Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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1 Kinkaku-ji-chō, Kita-ku
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admission ¥400
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9am-5pm
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bus 205 from Kyoto Station to Kinkakuji-mae stop
Originally built in 1397 as a retirement villa for shōgun Ashikaga Yoshi-mitsu,
Kinkaku-ji (
金閣寺
) was converted into Buddhist temple by his son, in compliance with
his wishes. Also known as Rokuon-ji, Kinkaku-ji belongs to the Shōkokuji school of
Buddhism.
The three-storey pavilion is covered in bright gold leaf and features a bronze phoenix
on top of the roof. The mirror-like reflection of the temple in the Kyō-ko pond is ex-
tremely photogenic, especially when the maples are ablaze in autumn.
In 1950 a young monk consummated his obsession with the temple by burning it to the
ground. The monk's story is fictionalised in Mishima Yukio's 1956 novel
The Temple of
the Golden Pavilion
.
In 1955 a full reconstruction was completed, following the original design exactly, but
the gold-foil covering was extended to the lower floors.
This quaint teahouse
Sekka-tei
embodies the spirit of
wabi sabi
(rustic simplicity) that
defines the Japanese tea-ceremony ethic. It's at the top of the hill shortly before the exit of
the temple. Because of the enormous popularity and fame of this temple, it's almost al-
ways crowded - try to visit early on a weekday morning.
