Kinkaku-ji Temple (Golden Pavilion), Kyoto, Japan
Kinkaku-ji Temple! A shimmering golden façade against a stunning backdrop of lush green, fiery autumn hues or pristine white snow, depending on the season!
An iconic Kyoto landmark, the Kinkaku-ji Temple and the Golden Pavilion are a must-visit on every tourist’s itinerary, easily one of the top 10 places to see in Japan!
The stunning temple consists of three floors with a golden phoenix atop the roof. Each floor has its own architectural style.
The ground floor is built in Shinden style with plain wooden pillars. The second reflects the Bukke style associated with the samurai. The top floor is entirely gilded in gold leaf, an ornate Zen style.
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Built in the late 14th century originally as a retirement villa for the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu and later dedicated as a Buddhist temple after his death, the Kinkakuji Temple was rebuilt in 1955 after a fire, as is typical of many of Japan’s wooden historical structures.
The temple grounds include multiple ponds, the main being the Mirror Pond (kyoko-chi) that perfectly reflects the golden temple when the waters are still.
As is typical of Japanese gardens, the Golden Pavilion is meticulously landscaped with winding paths through ponds and waterfalls, and a leisurely stroll will offer your best photos of the temple from strategic viewpoints along the path.
On this comprehensive Kinkaku-ji Temple website you will find everything you need to plan your visit!
Kyoto is a great place to book a traditional experience, such as a tea ceremony, sake tasting, or sushi making. This highly-rated sake tasting tour is an immersive experience you will love! 🍶
And if you’re just starting to plan your visit to Japan, check out some of the top things to do in Japan, many of which you absolutely don’t want to miss!
Complete 2025 Guide to Kinkaku-ji Temple
| Kinkaku-ji Temple (Golden Pavilion) | Details |
|---|---|
| Location / Address | 1 Kinkakujicho, Kita Ward, Kyoto, 603-8361, Japan |
| Why is Kinkaku-ji Temple famous? | ✨ Covered in gold leaf – A striking golden temple 🏯 One of Kyoto’s most iconic landmarks 🌿 Stunning traditional Japanese gardens 📸 One of Japan’s most photographed sites |
| Best Time to Visit | 🌸 Spring (March–April) – Cherry blossoms 🍁 Autumn (October–November) – Vibrant red foliage ❄️ Winter (December–February) – Snow-covered golden pavilion |
| Opening Hours | 🕙 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Year-round) |
| Entrance Fee / Tickets | 🎟️ Adults & High School Students: ¥400 (~$3 USD) 🧒 Children (Elementary & Middle School): ¥300 (~$2 USD) |
| Main Attractions | ✨ Golden Pavilion – Three-story temple covered in gold leaf 🌿 Kyoko-chi Pond – Reflecting pond surrounding the temple 🍃 Beautiful Zen Garden – Traditional Japanese landscape design ⛩️ Sekkatei Tea House – Traditional matcha tea experience |
| Facilities | 🚻 Restrooms, souvenir shop, small tea house |
| Nearby Attractions | 🎭 Ryoan-ji Temple – Famous Zen rock garden 🌳 Ninna-ji Temple – Historic temple with a pagoda 🍵 Arashiyama Bamboo Forest – Beautiful bamboo grove |
Kinkaku-ji Temple (official name – Rokuon-ji), originally built by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu (third shogun of the Ashikaga Shogunate) in 1397, has a rich history reflecting centuries of transformation!
This Kinkakuji Temple website is your one-stop for all the details you need to plan your trip!
Located in the Kitayama district, in the northwest hills of Kyoto in Japan, the address for Kinkaku-ji Temples is 1 Kinkakujicho, Kita Ward, Kyoto, 603-8361, Japan.
Kinkakuji Temple is easily accessible from Kyoto with many popular Kyoto day tours including this destination as part of their itinerary. You can also travel from Kyoto Station to Kinkaku-ji Temple on your own.
You can also travel to Kinkaku-ji Temple from the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove.
Planning to visit both Kinkaku-ji Temple (Golden Pavilion) and Ginkaku-ji Temple (Silver Pavilion)? You can travel from one to the other to visit them both on the same day.
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This Kinkakuji Temple map can be expanded for directions and nearby attractions.
While Kinkakuji Temple opening hours are daily, 09:00 am to 05:00 pm, the best time to visit is usually early morning (before the tour groups arrive)! Most visitors spend about an hour here, walking and talking photos.
While Kinkakuji Temple in autumn is stunning with fall colors in the surrounding foliage, Kinkakuji Temple in winter is a completely different experience, especially in virgin snow after a fresh snowfall!
Kinkaku-ji Temple Visit Cost
And best of all, tickets to Kinkakuji Temple are nominal, with an entrance fee of about $3 / adult ( 500 Yen / adult, with discounted tickets for school kids).
Best Things to Do at Kinkaku-ji Temple
1. Admire the Golden Pavilion
Of course, you’re here to admire the golden temple, a stunning spectacle gleaming brilliantly in the sunlight!
