Well, what can you say that hasn’t already been said about this iconic Japanese landmark? Everyone has to tick it off the Japan ‘to do; ‘ list. Personally, I think it is overrated in terms of both historical significance and the beauty of its surroundings. There are far better gardens to be seen in Japan. It is however striking, and to be seen at least once. The gold has both spiritual meaning (purity) but was probably also a product of the ego of its previous owners. A somewhat ostentatious status symbol, if you like. As with many temples, it has been burnt down and rebuilt a few times, which explains its ‘current newish’ look. The Phoenix atop the roof is believed to be original, and is a symbol of divine favour, virtue, and harmony. Within the complex bit of fun can be had watching people attempting to throw coins into a well hole placed at a distance from the throwing spot. Give it a go – it might bring you luck! Don’t miss the 600 year old pine planted by a previous shogun (ancient ruler of Japan). It is shaped as a boat and is a metaphor for passage to the Pure Land following death. On a cheerier note, I include in the pictures some of the admonishing posters you see around Kyoto giving guidance on appropriate behaviour…

One of the most famous spots in Kyoto, temple of the Golden pavilion. Actually, it’s a Buddhist temple which is covered with golden leaf giving an iconic mirror view. Usually, the area is crowded and I recommend you to go there early morning. You can enjoy a relaxing walk through the wayside. The entrance fee is 400 yen.For road direction, both English and Japanese language are indicated. Highly recommended this place for people who like traditional and historical view.

A lovely temple indeed. The ground were beautiful and serene despite being right in the city. This temple has a unique history and I enjoyed seeing it. There's a touristy feel about it though. Many shops along the way to get a piece of your pocket. Kind of steals from the spiritual aspect.

Great place that require little time to be done. Can be a bit complex to get there but if you organise your trip well it is a good place for photos and just enjoy been "away" from the center and still be in Kyoto. Do not come with pushchairs or if you have difficulty to walk. It is not long but you need to use stairs and climb a bit. A pleasant spiritual place with a tourist twist.

Amazing Buddhist temple that is truly unbelievable. The views of the temple from the well maintained gardens is well worth the ¥600 (I think, it could be ¥500) admission fee. This is one of those places you can't miss if you are visiting Kyoto! My pictures do not do this place justice this is something you have to see for yourself.

Visiting this temple was the highlight of our trip to Japan so not to be missed. The temple opens at 9:00 AM and there was already a long line when we arrived at 8:50 AM. Fortunately, the line was processed quickly once the ticket booth opened (admission is 500 yen per person). The temple is located on an island so we cannot get close but we can still manage to get good photos from a distance by following the path circling it. We just have to be patient and wait our turn as the place is packed with tourists. Other than the temple there is not much to visit. We went through the garden quickly since there are more beautiful gardens to explore in other temples. Overall the visit should take less than one hour.

One of the most famous spots in Kyoto, temple of the Golden pavilion. Actually, it’s a Buddhist temple which is covered with golden leaf giving an iconic mirror view. Usually, the area is crowded and I recommend you to go there early morning. You can enjoy a relaxing walk through the wayside. The entrance fee is 400 yen.For road direction, both English and Japanese language are indicated. Highly recommended this place for people who like traditional and historical view.

A beautiful and picturesque temple in shining gold. The whole tour is about 45min if you walk slowly and take some pictures. It is definitely worth a trip if you are in Kyoto and have some time to visit the temples. I'd love to to be able to sit and have more opportunity to enjoy the park and temple a bit more. It feels a little 'rushed' with the only way leading around the temple up the hill to some gift shops and a shrine and then back out.

A must see if you are in the area. It is one of the iconic temples of Kyoto for a reason. The gold layers on the structure gives it a powerful aura. Make sure to read the pamphlet to learn a bit more about this place! The gardens are not that special in my opinion, but they definitely still enjoyable to walk along.

This is definitely one of the most iconic place to visit if you go fist time in Kyoto region. Beautiful architecture and color you can just shoot picture from far away as it is sitting on a swamp area with no tourist access. You will need to walk a bit to get there so it is quite hot during summer. There is a spot where you can drop coins for luck and ring the bell used originally to summon people for prayer time

It's a beautiful temple, the gold is very exceptional and you won't see this anywhere else. However it is a small place to visit (you will be in and out within 20-30 minutes if you take it slow), it is only 500Yen so pretty doable. Very busy during the day though.

