The Byodo-In Temple situated at Valley of the Temples Memorial Park was established on June 7, 1968 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first Japanese immigrants to Hawaii. The Byodo-In is a replica of the 950 year-old Buddhist temple in Japan, which was converted from a villa in the year 1053.

The Byodo-In Temple translates to “Temple of equality–not to discriminate” and is home to Amida, a golden Buddha, towering more than 18 feet.

Walk through the garden surrounding the temple, believed to be the largest ever built outside of Japan. The garden is arranged to create a serene and peaceful landscape with the majestic Koolau Mountains as the backdrop.

The Byodo-In Temple gift shop offers a variety of unique treasures, souvenirs, and refreshments. From traditional Japanese dolls to local Hawaiian jewelry, you will find the perfect keepsake to take with you. You may purchase food to feed the countless numbers of Japanese koi.

Visiting this site is so much fun. You feel like you are in an ancient Japanese movie or story book. This is another wonderful way to spend a few hours on Oahu. Bring the camera. There are a lot of great things to snap!