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Kinkakuji Temple in Summer
Stefanus HusinKinkakuji Temple is also known as the Golden Pavilion in northern Kyoto. The top two floors of the pavilion is covered in gold leaf..
Kinkakuji Temple
Well known as the Golden Pavilion, Kinkaku-ji is a three-story Zen Buddhist temple in northern Kyoto. Kinkaku-ji and Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion) were built in the 13th century and were originally intended as noble villas for the Ashikaga shoguns. Today the building is also known as Rokuon-ji.
Kinkaku-ji houses several important Buddhist relics and is a sacred place for the Rinzai sect of Japanese Buddhism. Each floor of the temple conveys a different architectural style. The first floor is in the Shinden style, the second floor in the Bukke style and the third floor in the Chinese Zen style. Thus became one of the most photogenic temples in all of Kyoto.
The temple was once the retirement villa of the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. After his death in 1408 he wanted to give the building to the Rinzai sect as a Zen temple. The grounds of the Kinkaku-ji Temple used to consist of several other buildings, but unfortunately burned down in the fires and destruction during the Onin War in the 1400s. The building you see today was also rebuilt in 1955.
Overview
Address
1 Kinkakujicho, Kita Ward, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture (Map) (Directions)Hours
9:00 - 17:00 Closed nowOpening Hours
Monday
9:00 - 17:00
Tuesday
9:00 - 17:00
Wednesday
9:00 - 17:00
Thursday
9:00 - 17:00
Friday
9:00 - 17:00
Saturday
9:00 - 17:00
Sunday
9:00 - 17:00
Holidays
9:00 - 17:00
Phone Number
075-461-0013Website
General Amenities
- Information Counter
- Free guides/pamphlets
What's unique
- UNESCO World Heritage Site
Access
City Bus Stop Kinkakuji-mae / City Bus Stop Kingaku-ji-michi
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