It happened to be raining when I visited Byodoin this time. Maybe there were fewer visitors because of the rain, so even though it's a popular attraction, it wasn't very crowded. The grounds have gravel paths, so they were still fairly easy to walk on in the rain. My visit also happened to fall during cherry blossom season. Although the rain had already caused some of the blossoms to fall, it also meant there wasn't the usual cherry blossom season congestion. The cherry blossoms, pond, and Heian-period-style architecture in the gloomy rain instead created a more tranquil beauty, making the entire visit unexpectedly pleasant.
It only started raining after I arrived in Kyoto, so I bought a clear umbrella at a convenience store at the last minute. Because of my budget, I chose the cheapest umbrella there, which happened to be clear. I didn't realize how convenient it was until I actually used it. Especially when taking photos under the cherry trees or in front of Byodoin, the clear umbrella didn't block the scenery in front of me. It was only then that I truly understood why clear umbrellas are so common on the streets of Japan.
The grounds of Byodoin were larger than I had originally imagined. Once inside, I found that it wasn't just Phoenix Hall itself that was worth seeing. The surrounding gardens, pond, and views from different angles were also very interesting. The architecture has a very distinctive Heian-period style, especially the sight of Phoenix Hall standing in front of the pond, which easily brings to mind the ideal residences sought by aristocrats at the time. Byodoin was originally created when Fujiwara no Yorimichi converted his villa in Uji into a temple. With that background in mind, it's easy to understand why the entire setting has such a strong atmosphere of Heian aristocratic culture.
If time allows, I also highly recommend visiting the Byodoin Museum Hoshokan. It houses many important cultural properties and precious artifacts from Byodoin, where you can learn historical details that aren't directly apparent from outside Phoenix Hall. Still, this part depends on your personal interest in historical artifacts, since there is an admission fee, but I personally thought it was well worth it.
Byodoin also has a very special meaning for me. I received my first goshuin here, and you could say that visit began my later habit of collecting goshuin.
Overall, although it rained during this visit to Byodoin and some of the cherry blossoms had already fallen, I actually really liked this less-than-perfect spring scenery. It left a completely different impression from a sunny-day visit. On top of that, the clear umbrella unexpectedly became a useful prop for taking photos, adding another interesting memory to this rainy-day trip.