I only rate it so low because if you have limited time in Kyoto, I'd rank this last. Its honestly nothing great, just the temple in the middle, and you take a walk around and see rock formations. If you're a massive history buff and this was on your list for a while, sure, but again, with limited time on hands, I'd rank this last. The buses to get here are not as frequent, so you will definitely be waiting a while and with other tourists, cause google suggests we all take the 205 or 204 so be prepared to be packed into a bus both ways. It's a 1000¥ to enter but the park its situated in is a nice little walk

Temple is open from 9am to 5pm so I reached about 325pm. Paid admission fee of 600 yen for adult and 300 yen for children (6 to 15 years old) to enter the temple. Gets quite crowded and alot of people will stand near the fence to take photos. Most people are considerate enough to take photos quickly. Quite a small place and can cover it in about 45mins. The golden building looks really nice with the red autumn leaves.

A beautiful temple with picturesque surrounding gardens. It will be very busy upon opening, but with patience, everybody is guaranteed a nice photograph of the scenery. After traversing the circuit, there are tasty food stalls which sell cheap snacks. Highly recommend!

I think this temple is the most beautiful temple we came across but you have to be there at the right time. The right time is when the sun just rises and the rays illuminate its golden wall. It was just beautiful. There must be lots of gold leaf used to cover it. Pictures don't do the justice. You just have to be there to witness it. We were here during winter. I think it may be more beautiful during the autumn season.

Nothing special. This temple was re-built completely in the 1950s, so it is basically very "modern". You cannot get in the temple and have to look at it from like 20-30 meters away. It is very crowded there and sometimes I feel even difficult to breathe. For Westeners who want to get a glimpse of how Asia look like, that may be fine, but for Easterners who have some exposure with Oriental culture and Buddhism before, this temple is nothing special.

Visited 2yrs ago before the pandemic. You have buy a ticket of 400yen to enter. The ticket price is not worth to be have 400yen. Due to its beauty,historical image, price should be high. The iconic golden temple of Japan is also one of the oldest temple. The golden color is very fascinating. Always crowded so its very difficult to get a good picture. Located in a very peaceful environment. One of the masterpiece of Japan's Historical Culture. Highly Recommended.

Beautiful grounds and the Golden Temple is immaculately well kept. After walking around for bit I enjoyed a hot macha before completing my walk around the grounds. Get there early if you want to avoid the crowds...I, sadly, did not. None the less, it is more than worth enjoying the sights of this historic area.

I expected the Golden Pavilion to be just a little sparkly, but it wasn't at all. It was absolutely shiny and sparkling! It was so amazing to see. I'm truly impressed by the people from the past who created such a magnificent structure. I highly recommend everyone to check it out. Entrance fees : 500 ¥ , cash only.

ほんとに綺麗でした！金閣寺も立派で素晴らしかったです。もし、行ってみたい方は是非、十分な時間をとって行くことをおすすめします。金閣だけでなく、ほかの神社や地蔵なども鹿苑寺の中に一緒になって入っているので、1時間、少なくとも45分はかかると思います。しかし、ほんとに行ってみて時間がかかっても後悔しないので、是非、京都に来た方は行ってみてください！ (Translated by Google) It was really beautiful! Kinkaku-ji was also splendid and splendid. If you want to go, we recommend that you take enough time to go. In addition to Kinkakuji, there are other shrines and Jizo statues in Rokuonji, so I think it will take an hour, or at least 45 minutes. However, you won't regret it even if it takes a long time to actually go there, so if you come to Kyoto, please go there!

A very beautiful pavilion wrapped in gold leaf. Somehow to me it felt like the lavishness and ornate decorations of the temple were our of sync with the teachings of letting go of material things. Unfortunately it was extremely crowded and full of noisy people, which detracted from the peacefulness of the experience. Despite the crowds, the building is still undeniably beautiful.

A very beautiful area with an exquisite gold covered temple. I'm not sure if there is another one like this in Japan. There are really a lot of visitors, but you don't have to wait in lines. At the exit from the temple, there are places where you can buy icecream with gold also sake with gold and other interesting things.