Is Kinkaku-ji made of real gold? Yes, it is real gold, but gold leaf, not solid gold! About 10,000 gold leaves!
The three-story temple exterior façade is covered with a layer of gold leaves, giving the illusion of opulence so dramatically different from the usually spartan Buddhist temple appearance.
Visitors can’t enter the pavilion, but the intricate architectural details and picturesque setting offer plenty to marvel at.
A popular stop on the best Kyoto tours, visit early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid crowds and enjoy the serene atmosphere.
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2. Stroll Through the Scenic Garden
A masterclass in Japanese landscaping, the gardens at Kinkaku-ji Temple are designed to enhance the beauty of the Golden Pavilion.
Meandering paths traverse through meticulously arranged rock gardens, ancient pines, and peaceful streams, and take you to small shrines, mossy groves, and scenic viewpoints.
Comfortable walking shoes are a must for navigating the gravel paths.
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3. Capture the Perfect Photo
If you’re looking for the perfect Instagram photo, walk away from the Golden Pavilion along the Kyoko-chi Pond (Mirror Pond) until you can catch Kinkaku-ji’s breathtaking symmetry and reflection in the pond.
The main vantage point near the pond’s edge offers a classic, iconic, picture-postcard view, but wander along the garden paths for more unique perspectives, such as glimpses of the pavilion framed by trees or peeking through branches.
For the best lighting, visit in the early morning or late afternoon. Overcast days can also lend a soft, diffused light that enhances the temple’s golden glow.
Klook.com4. Coin Toss at the Fudo-do Shrine
While there are many shrines scattered around the temple gardens, one in particular is worth stopping by – a temple with a small shrine dedicated to Fudo Myoo, worshipped as a guardian deity in Japanese Buddhism (see Kinkaku-ji temple map).
The main statue of Fudo Myoo is enshrined in the Fudo Hall, and shows a fierce god wielding a sword and carrying a rope.
While this secluded hall is overlooked by the casual visitor, you will often see locals pause here to toss a coin into the bowl at the statue’s base and make a wish, an offering for protection or warding off evil and bad luck!
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5. Sip Tea at the Tea Garden
Sipping matcha tea in the serene outdoor settings of the Kinkaku-ji temple gardens is a quintessential Japanese experience!
The Sekka-tei Tea House is conveniently located within the temple’s precincts, with traditional wooden seating with sweeping views of the lush gardens, a tranquil escape in which to relax after exploring the temple.
Be sure to order some wagashi confection (Japanese sweets) to munch with the green tea, and see if they have the tea with flecks of real gold in it!
You’re not the only one wishing to relax, so make sure you arrive early, especially during spring time (peak tourist season).
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Things to Do Near Kinkaku-ji Temple
If you’re planning an all-day trip centered around Kyoto’s golden temple, here are some additional must-see attractions in the vicinity.
Ryoan-ji Temple’s Rock Garden
Home to Japan’s most famous rock garden, Ryoan-ji Temple is a 15-minute walk or a 5-minute bus ride away.
The temple is set in a lush park with a scenic pond (teeming with koi), and its mysterious Zen rock garden is a minimalistic masterpiece consisting of 15 stones arranged such that one is always hidden from view, no matter where you stand!
Expect to pay a nominal entrance fee of 500 yen at the gate.
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Ninna-ji Temple
Visiting in mid-April and still want to view cherry blossoms? Ninna-ji Temple is famous for its hidden cherry blossom spot called Omuro Sakura, known for its late-blooming sakura trees!
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ninna-ji Temple is an imperial, 5-story pagoda, about a 25 minute walk or 7-minute bus ride from Kinkakuji Temple.
A special entry fee of 500 yen is charged during cherry blossom season, and the Goten Palace (former residence of emperors) & Gardens entry fee is 500 yen.
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Is Kinkaku-ji Temple really made of gold?
The exterior facade of the top two floors of Kinkakuji Temple are entirely covered in gold leaf. So yes, Kinkakuji Temple is literally a Golden Pavilion!
The interior of the third floor is also gilded.
Top Kyoto Tours that include the Kinkaku-ji Temple
Looking for a hassle-free way to visit the stunning Kinkaku-ji Temple? Consider one of these highly-rated guided Kyoto tours:
This top-rated Kyoto tour takes you to 10 incredible spots around Kyoto in one day. Other than Kinkaku-ji, you will stop at the Bamboo Forest, Tenryu-ji, Fushimi Inari and more. 🌺
This one-day bus tour of Kyoto takes you in an air-conditioned bus to sites such as Kiyomizu-Dera Temple, Fushimi Inari, Sagano Bamboo Forest, and, of course, Kinkaku-ji Temple. 🚌
This PRIVATE Kyoto tour has Kinkaku-ji as a stop, and allows you to customize the itinerary to your interests if you wish. Perfect for groups up to 6 people. 🚗