Kinkaku-ji (Kyoto Prefecture): How to Visit, When to Go and What It Costs
金閣寺 · Kinkaku-ji · Golden Pavilion · Rokuon-ji · 京都鹿苑寺 · 北山鹿苑禅寺
Kinkaku-ji — Kyoto Prefecture
| Also known as | 金閣寺 · Kinkaku-ji · Golden Pavilion · Rokuon-ji · 京都鹿苑寺 · 北山鹿苑禅寺 |
| Region | Kyoto Prefecture, Japan |
| Coordinates | 35.0395, 135.7285 |
What it is
Kinkaku-ji (金閣寺), officially named Rokuon-ji (鹿苑寺), is a Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan. It is a tourist attraction and 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 (shariden), the Golden Pavilion (金閣, Kinkaku), whose top two floors are coated in 0.5 μm gold leaf. The current pavilion was rebuilt in 1955 after being destroyed in an arson attack in 1950. The temple belongs to the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism (Shōkoku-ji branch) and is a sub-temple of the greater Shōkoku-ji monastery. Its formal name is Hokuzan Rokuon-zen-ji (北山鹿苑禅寺). The main image of worship is the Senju Kannon (聖観音). The temple takes its name from the posthumous Buddhist name "Rokuon-in-den" of its founder, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, the third shogun of the Muromachi shogunate. The temple was established from Yoshimitsu's Kitayama villa after his death.When to go
The source material does not specify a best season or typical visit duration.Getting there
Kinkaku-ji is located in Kinkakuji-cho, Kita Ward, Kyoto City, in the Kyoto prefecture area of Japan. The source material does not specify train lines, bus routes, or driving directions.What it costs
The source material does not list an admission fee.Frequently asked questions
What is the Golden Pavilion?
The Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku) is the temple's reliquary hall (shariden). Its top two floors are coated in 0.5 μm gold leaf. The current structure was rebuilt in 1955 after the original was destroyed by arson in 1950.
Is Kinkaku-ji a World Heritage Site?
Yes. In 1994 it was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage cultural property as part of the "Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto." It is also designated a National Special Historic Site, a National Special Landscape, and one of the 17 Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto.
What is the official name of the temple?
The official name is Rokuon-ji (鹿苑寺), also written as Hokuzan Rokuon-zen-ji (北山鹿苑禅寺). Kinkaku-ji (金閣寺) is the widely used nickname, derived from the gold leaf applied to the interior and exterior of the Golden Pavilion.
Who founded the temple?
The temple was founded by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, the third shogun of the Muromachi shogunate. The temple's name comes from his posthumous dharma name, "Rokuon-in-den." After his death, his Kitayama villa was converted into the temple.
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Reference: Wikidata · Wikipedia (ja) · Wikipedia (zh) · Wikipedia (en)