1. Home
  2. Kansai
  3. Kyoto Prefecture
  4. Kyoto City
  5. Kita
  6. Places
  7. Kinkaku-ji
Temple · Kyoto · Kansai

Kinkaku-ji

金閣寺

A golden Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto built in the 14th century as a shogun's retirement villa and now one of Japan's most iconic landmarks.

Kinkaku-ji Exterior
Kinkaku-ji Exterior © Jaycangel, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Opening hours
Mon–Sun 09:00–17:00
Holidays 09:00–17:00
Admission
Standard
Adult ¥400
Links
Official website English · Japanese
Access
1, Kinkakujicho, Kita Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto
〒 603-8361
How to get there
Nearest stationKitano-Hakubaicho Station
北野白梅町
22 min walk from the station
Nearest bus stop立命館西園寺記念館前4 min walk from the bus stop

Kinkaku-ji, also known as the Temple of the Golden Pavilion, is a Zen Buddhist temple located in Kyoto, Japan. The temple is famous for its striking golden-leafed top two floors, which contrast beautifully with the white-plastered bottom floor and the surrounding gardens and pond. The temple was built in the 14th century and originally served as a retirement villa for the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. After his death, it was converted into a temple by his son. The temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered one of Kyoto's most popular tourist attractions. Visitors can stroll through the temple's beautiful gardens, including a large pond with a small island, and enjoy the reflection of the temple in the water. The temple is also surrounded by many other historical buildings and temples, making it a perfect place to explore the rich cultural and religious history of Japan.

Getting There

Map: Getting to Kinkaku-ji. Legend: Sagano Line; Shinkansen. Labelled stations: Nijo, Kyoto, Osaka, Yamashina, Kizu, Shin-Osaka, Rokujizo, Kitano-Hakubaicho.

Planning a trip? Fit this into a trip and Oni plans the rest around it.

At Hey Japan!, we strive to keep the places listed on our website as current as possible. However, location owners or management may alter opening times or modify admission requirements without prior notice. Check official websites before visiting.

Nearby

Places nearby

Shrine

Kitano Tenmangu

The head shrine of approximately 12,000 Tenmangu and Tenjin shrines throughout Japan, Kitano Tenmangu is dedicated to the deity of learning and culture.

Kyoto
Keep exploring

You might also like

Temple

Kennin-ji Temple

Kennin-ji, located in Kyoto's Gion district, is the oldest Zen temple in the city, founded in 1202 as the head temple of the Rinzai Zen Buddhism branch.

Kyoto
Temple

Kiyomizu-dera

Buddhist temple on a Kyoto hillside featuring a cantilevered wooden stage, UNESCO World Heritage site with treasured religious artifacts.

Kyoto
Temple

Ginkaku-ji

Zen temple from the late 15th century with a garden of sand and stone featuring a pond, inspired by but never covered with silver like Kinkaku-ji.

Kyoto
Festival

Gion Festival

A month-long Kyoto festival centered on Yasaka Jinja Shrine, with sacred rituals, food stalls and illuminated floats, ending in a grand procession and parade.

1–31 Jul 2027Kyoto
Festival

Kaikai Yokai Festival

Uzumasa Kyoto Village (Toei Kyoto Studio Park) fills with yokai every autumn: two evening parades, dance shows, daily yokai greetings and limited yokai food.

12 Sep – 29 Nov 2026Kyoto
Festival

Jidai Festival

Kyoto's historical reenactment festival: costumed processions of figures from different Japanese eras travel from the Imperial Palace to Heian Shrine.

22 Oct 2027Exact date not confirmed yetKyoto