Kinkaku-ji is an extremely popular sight in Kyoto and Japan. We visited it while staying at Roku Kyoto Hotels and Resorts. We found the pavilion and landscape very beautiful, however the site was very crowded. In this post, we share our impression of Kinkaku-ji and visit tips to make the most of your time here.
Overview
Kinkaku-ji is a Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto. Originally constructed in 1399, it was burned down by arson and reconstructed in 1950. The building incorporates three distinct styles of architecture: the first floor shows shinden-zukuri style, reminiscent of Heian imperial aristocratic residential style; the second floor demonstrates buke-zukuri style, or warrior aristocratic style; the third floor is built in Chinese style, zenshū-butsuden-zukuri.
Perhaps the most interesting thing about the building is that the top two floors are covered entirely in gold leaf. The gold leaf is 0.5 micrometer thick, and in total it weighs 20 kg, which is worth approximately $1,666,357.10 USD. Gold was used as a symbolic act against demons and ill spirits, as well as the visual effect of reflecting the sun and the reflection created on the pond.
How to get to Kinkaku-ji
From Kyoto station, a taxi to Kinkaku-ji takes about 30 minutes and costs about US$25. Alternatively, you can take public transportation, using Karasuma train line and city bus. The journey takes about 35-45 minutes and costs approximately US$3.
Tips for visiting Kinkaku-ji
Kinkaku-ji is extremely popular, with over 5 million visitors annually. To put that into perspective, that’s 13,700 people per day on average. However, during peak times such as cherry blossom season, the number will certainly be many more.
To ensure a good visit, follow these tips:
- Arrive before the opening time at 9am, or later in the day (last entry 4:30pm, closing time 5pm). We arrived around 8:45am and there was already a long line.
- Have exact cash ready. There are no ATM machines nearby. The tickets can be paid only by cash, no credit or debit cards are accepted. Adult ticket is 500 yen, and children ticket is 300 yen. You might need more cash for souvenirs inside the complex.
- The line is long but the staff is very efficient, so it moves quickly. Be ready to move with the flow. Do not block traffic.
- Know what you want to see and where to go (see below)
What to see at Kinkaku-ji
The obvious thing to see here is the Golden Pavilion. Not only is it beautiful, but the setting blends harmoniously into the surroundings. Despite how crowded it was, we found our experience to be worthwhile.
The Pavilion can be seen at any point along the path around the pond. However, there are two places where the sights are particularly impressive, in my opinion. The first view point is from the old pine tree at the corner of the pond (near the red mark in the map below).
From this perspective, the crowds along the path are obscured by the trees and bushes, while the Golden Pavilion is seen at its best angle.
For example, in the photo below, the crowd can be seen along the path on the right.
Simply move a bit towards the tree on the right, and the crowd becomes hidden by the tree branches.
The second view point is at the back of the temple. Just follow the path as it’s mostly a one way traffic, and you won’t miss it.
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