Kinkaku-ji, officially named Rokuon-ji, is a Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan and a tourist attraction. It is designated as a World Heritage Site, a National Special Historic Site, a National Special Landscape, and one of the 17 Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto. The temple is nicknamed after its reliquary, the Golden Pavilion, whose top two floors are coated in 0.5 μm gold leaf.Source: Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Visiting tips
- Combine with Ryoan-ji's rock garden nearby.
- Best season in Japan: March to May and October to November.
- Carry water, sun protection and clothing suitable for religious sites where relevant.
Location map
Open in Google Maps · Coordinates via Wikipedia.
Where to stay nearby
The most convenient base is Kyoto. Recommended areas: Downtown (Kawaramachi) (restaurants and transport); Higashiyama / Gion (walk to temples at dawn); Kyoto Station (convenient for day trips).
Nearby landmarks

Fushimi Inari Taisha
Thousands of vermilion torii gates winding up a forested mountain.
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Osaka Castle
A towering castle keep in a moated park, glorious in cherry-blossom season.
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Mount Fuji
Japan's iconic volcano, best viewed from the Fuji Five Lakes or Hakone.
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Sensō-ji
Tokyo's oldest temple, reached via the Nakamise shopping street in Asakusa.
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