Autumn UNESCO World Heritage Byodoin Temple Early Morning Private Tour

Byodoin Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is celebrated as a renowned destination for autumn foliage. In the hushed stillness of the early morning, the temple precincts breathe with the same architecture, Buddhist statues, and scenery as they did in the Heian period, some 1,000 years ago. Entering before regular visiting hours, guests are granted exclusive access to the beautiful Phoenix Hall, free from crowds. As the morning sunlight streams into the hall and illuminates the Amida Nyorai Seated Statue, the scene reveals the brilliance of a design infused with the aesthetic sensibilities of the Heian period.

Chief Priest Monsho Kamii will personally guide guests through the grounds, followed by a leisurely private viewing of the Hoshokan Museum, which houses national treasures and sacred temple artifacts. The highlight of the program is an intimate dialogue with the Chief Priest inside the Yorin-an Shoin Study at Jodoin Temple, an Important Cultural Property normally closed to the public. By discovering the history, culture, and wisdom of a millennium of carefully preserved memories, you will touch upon values handed down through time. Please spend a special moment that will remain deeply etched in your heart, an experience uniquely crafted by HOTEL THE MITSUI KYOTO.

Dates: November 17th (Tue), November 24th (Tue), and November 27th (Fri), 2026

Time: 7am to 9am (approximate duration)

Number of Participants: One group per day, on a first-come, first-served basis. *Maximum of 8 participants per group

Price: JPY 400,000 per group (tax included, accommodation not included)

Tour Content:
< Precincts Tour Course > Garden → National Treasure: Phoenix Hall → Hoshokan Museum → Important Cultural Property: Yorin-an Shoin Study (usually closed to the public) featuring a private dialogue with the priest