Byōdō-in in Japanese — 平等院
Byōdō-in is a Buddhist temple in Uji, Kyoto Prefecture. Written in Japanese it is 平等院, read びょうどういん. Below is everything you need to get a taxi there: the characters to show, the reading, and a card you can print or keep on your phone.
Kanji
平等院
| Kana | びょうどういん |
|---|---|
| Romaji | Byōdōin |
| English | Byōdō-in |
| Category | Buddhist temples |
| Location | Uji, Kyoto Prefecture 宇治市 |
How to ask for it in a taxi
- Show the driver: 平等院
- Then point and say: ここまでお願いします (koko made onegai shimasu) — "please take me here".
- If asked which area: 宇治市, 京都府.
- On arrival: 領収書をください (ryōshūsho o kudasai) — "please give me a receipt".
Temple names are read in ways that surprise even Japanese speakers, and the same characters can be read two different ways in two different cities. Handing over the kanji removes the guesswork; the reading on this page is the local one.
Nearby places of the same kind
- 萬福寺 — Manpuku-ji Temple, Uji
- 東福寺 — Tōfuku-ji Temple, Higashiyama-ku
- 泉涌寺 — Sennyū-ji Temple, Higashiyama-ku
- 三十三間堂 — Sanjūsangen-dō, Higashiyama-ku
- 東寺 — Tō-ji, Minami-ku
Frequently asked questions
How do you read 平等院?
平等院 is read びょうどういん, romanised Byōdōin. English-language sources usually write it Byōdō-in. The kanji is what a taxi driver reads; the reading is only there so you know what you are handing over.
How do I show Byōdō-in to a taxi driver in Japan?
Do not try to pronounce it. Show the driver the Japanese characters 平等院 together with the sentence ここまでお願いします ("please take me here"). Use the button on this page to build a card with both, then save it to your phone or print it — it works with no mobile signal.
Do I also need the address for Byōdō-in?
For a well-known Buddhist temple the name is usually enough, but adding 住所 (the address) removes all doubt, especially where several places share a name. This Buddhist temple is in Uji, Kyoto Prefecture; open the map link on this page to copy the exact address before you travel.