The Temple of the Golden Pavilion

The Temple of the Golden Pavilion, or Kinkaku-ji (keen-kah-koo-jee) in Japanese, is a zen Buddhist temple that was founded in 1397 by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, in Kyoto, Japan. After Yoshimitsu's death, his son converted it into a zen temple, following his fathers wishes. During the Onin War, all of the buildings in the complex burned down except for the pavilion. Later in 1950, a novice monk burned down the temple. During the fire, the original statue of Yoshimitsu was lost in the flames, but has since been restored. 

The restored pavilion was built in 1955. The pavilion stands three stories tall and is said to be a near replica to the original. In 1984 the gold coating began to decay and restoration was completed three years later. Not only was the shell reconstructed, but the interior of the building, including paintings and the statue of Yoshimitsu were restored. In 2003, the roof was restored, finishing the reconstruction process. The name Kinkaku is derived from the gold leaf that the pavilion is covered in. Gold was a significant color on the pavilion because it was to lessen the severity towards negative thoughts and feelings towards death. With the focus on the Golden Pavilion, it creates an impression that stands out because of the sunlight reflecting and creates an excellent reflection on the pond that surrounds it. 

After seeing Kinkakuji from across the pond,

 you walk passed the head priest's former living quarters that are not open to the public. The path passes by Kinkakuji from behind then leads to the temple's gardens which are in their original state. 

The gardens hold a few other spots of interest including Anmintaku Pond that is said to never dry up, 

and statues that people throw coins at for luck.

Continuing through the garden takes you to the Sekkatei Teahouse and various gift and food stands. I personally recommend a nice green tea soft cream (ice cream). 

When I was in Japan, visiting the Kinkakuji temple and gardens was one of my favorite historical spots. The scenery is so beautiful and the gardens were stunning. It was amazing to think about how those gardens had been here for a little more than six hundred years. 

(All of the above images, except the first one, are from my travels)