Byodoin consists of a central hall, flanked by twin wing corridors on both sides of the central hall, and a tail corridor. The central hall houses an image of Amida Buddha. The roof of the hall displays phoenixeses (called "hoo").
There is a garden with a pond in front of the building, which in 1997 was dredged as part of an archeological dig.
Japan commemorates its longevity and cultural significance by displaying its image on the 10 yen coin. In December 1994, UNESCO listed the building as a World Heritage site.