The Golden Pavilion:
Ancient Japan Meets Goldfinger

The Golden Pavilion (aka Kinkakuji Temple), is a must see for every Kyoto tourist.

After all, it`s not everyday you see a building, let alone a Japanese temple, covered in gold!

Personally I love Kinkaku-ji and its temple gardens. Having lived near Osaka for a number of years it`s nice to get away from the city and experience the feeling of "ancient Japan" by visiting a Kyoto temple.

It originally served as the retirement villa for Yoshimitsu the third Ashikaga shogun.

I guess they don`t make retirement homes like they used to.

Passing his position onto his son Yoshimochi in 1394 at the age of 37, Yoshimitsu entered the preisthood as a devout follower of the Zen priest Soseki.

At Yoshimitsu`s request, Yoshimochi converted the villa into a Zen temple following his father`s death with Soseki becoming its supervisor.

The three story temple gets its name from the gold leaf that covers the upper two.

Topped by a bronze phoenix, Kinkakuji extends out over a pond and is surrounded by a kaiyuu shiki (strolling garden) with Mount Kinugasa in the background.

The Fate of Kinkakuji Temple.

Q. If you were a 21 year old monk in Kyoto, Japan, in 1950, would you:

a: Try and get your parents to kiss at the school dance so you can go back to the future?

b: Burn Kinkakuji temple to the ground.

c: Buy stocks in Sony.

If you answered "c" you are smarter than, Hayashi Yoken, the 21 year old monk/university student who decided, that this particular Japanese temple should be torched. Apparently because it was too beautiful.

The event took place on July 2nd, 1950.

Luckily for you and me, the Golden Pavilion was rebuilt in 1955 to it`s original specifications.

Opening Hours:

9:00am - 5:00pm

Open Year-Round

Entry:

400 yen (Adults and Senior High School Students)

300 yen (Children, Junior High School and Elementary School Students)