insatiable; they will literally pile on top of one another to get to the food, which made for a very high-energy and entertaining experience for the little ones. Be prepared for the cost of the feed, though. It is $6 per small bag, and because the kids wanted to keep feeding the animals, the costs rose quickly. On a practical note, there are port-a-potties available for visitors. If you are looking for keepsakes, there are several tables with items for sale from local vendors, as well as a dedicated gift shop. There is even a souvenir photo area where you can have your picture taken in custom costumes. Overall, it's a beautiful and memorable stop, especially if you're traveling with children who love animals. read more

This was a highlight of our trip. They have a parking area that's decently sized, and you pay per person before entering. It's $7 for adults, $6 for seniors, and $4 for children 2-12. The temple is stunning and there are a bunch of spots to grab great photos. There are a ton of koi in the pond and they sell food for them in the gift shop. They also have so many gifts in the shop from small inexpensive trinkets to some more meaningful items. Make sure you take off your shoes before entering the temple. It's a serene and beautiful spot and we really enjoyed walking through, admiring the architecture and art. It's so peaceful. They also have a giant bell that you can ring and the sound reverberates through the area adding to the experience. It's another great photo/video opportunity, but also a bit meditative and grounding. They also had local artists and vendors there who were showcasing their work. We bought a sand painting as a keepsake from the trip and it's absolutely beautiful. You could definitely spend a couple hours here, and while it's good for all ages, adults will probably appreciate the serenity more. read more

Beautiful area. Plenty of fish to see and lots of relaxation time. Come early because parking is limited read more

Byodo-In Temple - Buddhist Temples Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

See all

We stopped by Byodo-In Temple this afternoon to experience this sacred place. It was quite a beautiful place to visit and I highly recommend taking the time to see it. read more

See all

Great experience. Parking might be tough to find depending on time of day. I was surprised by how many Koi fishes there were.

Very beautiful and aesthetic temple to visit while on Oahu. It was very cheap to get it and there is plenty to admire. At the front, we ordered two tickets and received them fine. The temple seemed to be in excellent shape and the grounds were kept up well. We requested directions, and people were happy to help us. We felt we got everything we had wanted out of this experience. read more

Byodo-In Temple - Duck - Buddhist Temples Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

See all

If you are travelling by private vehicle, Ho'omaluhia Botanical Gardens is 15 minutes away. If you visit Byodo-In Temple, I would include the garden as part of your day trip. If the directional in your mobile device takes you to "Valley of the Temples" memorial park, you're in the right place. Byodo-In Temple is located within a nondenominational cemetery. Byodo-In Temple is a replica of a 900-year old Buddhist temple in Uji, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. It was dedicated in August 1968 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of first Japanese immigration to Hawai'i. A couple of notes: Use your mobile and buy your tickets in advance. This is a cashless facility ... When planning my trip, I thought I would simply arrive and pay cash the $7 entry fee (saving the temple processing fees). I ended up purchasing an e-ticket on my mobile, on site. (Fortunately, my connection was good.) The gift shop is also cashless; minimum card purchase is $2. The temple has a small parking lot. when you arrive, it might be full. However, touring the facility can be completed in as little as 30 minutes; the parking spaces turn over regularly. Other than that, this is a really photogenic venue. And there are a lot of photo ops. read more

See all

Interesting cultural historical site. It's worth a stop for up to an hour. $7 per adult. The garden is beautiful and photogenic. You can feed the koi fish if you want they look very hungry. read more

See all

This was such a cool stop to make! It really felt special and sacred despite plenty of people being there. I love how they don't allow people to walk directly in front of the temple, so there is always a nice, clear view. The ponds were filled with koi fish, there was a giant bell you could ring, incense to light within the temple itself, and a bit of souvenir shops you could explore (although I found these to be a bit pricey). Truly a stunning view and well-worth the travel to see. read more

