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You are here: Home / Travel / Valley of the Temples Byodo-In Temple Oahu

Valley of the Temples Byodo-In Temple Oahu

November 5, 2018 by Lisa Grable 2 Comments

Valley of the Temples Byodo-In Temple is a beautiful Buddhist temple on the Windward side of Oahu. This iconic site is nestled below the Ko’olau mountains and is a beautiful symbol of the Japanese influence in Hawai’i. 

Valley of the Temples Byodo-In Temple is one of the cultural treasures of Oahu Hawaii. Visit this beautiful Buddhist temple below the Ko'olau mountains.

The Byodo-In Temple is part of the Valley of the Temples memorial park near Kaneohe. It opened in 1968 as a tribute to the 100th anniversary of Japanese in Hawai’i. It is a replica of the over 900-years-old Byodo-In Temple in Uji, Japan. Admission to the temple is $5 (when we visited you had to have cash). The temple and grounds are open 8:30 am to 5 pm daily.

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Valley of the Temples Byodo-In Temple is one of the cultural treasures of Oahu Hawaii. Visit this beautiful Buddhist temple below the Ko'olau mountains.

Visit the huge sacred bell first. It weighs 3 tons! Ring this before entering the temple. The sound and feeling are amazing. The meditation pavilion is in the garden on the hill above the temple. 

byodo-in-bell
byodo-in-meditation
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Take off your shoes and be respectful when entering the temple to visit the Buddha. It is more than 9 feet tall and covered with gold lacquer and gold leaf. So beautiful!

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byodo-in-ginger
byodo-in-black-swans

A koi pond meanders like a stream around the gardens. You will see little pockets of plants, trees, and statuary. I especially enjoyed trying to get a good picture of the black swans!

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byodo-in-koi

Trees include breadfruit and hala. 

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byodo-in-lauhala

I first fell in love with the Byodo-In Temple in its appearances in Magnum P.I. from the 1980s (episodes 2.7, 3.2, 3.14, and 7.7).  

Oahu Map

Getting there

The Valley of Temples is near Kaneohe along the Kahekili Highway, Route 83. Our favorite way to drive from Waikiki is take the H1 west to 61 Pali Highway north. After going over the Pali, take a left on 83. Go left on 63, then right on 83. The entrance to the Valley of the Temples will be on your left. You can also take The Bus from Waikiki: take number 2, 13, 19, or 20 to Alakea and transfer to 65.

Grabbing a bite

Kailua and Kaneohe both have a wide variety of places to eat. For breakfast, try Cinnamon’s or Moke’s Bread & Breakfast. For lunch or dinner, try Dean’s Drive Inn or Mike’s Huli Huli Chicken. For a great evening experience, try Haleiwa Joe’s at Haiku Gardens. 

Resource links for Byodo-In Temple

  • https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2014/04/26/travel/aloha-gozaimasu-japans-influence-hawaiian-culture/#.W9yvjXpKg0o
    • Japan’s influence in Hawaii from Japan Times
  • https://www.byodo-in.com/
    • Byodo-In Temple Hawaii
  • http://www.thebus.org/pop/Visitor_WaikikiGuide.pdf
    • The Bus Waikiki visitor guide

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Affiliate links: if you make a purchase using these links, I’ll receive a small compensation towards maintaining this blog, at no extra cost to you.

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Filed Under: Hawaii, Travel Tagged With: Buddhist temple, Byodo-In temple, Hawaii, Japanese in Hawaii, Kahaluu, Kaneohe, Oahu, things to do in Oahu, Valley of the Temples

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Comments

  1. Tracy Suzanne DeLoach

    November 8, 2018 at 12:20 pm

    What an incredibly peaceful place to visit. The lush green is beautiful and I’ve never seen seen so many koi. You are very blessed to live in such a beautiful state.

    Reply
    • Lisa Grable

      November 9, 2018 at 2:11 pm

      Hey Tracy, I hope you get to visit Oahu someday. The Byodo-In Temple is such a beautiful place to visit.

      Reply

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Lisa Grable, Casa BouquetI’m an educator, grandmother, classic movie fan, sewer and crafter, and I love Hawaii. Read more about me …

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