Golden Pavilion Temple

If someone were to make a list of all the must-visit religious sites in not only Kyoto but the whole of Japan, rest assured: Kinkaku-ji temple or the Golden Temple of Kyoto would rank high, very high in there. Originally founded in 1397 as a retirement villa of a shogun, the 3 floored gilded building was later converted to a Buddhist temple. The building was burnt down by a young monk in an unfortunate incident in 1950 which was later reinstated to its original design by 1955 except for the gold plating which came to be restored completely by 1987. Today, this temple makes for a spectacularly beautiful sight, one that allures one and all towards its immaculate aura. Especially picturesque is the reflective picture of the golden colored pavilion with a bronze phoenix at the top flickering in the Kyo-ko pond surrounded by the lush foliage around – every shutterbug’s delight! Look closer inside the building and you see an image of a meditating Buddha on the ground floor – it’s as tranquil as the surrounding gardens outside. The outer grounds are large and open featuring another pond, a quaint tea house, souvenir shops and other Japanese styled buildings. Since the place is really famous, it tends to be crowded at most times – but here’s the tip: if you want to miss the crowds, try visiting the place early in the mornings.