A complete guide to Kinkakuji temple in Kyoto
Kinkakuji during autumn
Table of Contents
Overview
Kinkakuji, also known as the Golden Pavilion, is a 600-year-old Buddhist temple in north-western Kyoto. It was originally built as a retirement villa for the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, but upon his death it was donated to become a Buddhist temple.
It's one of the most popular and busiest temples in Japan, receiving a large volume of visitors year-round. The Kinkakuji temple grounds consist of a large garden area with many views of the Golden Pavilion. Although though most photos you see only show the temple from a distance, the pathway actually takes you within a few meters of the temple.
Kankakuji's Golden Pavilion is completely covered in real gold leaf, which looks stunningly vibrant in all weather conditions. You'll also find some shops at the entrance that allow you to taste the gold leaf, serving up soft serve ice cream decorated with gold leaf shavings. The most recent reconstruction of the temple was in 1955 after it was burnt down by an angry monk who was protesting the opulent nature of the temple.
Although off-limits, the inside of the temple is also coated in gold leaf, and contains a sacred golden statue of the founder of the temple, shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu.
Location & Access
Kinkakuji during summer
Kinkakuji is located quite far from the city centre, in north-west Kyoto. There's no train station in this area, so the only options are bus, taxi, or bicycle.
🕗 Opening Hours
9am - 5pm
📍 Location
North-Western Kyoto (Google Maps)
💴 Entry Price
¥500 per person
⛩️ Kyoto Station, Downtown, or Gion
Bus: Approx. 45 minutes
Taxi: Approx. 25 minutes
Seasons
Snow is rare at Kinkakuji, occurring 1-3 times per winter
🌸 Cherry Blossoms
Late March to Early April
🍁 Autumn Leaves
Late November to Early December
☀️ Summer
June - August
Average temp. 32°C
❄️ Winter
December - February
Snowfall: 1-3 times per year
Interesting Facts & History
The inside of Kinkakuji is not accessible to the public. Image Source: Official Website
Originally built in 1397 as a retirement villa for the powerful shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu.
In his will, Yoshimitsu declared the property to be donated as a Buddhist temple upon his death.
The temple has burned down numerous times over the centuries, including twice during the Onin War (1467-1477).
In 1950, in the middle of the night, the temple was burned down by an angry monk.
Why was the temple covered in Gold? There were two reasons, firstly, the gold was intended to purify one from negative thoughts and feelings towards death. And secondly, it was a display of extravagance that was fashionable at the time, symbolising importance and success.
The design for each floor represents a different style:
— The first floor represents the Shinden style, used for temples built during the Heian period. Two statues are located inside the first floor, one of Buddha and one of Yoshimitsu.
— The second floor represents the Bukke style, which was commonly used for samurai residences.
— The third floor represents the traditional Chinese Zen style and features a golden phoenix on the roof.
The son of the temple's founder constructed his own retirement villa and named it Ginkakuji, the Silver Pavilion. Although it's not silver, many visitors consider it more beautiful due to its carefully designed Zen garden, which is particularly impressive during autumn.
Nearby Attractions
Kitano Tenmangu's maple garden. Image Copyright: Ollie Ronin
Although a little out of the way, Kinkakuji is located near some other great shrines and temples. The closest attraction within walking distance (17 mins) is the Kitano Tenmangu shrine, it's well worth a visit in late November as it opens up the maple garden for people to experience the autumn leaves. Another popular temple is Ryoan-ji, a 20-minute walk away, along with its neighbour Ninna-ji Temple which is well known for its cherry blossoms.