Absolutely stunning and a definite must see. However, as with most other main attractions, absolutely avoid going on weekends or holidays if at all possible. Also try to beat the crowd by being early. The view is stunning, but your experience will heavily depend on how crowded it is. I went when it wasn't really crowded and it was spectacular

One of the must visit temples in Kyoto. Its main attraction is its golden walls which is very eye catching especially when the sun shines on it. Dazzling. Its comparatively small compared to some large size temples but size doesn’t matter. However it is closed and no entry allowed inside. So everyone crowds around nice photo taking spots. Its crowded even on a Friday morning. Not surprising as there is a huge tour bus parking lot beside it. And there is also a long row of vending machines too to cater for whatever you wish for. It would be a nice relaxing spot if there is less crowd but wishful thinking.

This temple is well worth the visit. There are many temples and shrines around Kyoto and this one is harder to travel to, but it is well worth it. The setting, architecture, and gardens are stunning. There are taxi stands just outside the gate, and that is the easiest way to reach this one. Come early in the morning to avoid the biggest crowds. Take your time enjoying the beautiful scene.

We came here while it was pouring rain. But the temple was still very beautiful to look at. It cost 600 yen to get in per person. There are lots of great options of charms to get here as a souvenir for friends and family! What was interesting that we haven’t seen from other places is that there were a blue and pink charms for good health for your pets!

Thé view is really beautiful. A must visit. You can see the famous model for literature work by Japanese writer and feel the beauty of golden pavilion. It is incredible. You need to be aware of the weather. Good weather is a must. The golden wall will shine over the lake.

Kinkaku-Ji Temple is one of popular Temple in Kyoto Japan. This ancient temple is surrounded By lush JAPANESE style Garden makes the ambience more quiet and peaceful. It is easy to reach the Temple By bus no 205 from Kyoto station cost 230 Yen. The Temple is open from 8 am to 6 pm and the ticket entrance is 500 yen. By visiting this Temple you Will Learn about JAPANESE culture more. Once you in Kyoto you should visit this Temple. Highly recommended 👍👍👍

This is a beautiful temple complex that features the golden temple in the middle of a lake. The surrounding complex is dotted with numerous buildings and gardens. Overall, this is a must visit while we n Kyoto.

A wonderful experience at this Zen temple. We went as part of the evening virtual reality experience running until the end of October. It was amazing to see the temple and gardens at night. The folding screen and ceiling paintings were amazing and the zen garden was very peaceful. We learn a lot about Zen Buddhism and would recommend a visit to this temple as I'm sure it would be great during the day too. Only 4 stars because the tickets for the Virtual Reality event were quite expensive (2000 yen per person)

recommended. 600 yen per person to enter. came on a monday early afternoon and it was pretty empty. will have to remove your shoes so keep that in mind (have socks) if you have a feet hang up. grounds are immaculate. main room with tapestry is good, but not amazing. still worth the visit. can’t enter the tatami rooms.

My new favorite temple-like place in Kyoto. A wonderful collection of art, wonderful stone garden and an amazing dragin on the ceiling of the adjacent building.

Love the atmosphere of the temple. After a long day of sightseeing and walking, I had a great time coming here, sitting on the tatami mats and viewing the gardens. There was also some beautiful artwork, especially the ceiling painting of the dragon.

I think this is the oldest Buddhist temple in Japan. It hosts some notable arts from the bygones era, rich with history of Japan. One of the famous one is the painting of twin dragons on the ceiling of the main temple. Among all Kyoto's old temples, this is one of my favourite.

Absolutely worth a visit. The self-proclaimed “oldest Zen temple in Japan” is beautiful with stunning Zen gardens and a dragon tapestry that covers the ceiling od the main hall. Stunning.

The twin dragon ceiling painting is amazing to look at and so are the serene stone gardens. I loved seeing the traditional style house, it was very immersive. You have to take off your shoes to enter. Worth the entrance fee in my opinion.

The temple is among our favorites in Kyoto. It checks all the boxes, walking distance from Gion, well maintained, not too crowded and wonderful gardens which are kept immaculately.

