Kinkakuji is probably Kyoto's most famous and certainly most photographed temple garden. The three-story Chinese Zen-influenced Golden Pavilion has delicately curving roofs and the walls and eaves of the second and third stories are covered with fine gold leaf. On a clear day the villa is reflected in the mirror pond which lies in front of the building. The present structure, dating back to 1955, is a copy of the original built in 1397 by shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. It was razed to the ground...

I've been to Kyoto before and have seen Kinkakuji before. However, it made my list of must see this time around again. It's a beautiful pavilion. You can look at it for hours.

As with most of the Temples in Kyoto, the peace and serenity is intoxicating. We visited during the Fall foliage. It was magnificent!!! Looking forward to our next trip there. Probably in the Spring for Cherry Blossoms.

Yes, it's overrun by tourists - on my last visit a tour bus dumped a truckload of Japanese high school kids on their graduation trip - but there is a reason why it's so popular. Go in the morning - the compound is on the west side of Kyoto and the pavilion faces east - so that the morning sun gives the Kinkaku the golden sparkle. The reflection in the pond is just wonderful. Walk around in the woods within the compound, and have a cup of tea in the garden underneath the tall trees - it's a nice experience.

The temple and landscape in front of it, together with the reflection in the water forms a very beautiful picture. There's quite a bit of shady place around. 300yen entrance fee isn't high.

I thought the place was quite nice, but there were so many people it was alittle hard to enjoy. I'm sure some days are better than others to visit on though. Also through out the grounds there were little doodad shops which kinda detracted from the scene.

I had seen so many photos of Kinkakuji, that I was a little disappointed because it was much smaller than I had imagined. But still beautiful and the surrounding gardens were also nice for a stroll.

I completely enjoyed the peaceful calm surrounding Kinkakuji. Warm purple Iris surrounded the pond around the Golden Pavillion. I enjoyed a nice stroll along the peaceful walking trails around the pond.

Honestly, I'm not a very good photographer but all my photos from Kinkakuji turned out like postcards! The temple itself if NOT what you want to see. We are all there for the golden pavilion which sits quitely in the middle of temple complex lake. Don't even think of going there on a major Japanese holiday/ festifal sesaon which the locals might FLOOD to the temple to worship; you will have trouble getting into the complex; unless it is the crowd that you want to see. Go around end of the year/ after new year and you wil see many young pretty grils, ladies in traditional kimono visiting the temple for worship. You can try to squeeze in on New Year Day... but...! Also, try to read about the place before going, there is alot of meaning in the layout of the whole place other than just a pretty pavilion sitting in water!

Probably the most famous place in Kyoto, it is worth going to have a look, but I recommend going in Autumn when the leaves are at their most glorious. Despite being overexposed, this temple is still very beautiful.