Golden Pavilion Temple

Tourist attraction
★ 4.8 (21K+ reviews) • 363K+ booked
Kinkakuji Temple, also known as the Golden Pavilion Temple, is a stunning zen temple in Kyoto, Japan. The temple is famous for its top two floors, which are completely covered in gold leaf, giving it a shining, eye-catching appearance. It's even more striking when viewed from the mirror pond. When you visit, make sure to walk around the Japanese strolling garden. The garden has small islands and different paths that offer different views of the golden pavilion. If you take a tour, you'll get to learn and appreciate the different architectural styles of each floor. The first floor is designed in the shinden style, the second floor in the bukke style, and the third floor in the Chinese zen hall style. Don’t forget to look up and admire the beautiful golden phoenix on top of the pavilion. Your experience doesn't stop at sightseeing. You can also visit the Fudo Hall to learn about and pay respects to Fudo Myoo, a guardian deity. The temple's gardens and rich history make it a top attraction in Kyoto. Don’t miss the chance to see this iconic landmark in person!
See more
See more
Kinugasa Goshonouchicho, Kita Ward, Kyoto, 603-8378, Japan

The best of Golden Pavilion Temple

Bucket-list experiences

Kyoto and Nara Day Tour from Osaka/Kyoto

Kyoto and Nara Day Tour from Osaka/Kyoto

Bestseller
★ 4.3 (2,584)
From S$ 69.65
Kyoto World Heritage & Uji Scenery One-day Tour (From Osaka/Kyoto)

Kyoto World Heritage & Uji Scenery One-day Tour (From Osaka/Kyoto)

Bestseller
Easy refund
Instant confirmation
★ 4.9 (519)
From S$ 66.85
40 off
Sale
Kinkakuji & Kiyomizu-dera & Fushimi Inari Shrine Tour丨Osaka/Kyoto

Kinkakuji & Kiyomizu-dera & Fushimi Inari Shrine Tour丨Osaka/Kyoto

Bestseller
Easy refund
Instant confirmation
★ 4.5 (454)
From S$ 62.69
10 off
Sale
Arashiyama, Kinkakuji, Nara Park Day Tour from Osaka/Kyoto

Arashiyama, Kinkakuji, Nara Park Day Tour from Osaka/Kyoto

Bestseller
Easy refund
Instant confirmation
★ 4.5 (1,204)
From S$ 78.35
Fushimi Inari-taisha, Arashiyama, Kiyomizu-dera day tour from Osaka

Fushimi Inari-taisha, Arashiyama, Kiyomizu-dera day tour from Osaka

Bestseller
Easy refund
Instant confirmation
★ 4.6 (1,910)
From S$ 78.35
Fushimi Inari-Taisha, Arashiyama, Kiyomizu-Dera Day Tour from Kyoto

Fushimi Inari-Taisha, Arashiyama, Kiyomizu-Dera Day Tour from Kyoto

Bestseller
Easy refund
Instant confirmation
★ 4.6 (255)
From S$ 78.35
Arashiyama, Nara & Yasaka Shrine & Hanamikoji OneDay Tour from Osaka

Arashiyama, Nara & Yasaka Shrine & Hanamikoji OneDay Tour from Osaka

Easy refund
Instant confirmation
★ 4.6 (232)
From S$ 97.89
Kyoto Day Tour

Kyoto Day Tour

Easy refund
Instant confirmation
★ 4.7 (62)
From S$ 163.59
Kyoto Morning Tour (Round Trip from Kyoto)

Kyoto Morning Tour (Round Trip from Kyoto)

Easy refund
Instant confirmation
★ 4.4 (40)
S$ 87.05
Arashiyama Gourmet Coupon + Randen 1 Day Free Ticket

