拝観料（はいかんりょう、haikanryou）
- admission fee (temple)

The Japanese word 拝観料 (はいかんりょう) means "admission fee" or "entrance fee," specifically for viewing something, typically at a temple, shrine, museum, or other historical or cultural site. It's the fee you pay to be allowed to enter and see the exhibits or structures. The word combines two parts: 拝観, which means "viewing" or "observation," and 料, which means "fee" or "charge." Therefore, 拝観料 literally translates to "viewing fee" or "observation fee." It's different from the fees for services like guided tours (usually separate) or for things you can buy.

⚫︎ 京都のお寺の《拝観料はいくらですか？》 Translation: How much is the admission fee for the temple in Kyoto? ⚫︎ 博物館の《拝観料を払いました。》 Translation: I paid the entrance fee for the museum. ⚫︎ 《拝観料は大人500円、子供300円です。》 Translation: The admission fee is 500 yen for adults and 300 yen for children.

You use 拝観料 when talking about the cost to enter a place and see what's inside. It's used in situations where there's a specific price for entry to view an exhibit, a structure, a garden, or any other area designated for viewing. You'll commonly see the word on signs at the entrance of these sites, on ticket machines, and on websites. The verb frequently used in conjunction with 拝観料 is 払う (to pay) or its variations.

拝観料 is typically written in kanji as 拝観料. The reading is はいかんりょう in hiragana. There are no other standard ways to write this word. The okurigana is fixed for this word, so there aren’t variations.

There aren't many direct synonyms for 拝観料 that are frequently used. While not perfect synonyms, these words can sometimes be used in a similar context: ⚫︎ 入場料 (にゅうじょうりょう): entrance fee (more general) ⚫︎ チケット代 (ちけっとだい): ticket price

⚫︎ 無料 (むりょう): free of charge

この美術館の《拝観料は高すぎます。》 ・Translation: The admission fee for this art museum is too expensive. ・Explanation: This sentence expresses an opinion about the price of the entrance fee.

《拝観料には、特別な展示の料金は含まれていません。》 ・Translation: The admission fee does not include the fee for special exhibitions. ・Explanation: This sentence clarifies what the admission fee covers and what it does not. It is common to have separate charges for special exhibitions.

The word is formed from the combination of 拝観, which has its roots in religious and classical Japanese, implying "respectful viewing" or "observing with reverence," and 料, which is a common word element indicating "fee" or "charge." The usage of 拝観 specifically connects the fee with a place of cultural or historical significance, where you’re paying for the privilege of seeing something valuable.