Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion Kyoto

Japan Winter 2024

Kyoto | Japan

27 Feb 2024 | Tue

Day 08 of 17

Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion Kyoto
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Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion Kyoto

After having breakfast at our hotel, we embarked on our day’s adventure to the renowned Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion in Kyoto. We decided to try Uber for our commute, marking our first experience with the service in Japan. The 21-minute ride was smooth and comfortable, setting a positive tone for the day.

Kinkaku-ji-Golden-Pavilion-01 — Our Uber Ride to Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion Kyoto

Upon reaching, the weather was chilly with an overcast sky, hinting at the possibility of rain or even snow. Despite the cold, the anticipation of exploring the famous site kept our spirits high. We were among the early visitors, which gave us the advantage of capturing some splendid photos of the pavilion without the usual crowd.

Kinkaku-ji-Golden-Pavilion-04 — Entrance to Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion Kyoto

The sun made a brief appearance, adding a magical touch to the already beautiful scenery. However, the clouds soon took over again, and to our surprise, it started to snow. The sight of the Golden Pavilion against the backdrop of falling snow was quite a sight. It was a nice day visiting the Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion.

Kinkaku-ji-Golden-Pavilion-18 — Beautiful Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion Kyoto

Kinkaku-ji (金閣寺, lit. ‘Temple of the Golden Pavilion’), officially named Rokuon-ji (鹿苑寺, lit. ’Deer Garden Temple’), is a Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan. It is one of the most popular buildings in Kyoto, attracting many visitors annually. It is designated as a National Special Historic Site, a National Special Landscape and is one of 17 locations making up the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto which are World Heritage Sites.

The Golden Pavilion (金閣, Kinkaku) is a three-story building on the grounds of the Rokuon-ji temple complex. The top two stories of the pavilion are covered with pure gold leaf. The pavilion functions as a shariden (舎利殿), housing relics of the Buddha (Buddha’s Ashes). The building was an important model for Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion Temple) and Shōkoku-ji, which are also located in Kyoto. When these buildings were constructed, Ashikaga Yoshimasa employed the styles used at Kinkaku-ji and even borrowed the names of its second and third floors.

– Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion Kyoto > Wikipedia