Kinkaku-ji

This temple is well worth the visit. There are many temples and shrines around Kyoto and this one is harder to travel to, but it is well worth it. The setting, architecture, and gardens are stunning. There are taxi stands just outside the gate, and that is the easiest way to reach this one. Come early in the morning to avoid the biggest crowds. Take your time enjoying the beautiful scene.

The ancient golden castle stands resplendent amid verdant summer foliage, radiating a vibrant yellow hue that captivates the eye. Come autumn, it transforms into a fiery red spectacle amidst the greenery.

Within its walls lies a serene Japanese-style garden, a tranquil oasis inviting visitors to immerse themselves in its beauty. Additionally, nestled inside is an inviting green tea ice cream shop, offering a delightful treat for those seeking a refreshing taste experience.

En route to the temple, a charming food shop awaits eager explorers. Brimming with local delicacies and souvenirs, it beckons passersby to pause, indulge in a leisurely exploration, and relish the opportunity to purchase, admire, and savor the regional flavors at their own pace.

Beautiful park. The zen temple can be seen but you can not go in or touch it. Nice walk through the park. At the end you will see a gift shop. Sample some tea with gold in it and try the mochi. Very delicious. Highly recommend coming here. Popular spot. Ensure to read the history of the temple before coming here.

Thé view is really beautiful. A must visit. You can see the famous model for literature work by Japanese writer and feel the beauty of golden pavilion. It is incredible. You need to be aware of the weather. Good weather is a must. The golden wall will shine over the lake.

I think this temple is the most beautiful temple we came across but you have to be there at the right time. The right time is when the sun just rises and the rays illuminate its golden wall. It was just beautiful. There must be lots of gold leaf used to cover it. Pictures don't do the justice. You just have to be there to witness it. We were here during winter. I think it may be more beautiful during the autumn season.

Be there in its morning opening is a blessing. Truly recommended. The sad part is that a very pleasant place to spend your time but given it was dimensioned to a high flux of people, the experience becomes very directive. Would like to appreciate the space for more time. The matcha ice cream at its exit is… exotic. Everybody outside Japan should try to have an opinion! Haha

Absolutely stunning and a definite must see. However, as with most other main attractions, absolutely avoid going on weekends or holidays if at all possible. Also try to beat the crowd by being early.
The view is stunning, but your experience will heavily depend on how crowded it is.
I went when it wasn't really crowded and it was spectacular

A place you should never miss if you are in Kyoto. The gold leaf covered pavilion is the centerpiece of attraction. The area around it is beautiful as well but I highly doubt anyone would want to see anything except the pavilion. Totally worth the visit. Went during the new year holidays. There were many people in queues. There are various souvenir shops as well.

A beautiful temple with picturesque surrounding gardens. It will be very busy upon opening, but with patience, everybody is guaranteed a nice photograph of the scenery. After traversing the circuit, there are tasty food stalls which sell cheap snacks. Highly recommend!

Kinkaku-ji or the Golden Pavilion is one of the most famous temples, especially in the Kyoto area. Pictures don't do it justice as you must see this temple in person.

The walking paths take you around the temple with impressive views and reflections from the water. The paths also take you around the living quarters and tea houses. There's also a few statues and souvenir shops throughout the grounds. Take your time and enjoy the views, history, and the serenity.

An absolutely gorgeous grounds with an interesting part in history. It is, of course, immensely popular with domestic and international tourists, so--as with most sites in Kyoto--plan to go as early as possible. Even so, be prepared for heavy crowds.
Additionally, bus is the only mass transit that gets you close--and this will be completely packed.

Amazing Buddhist temple that is truly unbelievable. The views of the temple from the well maintained gardens is well worth the ¥600 (I think, it could be ¥500) admission fee. This is one of those places you can't miss if you are visiting Kyoto! My pictures do not do this place justice this is something you have to see for yourself.

So beautiful! It's definitely the top spot for every tourist to visit, and surely will be on everyone's list when coming to Kyoto. Of course there are a lot of shrines and temples all over the place, but this is special and you want to catch it during the early morning when it opens, so you can watch it as the Sun makes that gold pop! Honestly, the pictures do not do this place justice. Seeing it in person is something else. It's worth it.

Beautiful Shrine with serene views. As soon as you enter the campus, a sense of calm takes over. We visited in November & the weather was amazing. Worth visiting!

Must see when in Kyoto. Try and go during a sunny day in order to capture the reflection off the water as well as the brightness of the gold. Not a stroller friendly site as the ground is all pebble and there are stairs to navigate upon exiting. Entirely a “one-way” walking route so make sure you take all the pictures you can at specific areas before moving forward. Very crowded with a lot of tourists but you can still manage to capture lasting memories as long as you’re patient. Plenty of souvenirs and soft serve ice cream places in and around the temple.

A very beautiful area with an exquisite gold covered temple. I'm not sure if there is another one like this in Japan. There are really a lot of visitors, but you don't have to wait in lines. At the exit from the temple, there are places where you can buy icecream with gold also sake with gold and other interesting things.

The iconic "Golden Pavilion" is Kyoto's one of the most visited tourist attractions, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
There are many buses going to Kinkaku-ji 金閣寺.

Incredible place! My favorite in Kyoto. It's a bit far and getting here might be confusing for first timers, so here's how: take the subway to Kitaoji. From there, follow the signs to the bus terminal. When you are there, follow the blue arrows; the bus at the end of the blue arrows should take you there. The bus will drop you off across the street from the Kinkakuji.

On your way back to the subway, look for the bus stop in front of the ramen shop (no need to cross the street)

In Kyoto, Kinkaku Ji is a must-see as it's so special mainly due to the golden shining facade.

I believe I went here on a very touristy day, but still managed to take some nice photos. I do agree it's better to go when less crowded.

Btw, the photo with snow scenery is a retake from an existing picture at the temple.

One thing to mention that there are many cute souvenirs at the souvenir shop. I have got one that becomes my favorite key ring. It feels so special and at the same time so light. Just make sure you look around as a lot of them are only sold here. You don't want to miss them.

Such a beautiful and serene temple. We had a lovely and sunny autumn day to meander through the property. It's definitely worth visiting on a trip to Kyoto, Japan.