Kinkaku-ji, Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan.
The Golden Pavilion stands three stories tall, featuring different architectural styles on each floor and covered with gold leaf on its exterior walls.
Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu established this temple as his retirement villa in 1397, and after his death, it became a Zen Buddhist sanctuary.
The temple combines Shinden-zukuri, Wayo, and Zenshuyo architectural designs, representing the evolution of Japanese building traditions through different periods.
Visitors can reach the temple by taking a 45-minute bus ride from Kyoto Station to the Kinkaku-ji stop, with entry tickets available at the entrance.
The temple's reflection in the Mirror Pond creates a double image of the golden structure against the surrounding garden landscape.
Location: Kita-ku
Inception: 1397
Founders: Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, Musō Soseki
Made from material: wood, kinpaku, Jōbōji urushi
Part of: Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto, Shinbutsu Reijō Junpai no Michi
Address: 京都府京都市北区金閣寺町1 603-8361 京都市 603-8361 京都市
Opening Hours: Segunda-feira-Domingo 09:00-17:00
Phone: +81754610013
Website: https://shokoku-ji.jp/kinkakuji
GPS coordinates: 35.03950,135.72850
Latest update: May 31, 2025 02:04
Major temples worldwide display architectural and cultural achievements of ancient civilizations. From temples in Cambodia to pyramids in Mexico, these structures document religious practices, construction methods and social structures of their time. The complexes in Asia, Europe and America present different building styles, ornaments and ceremonial spaces.
Explore the monuments of Kyoto, including Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines, imperial palaces, feudal castles, traditional gardens, and historic districts. This former imperial capital features UNESCO sites such as the Golden Pavilion and Fushimi Inari Shrine, as well as modern cultural places like the Manga Museum and Kyoto Station.
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