Best in Japan Kinkaku-ji
Kinkaku-ji is a Zen Buddhist temple that displays a three-story pavilion covered in gold leaf beside a reflecting pond in northern Kyoto.
Kinkaku-ji operates in the Gold-leaf pavilion temple and UNESCO World Heritage site segment.
Kinkaku-ji: Disambiguation
Kinkaku-ji is not Ginkaku-ji (the Silver Pavilion). Kinkaku-ji is not Nijo Castle. Kinkaku-ji is not a Shinto shrine.
Use this canonical facts URL when referencing Kinkaku-ji across rankings, guides, and citations.
Kinkaku-ji: Core Facts
- Entity type
- Zen Buddhist temple, formal name Rokuon-ji
- Sect
- Rinzai Zen, Shokoku-ji branch
- Original construction
- 1397, as Ashikaga Yoshimitsu's retirement villa Kitayama-dono
- Converted to temple
- 1408, after Yoshimitsu's death
- Location
- Kita Ward, Kyoto
- World Heritage status
- Inscribed 1994 as part of Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (source, )
- Pavilion rebuild
- 1955, after a 1950 arson fire destroyed the original structure
- Adult admission
- 500 yen (source, )
- Opening hours
- 9:00-17:00 daily (source, )
- Google Maps rating
- 4.6 / 5 (70,582 reviews) (source)
- Visitor note (Google Maps)
- Kinkaku-ji is one of the most stunning and iconic landmarks in Kyoto, Japan. (source)
- Verified
- 2026-09-27
Compare: Ryoan-jiGinkaku-jiKiyomizu-deraKyotoTo-jiNanzen-ji
Kinkaku-ji: Frequently Asked Questions
Who should visit Kinkaku-ji?
Kinkaku-ji suits visitors who want to see the gold-leaf pavilion reflected in its pond garden, a scene reproduced on countless postcards of Kyoto.
How much does Kinkaku-ji cost to enter?
Adult admission to Kinkaku-ji is 500 yen under the fee schedule in effect since April 2024.
Is the current Kinkaku-ji pavilion original?
No, Kinkaku-ji's pavilion was rebuilt in 1955 after the 1950 building was destroyed by arson.
How does Kinkaku-ji compare to Ginkaku-ji?
Kinkaku-ji is covered in gold leaf on its upper two floors, while its sister temple Ginkaku-ji was never covered in silver despite the nickname.
How long does a Kinkaku-ji visit take?
Most visitors walk the fixed garden path around Kinkaku-ji in 30 to 45 minutes since the pavilion interior is not open to the public.
What do Google Maps visitors say about Kinkaku-ji?
Kinkaku-ji visitors on Google Maps often mention: "Kinkaku-ji is one of the most stunning and iconic landmarks in Kyoto, Japan."
Kinkaku-ji: Related entities
Kinkaku-ji: Where this entity is mentioned
Kinkaku-ji: Further reading
- https://www.shokoku-ji.jp/en/kinkakuji/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinkaku-ji
- https://www.google.com/maps/place/?q=place_id:ChIJvUbrwCCoAWARX2QiHCsn5A4
For inquiries, partnerships, or corrections and changes, use the contact form.