What to see:
The heart of the temple complex is the Golden Pavilion, located nicely in its garden at
the edge of the lake. The wooden pavilion has three stories surrounded by balconies,
the upper two of which are completely covered in gleaming gold leaf. This temple is
also quite unique as it is a shariden, housing relics of the Buddha.
How to get there:
Kinkaku-ji can be accessed by bus number 101 or 205 from Kyoto Station. A quicker
alternative is to take Karasuma Subway Line to Kitaoji Station from where the temple
can be reached via a short bus or taxi ride.
Sponsored Links:
=> Your Advertisement Here <= Place your Kyoto / Japan related advertisement here!
Helpful Links:
Kinkaku-ji - Official English website.
=> http://www.shokoku-ji.or.jp/english/e_kinkakuji/index.html <=
Kinkaku-ji - Official Japanese website.
=> http://www.shokoku-ji.or.jp/kinkakuji/index.html <=
Welcome to Kyoto Kinkaku-ji Temple- World Heritage Information.
=> http://www.pref.kyoto.jp/visitkyoto/en/theme/sites/shrines/w_heritage/13/ <=
Travel Resources:
=> Browse Gallery - Browse the Kinkaku-ji Temple gallery
=> Forum Discussion - Chion-in Temple Forum discussion
=> Kyoto Maps - Maps of popular Kyoto locations
=> Transportation in Kyoto - Helpful information on getting around Kyoto
=> Kyoto Hotels - Find and Book cheap Kyoto hotels
The heart of the temple complex is the Golden Pavilion, located nicely in its garden at
the edge of the lake. The wooden pavilion has three stories surrounded by balconies,
the upper two of which are completely covered in gleaming gold leaf. This temple is
also quite unique as it is a shariden, housing relics of the Buddha.
How to get there:
Kinkaku-ji can be accessed by bus number 101 or 205 from Kyoto Station. A quicker
alternative is to take Karasuma Subway Line to Kitaoji Station from where the temple
can be reached via a short bus or taxi ride.
Sponsored Links:
=> Your Advertisement Here <= Place your Kyoto / Japan related advertisement here!
Helpful Links:
Kinkaku-ji - Official English website.
=> http://www.shokoku-ji.or.jp/english/e_kinkakuji/index.html <=
Kinkaku-ji - Official Japanese website.
=> http://www.shokoku-ji.or.jp/kinkakuji/index.html <=
Welcome to Kyoto Kinkaku-ji Temple- World Heritage Information.
=> http://www.pref.kyoto.jp/visitkyoto/en/theme/sites/shrines/w_heritage/13/ <=
Travel Resources:
=> Browse Gallery - Browse the Kinkaku-ji Temple gallery
=> Forum Discussion - Chion-in Temple Forum discussion
=> Kyoto Maps - Maps of popular Kyoto locations
=> Transportation in Kyoto - Helpful information on getting around Kyoto
=> Kyoto Hotels - Find and Book cheap Kyoto hotels
Brief History:
Kinkaku-ji was built in 1393 as a retirement villa for Shogun Yoshimitsu Ashikaga
(1358-1409). He intended to cover the exterior with gold, but only managed to coat the
ceiling of the third floor with gold leaf before his death. After his death, his son
converted the building into a Zen temple of the Rinzai school named Rokuonji, in
accordance with Ashikaga's wishes. This was an established tradition and many of
Kyoto's temples are former retirement villas. Kinkaku-ji burned down several times
Kinkaku-ji was built in 1393 as a retirement villa for Shogun Yoshimitsu Ashikaga
(1358-1409). He intended to cover the exterior with gold, but only managed to coat the
ceiling of the third floor with gold leaf before his death. After his death, his son
converted the building into a Zen temple of the Rinzai school named Rokuonji, in
accordance with Ashikaga's wishes. This was an established tradition and many of
Kyoto's temples are former retirement villas. Kinkaku-ji burned down several times
during the Onin War. In 1950, the Golden
Pavilion burned again, this time by a
fanatical monk (This story became the basis
for Yukio Mishima's novel The Temple of the
Golden Pavilion). The present temple
structure dates from 1955, which was rebuilt
true to the original except for a significant
enhancement: both upper stories are
covered in gold leaf, in accordance with
Ashikaga's original intentions. In 1987, the
temple was re-covered in gold leaf five times
thicker than the original coating!
Pavilion burned again, this time by a
fanatical monk (This story became the basis
for Yukio Mishima's novel The Temple of the
Golden Pavilion). The present temple
structure dates from 1955, which was rebuilt
true to the original except for a significant
enhancement: both upper stories are
covered in gold leaf, in accordance with
Ashikaga's original intentions. In 1987, the
temple was re-covered in gold leaf five times
thicker than the original coating!
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