The Golden Pavilion
Gold leaf on two floors.
Luka Peternel — CC BY-SA 4.0 · MuckDiva — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France — CC BY 2.0 · Zairon — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Hyppolyte de Saint-Rambert — CC BY 4.0 · Sketyl none — CC BY 2.0 · WFan — CC BY-SA 4.0 · そらみみ — CC BY-SA 4.0
A Zen Buddhist temple in northwest Kyoto, officially Rokuon-ji, famous for its Golden Pavilion, whose two upper floors are covered in gold leaf. It is one of the «Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto» on UNESCO's World Heritage List. The site was a statesman's villa until the shōgun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu bought it in 1397 and turned it into the Kinkaku-ji complex; the original pavilion is thought to date from 1399, and after his death it became a Zen temple as he had wished. On 2 July 1950 a novice monk set the pavilion on fire, and it was rebuilt in its original form in 1955. It stands at the edge of the Kyōko-chi (Mirror Pond), its golden image reflected in the water among pines and small islands, one of the best-known views in Japan. Visitors follow a set route around the pond and through the garden; the pavilion itself cannot be entered. Admission is 500 yen, daily 9:00-17:00, according to the official site. It is busiest at midday, so early morning is best, and the gold shines most on sunny days.
Gold leaf on two floors.
The golden reflection.
Pines and islands.
Northwest Kyoto
No, visitors see it from the set path around the pond. Admission is 500 yen, daily 9:00-17:00, according to the official site.
