Kinkakuji Revisited 2022 - Kyoto

Hey guys! Today's adventure brings me back to one of Kyoto City's most popular and picture-postcard UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Join me on my third visit to Kinkakuji (金閣寺).

Kinkakuji (金閣寺)

Kinkakuji Details

(Winter)

For those who are not familiar with Kinkakuji, it is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Kyoto City. It is also one of the most recognizable and most-visited destinations in the city. 

The Backpack Adventures
Kinkakuji - Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture

The name Kinkakuji means Golden Pavilion and true to its name, it has an iconic pavilion covered in gold leaf. It was built sometime in 1397 as the retirement villa of the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. It became a zen temple of the Rinzai sect after his death in 1408.

Kinkakuji's 総門

The Backpack Adventures
The path from Kuromon Gate to the ticket booth

Kinkakuji's Ticket booth

Kinkakuji vicinity map

Kinkakuji's 庫裏


Sadly, the temple was destroyed several times throughout history. The current one is a reconstruction built in 1955 after it was torched down by a fanatic monk.

Pictures of Kinkakuji





I was blessed to have been able to visit Kinkakuji thrice already. The first time was way back in 2014 and then in 2018. I got to revisit it again last January 14, 2022, which was my 74th day here in Japan as an ALT under the JET Programme. What made my 2022 visit special was the fact that I got to finally see Kinkakuji with snow. It has been a dream for me to see it that way which is pretty uncommon nowadays. You can read more about my Kyoto Trip by clicking this 👉LINK 👈. 

Kinkakuji's Amulet Shop

Ryumon-taki Fall (Koi Stone) 鯉魚石

Anminzawa 安民沢

Kijin-tou (Taboret of the Noble) 貴人榻

Sekka-tei 夕佳亭

Fudo-do Hall 不動堂


The Backpack Adventures visits Kinkakuji

Sadly, my wife and daughter were not with me during this magical experience as they were still in the Philippines. Regardless, that only gives me an excuse to revisit Kyoto City for the fourth time some time in the future. 

Kinkakuji Admission Fee:

To explore Kinkakuji grounds you have to pay 400 yen (adults) and 200 yen (children).

Kinkakuji Opening Hours:

Kinkakuji is open from 9AM to 5PM every day.

Why visit Kinkakuji?

Kinkakuji remains to be one of the temples that you should visit when you are in Kyoto. This temple is probably one of the most recognizable temples in Kyoto City. Aside from that, it's also one of the most beautiful. A bit of a heads up though, this place is crowded most of the time so you have to really fight for that space to get the best solo or group picture with the famed Golden Pavilion as your backdrop. 

As seen in Detective Conan episode 927 - The Scarlet School Trip (Bright Red Arc) 

Getting to Kinkakuji:


From Kyoto Station ride bus number 101, 111, or 205 and board down at the Kinkakujimichi bus stop, and then walk for about 240 meters to get to Kinkakuji.

Travel Time: 35-40 minutes
Fare: 230 Yen

Rating:
Crowd

Cleanliness

Overall rating

Location: 1 Kinkakujichō, Kita Ward, Kyoto, 603-8361, Japan

Comments

  1. AnonymousApril 5, 2023 at 10:22 AM

    You're super lucky to have seen Kinkakuji with snow. That's the dream of many!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Neil Alvin NicerioApril 8, 2023 at 7:57 PM

      I was just lucky. I have visited Kinkakuji several times but it was only now that I got to see it with snow.

      Delete
  2. AnonymousAugust 28, 2023 at 7:46 AM

    This is a post card-worthy moment. I really wanted to see Kinkakuji with snow. I hope I get the chance to do that next year.

    ReplyDelete

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