Kinkakuji (鹿苑寺金閣), also known as the Golden Pavilion, is a Zen Buddhist temple located in Kyoto, Japan. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Kyoto and is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The temple was originally built in 1397 as a retirement villa for a shogun, and was later converted into a temple by his son. The temple’s main attraction is its three-story pavilion covered in gold leaf, which stands over a pond surrounded by a beautiful garden.
Visitors to Kinkakuji can walk around the garden and admire the pavilion from different angles, and can also go inside the temple to see its beautiful interior. The temple is surrounded by a lush forest, which adds to the tranquil and peaceful atmosphere of the site.
Getting there
From Kyoto Station to Kinkakuji:
| Bus | Kyoto Station ↓ Bus Number 205 ↓ 44 minutes (23 stops) Kinkakujimichi Bus Stop ↓ Walk about 2 minutes ↓ Kinkakuji (Cost 180 yen) |
| Walk | About 38 minutes (2.6 km) |
Details
| Hours | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Admission | Adults: 500 yen Elementary school and junior high school students: 300 yen |
| Phone | +81 75-461-0013 |
| Address | 1 Kinkakujicho, Kita Ward, Kyoto, 603-8361 |
| Official Website | https://www.shokoku-ji.jp/en/kinkakuji/ |
