Kinkaku-ji

"Take one guess as to why Kinkaku-ji is referred to as the “Golden Pavilion … That’s right, the outside of this Buddhist temple is indeed gold. Temple structures and elements, including statues of Buddha, have been created from gold for thousands of years and so, it is not uncommon for a Buddhist temple. That said, it doesn’t take away the fact that Kinkaku-ji is as striking as ever, sitting on a lakeside. Surrounded by wispy trees, Rokuon-ji (its official name) was once part of a villa that belonged to a shogun, it has seen emperors walk its rooms and today it’s a place to step back in time and experience moments of utter zen. Speaking of, much of the style of the building was constructed in a traditional Chinese-zen design. But fascinatingly, each level within the Golden Pavilion shows off varying architecture from different periods in Japanese history. For example, the first floor is done in the Shinden-zukuri architectural style common during the Heian period (794 to 1185 CE). The second floor was constructed like the samurai homes were, known as ‘buke-zukuri’ during the Kamakura period (lasting from 1185 CE to 1333 CE). Apart from the fascinating pavilion, there are other features around the picturesque grounds worth checking. Visit the Sekka-tei, a tea room dating to the Edo period, a pond, small hidden waterfalls in the rocks, and so much more."

"The famous Golden Pavilion located in Northern Kyoto is set in a Japanese strolling garden and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It should be noted that you cannot enter the pavilion itself, rather, you can view it from the walking path that winds around the ponds. The path is wheelchair-accessible up to the Kinkakuji Gold Pavilion. However, the adjacent garden is not barrier-free. You can see the Golden Pavilion from the beautiful zen garden of the villa as well, and it is often less crowded for taking photos than at the entrance. It takes about an hour to take photos, walk through the gardens, and to spend some time at the shops and temple at the end of the route. Note: this is a very popular destination and taking the bus from Kyoto station as well as returning via bus is a very crowded situation. The secondary option is to take the train to Kinkaku-ji. From there, it is about 10 minutes on foot. You get to walk through some lovely neighbourhoods on the way there. And optionally you can take a taxi from the train station to the entrance of Kinkaku-ji."

"The Kinkaku-ji Temple, also known as the "Golden Temple" is one of the most beautiful and most famous Buddhist temples in all of Japan. Completely covered in gold leaf, today the pagoda contains the relics of the Buddha. Furthermore, the temple of Kinkaku-ji has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 👣How to get there: reachable on foot from Ryoan-ji (1,4km, 20min). Bus stop: Kinkakuji-michi, line 102 and 204. 🎟️Ticket cost: full price 500 yen (3,10€)-reduced price 300 yen (1,80€). "