Mike L.
Yelp
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!