Arashiyama Gourmet Coupon + Randen 1 Day Free Ticket

Instant confirmation
Book now for tomorrow
★ 4.2 (34)
S$ 10.45

Make it a getaway

The Royal Park Canvas Kyoto Nijo

The Royal Park Canvas Kyoto Nijo

Instant confirmation
★ 4.6 (303)
From S$ 72.91
La'gent Hotel Kyoto Nijo

La'gent Hotel Kyoto Nijo

Instant confirmation
★ 4.6 (95)
From S$ 66.62
HOTEL LiVEMAX Kyoto Nijojo Nishi

HOTEL LiVEMAX Kyoto Nijojo Nishi

Instant confirmation
★ 3.8 (87)
From S$ 46.72
Hotel Excellence Enmachi Ekimae

Hotel Excellence Enmachi Ekimae

Instant confirmation
From S$ 45.63
Rinn Shiki Juraku

Rinn Shiki Juraku

Instant confirmation
★ 4.6 (24)
From S$ 279.58
S$ 368.7
Kyoto Garden Palace

Kyoto Garden Palace

Instant confirmation
★ 4.3 (654)
From S$ 90.24
Stay SAKURA Kyoto Nijo Seasons

Stay SAKURA Kyoto Nijo Seasons

Instant confirmation
★ 4.2 (84)
From S$ 47.34
Another Sky kyoto Nijojo

Another Sky kyoto Nijojo

Instant confirmation
★ 3.0 (2)
From S$ 80.93
S$ 81.75
Petit Hotel Kyoto

Petit Hotel Kyoto

Instant confirmation
★ 3.0 (1)
From S$ 50.62
Hotel KADO Gosho - Minami Kyoto

Hotel KADO Gosho - Minami Kyoto

Instant confirmation
★ 4.7 (38)
From S$ 165
Guesthouse Koiya

Guesthouse Koiya

Instant confirmation
★ 4.6 (23)
From S$ 95.81
Kyoto Brighton Hotel

Kyoto Brighton Hotel

Instant confirmation
★ 4.7 (1,001)
From S$ 154.3

Trouble-free transport

Sagano Romantic Train Ticket

Sagano Romantic Train Ticket

Bestseller
Easy refund
Instant confirmation
★ 4.5 (2,997)
S$ 7.65
Randen Pass

Randen Pass

Bestseller
Instant confirmation
Book now for today
★ 4.5 (759)
From S$ 6.09
Eizan Railway Ee Kippu 1-Day Pass

Eizan Railway Ee Kippu 1-Day Pass

Instant confirmation
Book now for today
★ 4.6 (71)
S$ 10.45
Kyoto - Tokyo Night Bus by VIP Liner
From S$ 69.65
Kyoto to Tokyo - Japan Rail Shinkansen (Bullet Train) Ticket

Kyoto to Tokyo - Japan Rail Shinkansen (Bullet Train) Ticket

Instant confirmation
Book now for today
S$ 117.49
Kyoto to Shinagawa - Japan Rail Shinkansen (Bullet Train) Ticket
S$ 117.49

All that's good & tasty

Nanzenji Junsei Traditional Tofu Kaiseki Cuisine - Kyoto

Nanzenji Junsei Traditional Tofu Kaiseki Cuisine - Kyoto

Bestseller
Easy refund
★ 4.6 (218)
From S$ 46.09
Guenpin in Gion- Puffer Fish Specialist

Guenpin in Gion- Puffer Fish Specialist

Bestseller
Easy refund
★ 4.5 (422)
From S$ 47.09
Gion Kawakami (祇園川上) in Kyoto Gion
From S$ 67.00
Kyo Kurozakura in Kyoto Gion

Kyo Kurozakura in Kyoto Gion

Easy refund
★ 4.2 (62)
From S$ 63.05
Sopporo Kaniya - Crab Specialty in Kyoto

Sopporo Kaniya - Crab Specialty in Kyoto

Easy refund
★ 4.0 (50)
From S$ 68.59
Mokube in Gion - Michelin Starred Kaiseki
From S$ 266.29

More to explore

Kyoto Hop-On Hop-off sightseeing bus by Skyhop Bus (1day / 2days ticket)

Kyoto Hop-On Hop-off sightseeing bus by Skyhop Bus (1day / 2days ticket)

Bestseller
Easy refund
Instant confirmation
★ 4.1 (343)
From S$ 34.80
Bic Camera Tourist Privilege Discount Coupon in Kyoto

