Kyoto Kinkakuji 金閣寺

Kinkakuji 金閣寺, aka Golden Pavilion, is a Zen temple in northern Kyoto whose top two floors are completely covered in gold leaf. Formally known as Rokuonji, the temple was the retirement villa of the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, and according to his will it became a Zen temple of the Rinzai sect after his death in 1408.

Somon 総門 | Main Gate

Syuro 鐘楼 | Bell Tower

The bell is said to have been made by the commission of the Saionji family in the Kamakura period. The bell rings in the Oshiki (A Dorian) mode, with A as its base tone.

Kuri 庫裏 | Storerooms

The building’s style is characteristic of Zen architecture, and it is thought to have been built in the Meio and Bunki eras (1492-1504).

Karamon 唐門 | Karamon Gate

The karamon or karakado (唐門) is a type of gate seen in Japanese architecture. It is characterised by the usage of kara-hafu, an undulating bargeboard peculiar to Japan. Karamon are often used at the entrances of Japanese castles, Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, and have historically been a symbol of authority.

There is a beautifully shaped water bowl in front of the Karamon Gate.

Jyozokishotou 浄蔵貴所塔 | Reverend Jouzo Memorial Tower

This is a memorial tower to Jouzo 浄蔵 (891-964), a monk of the esoteric Buddhist Tendai sect during the Heian period. Wise in childhood, he set his sights on Buddhism at 7 years old, and by 12, he had entered the priesthood. He excelled at faith healing and exorcisms, and is well known for the miracles he performed, like fixing the tilt of Yasaka-no-Tou 八坂の塔 with his divine power. It is believed that a wish can be granted by Jouzo’s mysterious powers when one visits this tower.

Shariden Kinkaku 舎利殿 金閣 | Hall of Shari, Golden Pavilion

Kinkakuji was the inspiration for the similarly named Ginkakuji 銀閣寺 (Silver Pavilion), built by Yoshimitsu’s grandson, Ashikaga Yoshimasa, on the other side of the city a few decades later.

Kinkakuji is an impressive structure built overlooking a large pond, and is the only building left of Yoshimitsu’s former retirement complex. It has burned down numerous times throughout its history including twice during the Onin War, a civil war that destroyed much of Kyoto; and once again more recently in 1950 when it was set on fire by a fanatic monk. The present structure was rebuilt in 1955.

Kinkakuji was built to echo the extravagant Kitayama culture that developed in the wealthy aristocratic circles of Kyoto during Yoshimitsu’s times. Each floor represents a different style of architecture.

The first floor is built in the Shinden style 寢殿造 used for palace buildings during the Heian Period, and with its natural wood pillars and white plaster walls contrasts yet complements the gilded upper stories of the pavilion. Statues of the Shaka Buddha (historical Buddha) and Yoshimitsu are stored in the first floor. Although it is not possible to enter the pavilion, the statues can be viewed from across the pond if you look closely, as the sliding doors are usually left open.

The second floor is built in the Bukke style 武家造 used in samurai residences, and has its exterior completely covered in gold leaf. Inside is a seated Kannon Bodhisattva 觀音菩薩 surrounded by statues of the Four Heavenly Kings; however, the statues are not shown to the public. You can view an image of the statues in the official website.

Finally, the third and uppermost floor is built in the style of a Chinese Zen Hall, is gilded inside and out, and is capped with a golden phoenix.

Ashiharajima 葦原島 | Ashihara Island

The Rokuon-ji 鹿苑寺 (original name of Kinkakuji) garden takes up 92,400 m² of the approximately 132,000 m² grounds, having been designated as a unique historic and scenic landmark. The central Kyoko-chi 鏡湖池 pond is approximately 6,600 m² in area and contains islands of various sizes, such as Ashihara-jima, and famous rock formations, such as the Hatakeyama stone.

Hojo 方丈 | Head Abbot’s Quarter

After viewing Kinkakuji from across the pond, visitors pass by the head priest’s former living quarters (hojo 方丈) which are known for their painted sliding doors (fusuma), but are not open to the public.

The path once again passes by Kinkakuji from behind then leads through the temple’s gardens which have retained their original design from Yoshimitsu’s days. The gardens hold a few other spots of interest including Anmintaku Pond that is said to never dry up, and statues that people throw coins at for luck.

Sekkatei 夕佳亭 | Teahouse

Continuing through the garden takes you to the Sekkatei Teahouse, added to Kinkakuji during the Edo Period, before you exit the paid temple area. In the Edo period, when the then declining Golden Pavilion was being restored, the one who restored the pond garden was Horin Josho. Josho was instructed to make Sekka-tei by the tea ceremonialist Kanamori Sowa, for the benefit of Emperor Go-Mizu-no-O, creator of the Shugaku-in Imperial Villa.

The tea room is made in the sukiya-zukuri style that Sowa was fond of, and the name (meaning Evening-Sun Stop), is derived from the fact that the setting sun over the Golden Pavilion is particularly beautiful from this spot. This tea room is also famous for its nandina bamboo alcove posts and bush clover shelves.

Fudodo 不動堂 | Fudo Hall

Fudo Hall is a small temple hall which houses a statue of Fudo Myo-o 不動明王 (Skt. Acala), one of the Five Wisdom Kings and protector of Buddhism. The principal image of the temple is a stone statue built by Kobo Daishi, one of the most important figures in Japanese religious history, of Fudo Myo-o. It is hidden from public view and widely believed to have miraculous power. The doors to its shrine are opened during festivals on the Setsubun holiday and on August 16th.

Outside the exit are souvenir shops, a small tea garden, where you can have matcha tea and sweets.

Kinkakuji 金閣寺
1 Kinkakuji-cho, Kita-ku, Kyoto 603-8361 Japan

Visited Mar 2025

(Most of the text plagiarised from japan-guide.com, a wonderful guide to Japan from an outsider who has stayed in Japan for a long time. I use this site for a lot of my travel research.)