Visiting The Kinkakuji 金閣寺 Golden Pavilion In Kyoto - Highlights Of Traveling Japan

The Kinkakuji 金閣寺 Golden Pavilion is a Zen temple in northern Kyoto, Japan. We stayed in Kyoto for several days during our trek across Japan and we had the opportunity to check out the Golden temple along with the surrounding gardens. 

The temple is also known as the Rokuon-ji (鹿苑寺 Deer Garden Temple) and overlooks a large and beautiful pond.

The top two floors of the structure are covered with pure gold leaf, while the bottom floor remains black. The idea was that in the morning, the fog would surround the bottom of the building and the temple would appear to be floating in the clouds. 

The original purpose of the temple was as a retirement villa for the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. Yoshimitsu's will stipulated that it became a Zen temple of the Rinzai sect upon his death (which occurred in 1408).

The temple has been burned down numerous times over the years. The latest instance was in 1950 when a crazed monk set the golden structure on fire. What we see now was rebuilt in 1955.

 One of the more notable things in the gardens was the Rikushu-no-matsu Ship Pine Tree, which is over 650 years old. The tree has been shaped to look like a boat with sails.

The unique pine tree was originally a similar shaped bonsai tree, which was owned by Shogun Ashikaga. The shogun believed that after his death the boat shaped tree would carry him into the afterlife.

Other features in the gardens include the Rigyoseki (Curp Stone) and the Ryumon-taki (Dragon-gate waterfall). The mini waterfall comes from a close by spring.

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The temple was an amazing sight to behold.  It easy to understand why it has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Michelle and I took a month to travel across Japan and China this past May. It was epic! Follow me @slickwilly and Michelle @curiouser for posts about our adventures! 

 Hi there, I’m Will.  First and foremost I am an entrepreneur and voluntaryist.  I aspire to help build a more free world, one that we all want to live in.  Some of my biggest passions include cryptocurrencies, marketing, finance, cannabis, traveling, bodybuilding, snowboarding, motorcycles, and Subarus.  All pictures are my own, taken with a GS7 Edge or GoPro Hero 4. I release everything under CC0 unless otherwise stated.

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