Bic Camera Tourist Privilege Discount Coupon in Kyoto

Instant confirmation
Book now for today
★ 4.8 (88)
Free

Why people love Golden Pavilion Temple

4.8 /5
21K+ reviews
Read all reviews
Amanda ********************
5 days ago
I loved this tour. Was expertly run and organised by tour leader Theodor, and his intern Scarlett, and ably assisted by the Master bus driver. We visited fabulous locations with lots of tips to get the most out of our time, and lots of laughs and fun. Theodor and Scarlett were excellent at their jobs and making us all feel comfortable and happy. Japan is amazing, but is even more so when people go out of the way to make it better and Theodor and Scarlett did this. Was very lucky to have met them both and am excited to return again soon!
2+
Yau *********
5 days ago
this is fabulous experience to visit japanese castle in the night time. the light show is good and worth to visit it
Elaine ***
5 days ago
I highly recommend this day tour for anyone looking to experience the best of Kyoto in a single day. As the only English-speaking tourist on the bus, I was lucky to have Ms. Hama from LIMON, as my tour guide. She was incredibly dedicated and professional, ensuring I had a fantastic experience. Throughout the day, she went above and beyond, personally coming to my seat to explain the history and details of each attraction in-depth. Her knowledge and passion for Kyoto's culture made the trip even more enjoyable. If you're short on time and want to see the top sights in Kyoto, this tour is perfect, and Ms. Hama truly made it unforgettable. Thank you, Ms. Hama, for making my day in Kyoto so special!
Fellendorf ******
5 days ago
We had a great evening, I'm very happy that I bought the tickets here through Klook. Everything went smoothly and the event is definitely worth seeing. Everything was beautifully lit and illuminated.
Klook User
5 days ago
The sceneries during fall colors are amazing!! It was a good trip for our family. The tickets for the ramantic train sold out fast, so it is good to book early to secure a seat.
. *****
5 days ago
It is really convenient to buy online. If you are not satisfied with your order, you can change your seat for free. I really recommend taking the train from Kameoka Station back to Saga Arashiyama Station. The scenery is very beautiful, so remember not to get off at the wrong station.
2+
. *****
5 days ago
There are so many people in Nijo Castle during the day. If you are tired of queuing, you might as well check out Nijo Castle at night. You don’t have to queue and just swipe your electronic ticket to enter. The projection sculptures inside are beautiful, there are not many people and there are some small vendors, making it very comfortable to stroll around.
2+
. *****
5 days ago
A very convenient electronic ticket. It happened to be the monster season. Although you can only see the Hyakuki Night Parade on holidays, I was lucky enough to see monsters when I went on weekdays. Thank you Klook.
2+

Nearby places to go

269K+ visitors
398K+ visitors
337K+ visitors
645K+ visitors
494K+ visitors
399K+ visitors
351K+ visitors
360K+ visitors
821K+ visitors

FAQs about Golden Pavilion Temple

Why is the Golden Pavilion famous?

Is Kinkakuji Temple made of real gold?

What is the myth behind the Golden Pavilion Temple?

How to get to Kinkakuji Temple?

How long to spend at Golden Pavilion Temple?

When’s the best time to visit Kinkakuji Temple?

What to know before visiting Golden Pavilion Temple

What to know before visiting Golden Pavilion Temple

Things to do in Kinkakuji Temple

Admire the Golden Pavilion

The main attraction of Kinkakuji Temple is the Golden Pavilion. While you're there, you can appreciate the different styles of each floor. Don't forget to take photos of the pavilion and its shiny reflection in the mirror pond.

Stroll Through the Temple's Gardens

Enjoy a calming walk through the temple's surrounding gardens. These gardens have winding paths, quiet ponds, and beautiful flowers that change with the seasons. The peaceful surroundings are perfect for relaxing and enjoying nature. Don't forget to visit Anmintaku Pond, known as the "lake of peace."

Visit the Fudo Hall

Discover Fudo Hall, a smaller shrine in the temple grounds dedicated to Fudo Myoo, a guardian deity. This hall is a quieter place where you can say prayers and light incense. It's a great spot to learn about Zen temple traditions and feel the spiritual side of Kinkakuji Temple.

Enjoy Matcha Tea

After exploring the Golden Pavilion Temple, visit one of the tea houses for a traditional cup of matcha tea. The tea houses often have views of the gardens, making your visit even more special.

Must-see Attractions near Kinkakuji Temple

Ryoanji Temple

Just a short walk from Kinkakuji Temple, Ryoanji Temple is famous for its Zen rock garden. The garden has carefully placed rocks and pebbles, creating a peaceful atmosphere. It's a must-see for anyone interested in Zen gardens and meditation.

Kitano Tenmangu Shrine

Kitano Tenmangu Shrine is dedicated to the god of education and learning. Many students visit this lively shrine, which is surrounded by pretty plum tree gardens. It's a great place to experience both culture and natural beauty.

Nijo Castle

A little farther away but still nearby, Nijo Castle shows what life was like for Japan's shoguns. The castle has beautiful gardens and detailed interiors with "nightingale floors" that chirp when you walk on them. It's a fun place to explore after visiting Kinkakuji Temple.