See all

Upon first sight, I felt like I was transported straight to Japan! This is a very popular attraction located at the Temples Memorial Park. While it was fairly crowded at 2:00P, the line to pay for admission moved quickly. Prices are very reasonable at $5 per adult and $4 for seniors 65+. Upon entry, after crossing the bridge, head to the left where you can step up to the Bon Sho (Sacred Bell) and strike it with a swing of the wooden log. The sound is said to clear your mind before heading over to enter the temple. Visitors need to remove their shoes before stepping inside to view the Amida Buddha statue, so I'd recommend wearing socks or bringing a pair with you. Despite the crowd, the temple exudes an aura of peace and solace for prayer and reflection. You can light an incense if you wish. A short trail near the Sacred Bell will lead you up a small hill to Meditation Pavilion where you can enjoy a quiet(er) view of the temple from behind. It was great to capture a photo from this perspective without worrying about people stepping into the shot. Take a peek in the water which is alive with a huge population of hungry Koi fish. A small store sells little bags of Koi food and the fish went wild when kids threw handfuls of the pellets. When in Oahu, this is a must to include in your itinerary. We spent about one hour here which was enough time to fully explore the grounds and capture some photos. It's not much of a time commitment and worth the drive out! read more

Byodo-In Temple - So serene - Buddhist Temples Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

See all

My family and I visited Byodo-In Temple recently. What beautiful and peaceful site. The temple and the backdrop is just breathtaking. We really enjoyed seeing the temple and feeding the koi fish. read more

See all

If in the area, you need to stop here. Besides being beautiful, it will give you mind, spirit, and soul a needed refresh. It was part of a tour and they took care of the tickets. Well worth the stop and the drive up to it. I do suggest getting in line to ring the bell. Spend some time at the pond. Spend some time in the temple. Oh, and there is a gift shop. It was well worth the price. The friendly staff on site will guide you to all you want to see and do and provide a great service! read more

Having just returned from Japan, we were amazed by the beautiful setting of this Buddhist temple in Kaneohe. The structure is quite authentic, and very well maintained but the best part is its tranquil setting at the base of the mountain range. The only negative was the clanging of the bell as people constantly tried to outdo each other in generating the loudest sounds. So grateful that friends brought us over to see it! read more

Byodo-In Temple - Buddhist Temples Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

We stopped by the Byodo-In Temple during our trip to Oahu--this was my second visit, and it remains one of my favorite peaceful spots on the island. Located inside the Valley of the Temples Memorial Park, the temple is a smaller-scale replica of the nearly 1,000-year-old Byodo-In Temple in Uji, Japan. This place is a Hawaii State Landmark and absolutely worth the visit. From the moment you walk in, there's a calming presence to the grounds. It's customary to ring the sacred bon-sho (bell) before entering--symbolizing peace and mindfulness. The grounds feature a beautiful koi pond with large, vibrant koi swimming throughout. You could easily spend time just watching them and enjoying the scenery. Visitors are also welcome to remove their shoes and visit the Amida Buddha, where you can light incense as an offering or moment of reflection. Admission is about $7 for adults and can be paid online via their website, which is super convenient. On-site, the staff were polite and helpful, making the visit feel even more welcoming. Before leaving, make sure to stop by the gift shop--it has a nice selection of souvenirs to remember your visit. Tips: - Admission is ~$7 and can be paid online - Wear easy slip-on shoes (you'll need to remove them at the Buddha shrine) - Take time to ring the bell--it's part of the experience - Bring your camera; this place is incredibly photogenic - The koi pond alone is worth the visit - Friendly and respectful staff on site to help with any questions read more

See all

Since there was finally a break in the rain I was looking for something to do to get the kids outside. It was definitely a fun experience for them and it was a good opportunity for them to learn about another culture/religion. Feeding the fish was fun and the birds were aggressive but super entertaining. Lot of neat pictures to take. Honestly it's also a great place to sit and read a book, meditate, or just get lost in your thoughts. read more

See all

Honestly, cool views and very tranquil but not much to see for the $7 a person price. There is a fun gong you can sound. The Buddha is inside and you have to remove your shoes for that. After that is a small vendor section and a koi pond. You can buy fish and bird food for $2 at the small gift shop. Overall worth 10 minutes of your time if you are in the area. Around 30min from Kailua Beach Park. read more

See all