The required time is 1.5 hours from 10:00 to 10:30 or from 13:00 to 14:30.
Kinkakuji-temple (Golden Pavilion)
This temple is one of the most popular tourist spots in Kyoto. In 1994, it was registered as a World Cultural Heritage Site.
This was originally a villa belonging to an aristocrat, (Saionji family). After the family declined, Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu (the 3rd shogun of Muromachi military government) purchased it and built his own villa in 1397. The size of the villa was comparable to that of the Imperial Palace, it became political center. This villa was used as a guest house, Yoshimitsu’s office, and his residence. After Shogun Yoshimitu’s death, his son converted the villa into the Buddhist temple.
The temple’s official name is Rokuon-ji. It was named after the founder’s posthumous Buddhist name , Rokuon-in.
Furthermore, it is derived from the name of the place where Buddha attained enlightenment, about 2,500 years ago. This is a Zen Buddhist temple. Zen Buddhism aims to attain enlightenment and become closer to Buddha’s enlightenment through the practice of zazen meditation.