One of the most famous sights in Kyoto, Japan
Located in Kyoto, Japan, Kinkakuji is one of Japan’s most famous temples. It is situated in a park in Northern Kyoto.
To visit Kinkakuji, it costs 500 yen. The beautiful admission ticket is a good luck charm! You can put this on the entrance to your home or on the door of a room in your house, as it is meant to represent good fortune and safety.
Kinkaku-ji is formally known as Rokuon-ji. It was a retirement villa inhabited by shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. When he died in 1408, the landmark was converted into a zen temple by his son, fulfilling his father’s wishes. Today, it is one of the most visited temple's in Japan, as it boasts impressive beauty and architecture. Its top two floors are entirely covered in gold leaf. After entering the park, this is the first view that you get upon reaching the temple.
The perspective from across the pond is the most desired for visitors, as it offers the best view of the temple from afar. As you can see, plenty of people gather and stare in awe at the historical landmark.
The pond here is called Kyoko-chi Pond, or Mirror Pond. The way the water has a reflection of the temple and trees make for a photogenic sight. You can also see reflections in the photo above and the two previous ones. The reflection of the temple itself is beautiful.
Seeing the temple up close really displays how impressive the architecture is.
This is the complete view of it from the backside of the temple. It is a beautiful structure from every perspective. Make sure to take some time to walk around the temple and see it from many angles before moving on.
As you pass Kinkakuji and continue walking through the garden, you can eventually see the temple once again, except this time from farther away.
The temple was destroyed several times from wars. It was also burned down by a zealot monk in 1950 and was reconstructed five years later. After burning it down, the monk attempted suicide on the Daimon-ji hill behind the temple. If you’re interested in reading, there is a psychological fiction book about the story of this monk that is mainly based on a real life story. It is called The Temple of the Golden Pavilion by Yukio Mishima.
Behind Kyoko-chi Pond, there is also a small stone Buddha pagoda statute. It is evident that there there is a lot of attention to detail in every part of the park.
As a nice addition, the park has a serene tea garden where you can relax and drink tea among the trees and nature. For 500 yen (around 5 USD), it is worth it. It is so peaceful that it’s hard to pass up. To many visitors, spending time in this tea garden is just another a part of the experience of seeing Kinkakuji! It is a great opportunity to be still and take in the beauty of the area in a meditative way.
In Japan, green tea is commonly served with a traditional Japanese sweet known as wagashi. These sweets come in different shapes with different consistencies and flavors, all which involve different methods of preparation. The pairing of green tea and a sweet compliment each other well.
There is a shop that sells charms and there is another shop that sells matcha ice cream covered in gold leaf, just like Kinkakuji. Like I said, there is attention to detail in every part of the park, including what’s sold at the concession stand! Even in the cold weather, it was very good ice cream.
Lastly, even the exit of the park is elegant looking! Of course, the golden railing on the staircase is a subtle representation of Kinkakuji.
When you find yourself in Kyoto, visiting here is a great start. See the world famous temple, walk through the garden, and sit down and enjoy some green tea and ice cream, all while connecting with nature.