Scenic view of Kinkaku-ji temple surrounded by greenery in Kyoto, Japan.Landmarks

Kinkaku-ji

金閣寺

Kita, Kyoto · 京都

A retirement villa turned Zen temple, its top two floors covered in gold leaf, burned down by a novice monk in 1950 and rebuilt five years later.

Why it’s worth it

There is one viewpoint and one route and it takes twenty minutes. Accept that, go at opening, and it is still worth every one of those minutes.

CategoryLandmarks
AreaKita
Hours09:00–17:00
Typical spend¥
gold leafpondreflection

Nearby

Walking distance from Kinkaku-ji

All of Kyoto

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Photo by Lonneke Meijer on Pexels