Kinkaku-ji Temple, otherwise known as the Golden Pavilion, is the most famous temple in Japan. Kinkaku-ji Temple is located in northwestern Kyoto and is easily reached by bus or taxi. It is a short 5 minute bus ride or 20 minute walk from Ryoan-Ji Temple to the west. We arrived at the temple on a rainy day just before lunch time. Even the inclement weather did not stop crowds of tourists from visiting one of the most popular temples in the country.

Originally a villa for the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, it was completed at the end of the 14th century, and was converted to a Zen temple when he died as per his will. Kinkaku-ji Temple has since burned down a few times in its history, but most recently was in 1950 when a crazed monk burned down the pavilion. It was later rebuilt in 1955 and has received restorative work periodically since.

From the front gate to Kinkaku-ji Temple we took a long path to the main entrance. Along the way we passed the hojo on the other side of an interior wall and walked past a very old horse trough. At the entrance we eventually got through the crowds, purchased tickets, and headed through the gate and down a path leading to the pond.

The first area we came upon inside Kinkaku-ji Temple was the viewing area from across the pond. This is undoubtedly the most scenic spot in the whole temple complex and was filled with many tourists. Since it was raining, the umbrellas just exacerbated the size of the crowd, but everyone was polite, and with a short wait we finally got some fantastic views of the golden pavilion. The 60,600 square meter pond is called Kyoko-chi (or Mirror Pond) and reflects the image of the golden pavilion when viewed from across the pond. The pond contains 10 small islands that are made to give the view a different shape depending on the view.

The Golden Pavilion itself has 3 levels, all of which represent different architectural styles. The first floor is built in the Shinden style from the Heian Period. This level’s room is called the Chamber of Dharma Waters (Hou-sui-in) and contains statues of Shaka Buddha and Yoshimitsu. Visitors are no longer allowed to enter the pavilion since it was rebuilt after the fire, but the interior of the first floor can be seen from across the pond. The second floor is built in the Bukke style of samurai residences, and this level is called the Tower of Sound Waves (Chou-on-dou). Inside is a shrine to the seated Kannon Bodhisattva, who is the goddess of mercy. This shrine is not viewable to the public. The third floor is designed in the style of a Chinese Zen Hall, and this level is called the Cupola of the Ultimate (Kukkyou-chou). The roof is thatched pyramid shingles and is capped with a golden phoenix. The entire exterior of the second and third floors are covered in gold leaf and are the reason for the pavilion’s name.

We continued from the viewpoint down a path going along the hojo that took us next to the Golden Pavilion. Kinkaku-ji Temple at this point didn’t feel as crowded since we had gotten away from the crowded viewing area. We managed to get many more fantastic pictures of the pavilion from various angles as we walked down the path.

Next to the hojo is a very old bonsai tree that now has grown to be quite large and requires support to retain its shape. From the tree, we had a good view of the side of the pavilion and the golden phoenix at the top. Continuing around the back side of the pavilion we saw the small fishing deck.

After passing the Golden Pavilion, we continued through the rest of Kinkaku-ji Temple. This area contains more of the temple’s gardens. The Anmintaku Pond is found here as well, which is said to never dry up. Past the pond is the Sekka-tei Teahouse, where matcha tea is served for 500 yen. A small gift shop is in the area as well. There is also a small temple called Fudo Hall which houses a statue of Fudo Myoo. Near the hall is a small worn down stone that our tour guide called the “Emperor’s Chair,” which anyone can sit on and feel like an emperor. We did not get the full story behind that one. After passing through this area, we walked down a set of stairs and down a long path back to the front gate to Kinkaku-ji Temple.

Kinkaku-ji Temple is a must-see destination in Kyoto. It’s very popular for a reason; it has a beautiful water garden that sits at the foot of one of the most iconic locales in Japan. The Golden Pavilion offers a great photo opportunity no matter the time of the year or the weather. Just be prepared to deal with some crowds of tourists due to its fame, but they won’t detract from the gorgeous views you’ll be treated to while there.

Google Maps Link: Kinkaku-ji Temple