Kinkaku-ji (金閣寺), also known as the Golden Pavilion, is one of Kyoto’s most iconic landmarks. Its top two floors are covered in gold leaf, reflecting sunlight in a way that seems almost ethereal. The pavilion sits gracefully beside a tranquil pond, its golden image mirrored in the still water, creating a scene that has captivated visitors for centuries.

Originally built in 1397 as a retirement villa for shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, Kinkaku-ji later became a Zen temple. The structure you see today is a reconstruction from 1955 after a fire, preserving the legacy of one of Japan’s most stunning examples of Muromachi architecture. The temple is a powerful symbol of harmony between man-made beauty and the natural world, where gold, nature, and spirituality converge in perfect balance.