Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)

Where it is & how to get there

• Bus: Kyoto City Bus 101 or 205 from Kyoto Station (about 40 minutes).
• Route: A one-way path around the pond and gardens.
• Time: About 45 minutes.

The story of Kinkaku-ji

Kinkaku-ji was built in the late 14th century as a retirement villa for the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu and became a Zen temple after his death. Its upper floors are covered in real gold leaf.

The original pavilion was burned down by a monk in 1950; the current building is a faithful reconstruction from 1955. It is part of the UNESCO-listed Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto.

Best time to visit

Tips before you go

• The light is best on a sunny morning.
• Arrive at opening for photos across the pond.
• Combine with Ryoan-ji's rock garden nearby.

What's around Kinkaku-ji

• Ryoan-jiFamous Zen rock garden.
• Ninna-jiTemple with late-blooming cherries.
• Kitano TenmanguShrine and flea market.
• Daitoku-jiZen temple complex.

Questions travellers ask