Crowed but quiet. Visitors came here to appreciate its history, beauty of architecture and artworks. This place not only display of those that were historical but also relevant works by modern artists

I hesitated visiting this temple bc I thought it would be similar to the many other ones I visited in Kyoto, but I’m glad I went! There’s a lot of unique features about this place that really made it stand out, including the interior courtyard gardens (not just the typical zen garden) and the huge (modern) dragon painting on the ceiling. Be aware that it’s a large complex and a little difficult to find the entrance. It’s on the right side of the main building. Overall, great place to visit if you’re in the area!

Kennin-ji is the oldest Zen Temple in Kyoto. The temple was founded in 1202 by the priest Yousai (also known for bringing tea seeds from China and popularizing the practice of drinking green tea). Among attractions to see in the complex are: 1/ Cho-on-tei Garden (the garden of the sound of the tide) behind the Temple, 2/ images of the of the Wind and the Thunder gods; 3/ garden combining circle, triangle and square elements that represent all forms present in the universe; 4/ Dharma Hall (Hatto) with a seated Shakayamuni Tathagata; 5/ huge (11,4x15,7 m) Twin Dragons painted in 2002 on special Japanese paper to commemorate 800-year anniversary of Kenninji's founding; 6/ Rock and moss garden in front of the Hojo; 7/ Cloud Dragon, Flower and Birds an other paintings on the sliding doors of the main hall. This place is really great. Surprisingly there were not too many tourists when we visited (Oct 2023). The temple is open from 10:00 to 17:00. Entrance fee is 600 yen per person.

We went about 45 minutes before closing on a Friday. We almost skipped it because there wasn't much time left, but I'm SO glad we went. It was one of the most beautiful temples that I've ever visited, and frankly I prefer this one over the more famous places in Kyoto like Kinkakuji or Kiyomizudera. It was so peaceful and quiet, and the garden in the middle was incredibly beautiful. My pictures don't do it justice.

They have Cho-on-tei Garden or Twin Dragons painting on the ceiling. The Cho-on-tei, the garden of the sound of the tide, is a simple and refined Zen garden. "Twin Dragons" by Koizumi Junsaku "commemorates the 800th anniversary of Kenninji's founding, and a ceremony to mark its installation was given in April 2002.

Maybe I was expecting too much from this mountain temple, but I found it underwhelming. There's not much to see, and what there is is sprawled out in a relatively large are, which is not particularly interesting. There were zero explanations in English. I think it can be a good place for a spiritual retreat (there's a hotel on-site), rather than tourism. Unlike many other temple sites, I won't feel the need to visit it again. But the way up from Yase-Hieizanguchi and the way down towards Sakamoto were nice, as well as the forest all around it.

The surrounding temples of the temple complex are beautiful and it is a great hike from the first cable car (not taking the rope way) of about an hour if you take your time. Unfortunately, the main temple is under construction and there is absolutely nothing to see there. The other temples were wonderful though and made up for the hike.

Take Cable car from yase to hiei (cost 900yen). From here you can see the top view and can enter the garden. Then walk down from hiei to enryoji about 1.30 km, the view is so nice. Then you can take the bus to the ground

I wouldn’t recommend this place to foreign tourists! An old man who was selling tickets were very rude and yelled at me because I asked a question how to go downhill without a cable car because a map wasn’t clear. It’s a first time behaviour like this in Japan. I was really tired and I feel that that place only commercial. Don’t waste your time!!! Go to another place. I added a map for people who also tired and stuck there and want just walk and explore the place.

Located in Hieizan, one of the most sacred mountains in Japan. This temple is very significant especially in the history of Japan. Main hall is under renovation but visitors can still enter. I am in awe how structures from its founding in 788 are still present, and how they try to preserve the originalsl structures and artifacts. Visited during autumn of 2023 and the surrounding nature scenery was really beautiful.

The grounds are lovely to walk around as the temples are set up a mountain in the forest overlooking the lake. You will see more spectacular temples that these, but it's an enjoyable place to get away from the crowds.

Spectacular views from the top of Hieizan! But if you're visiting in the winter, make sure you've got the right kind of shoes, the roads will be iced over and extremely slippery! Still an amazing experience though!

Get ti enjoy some autumn colours here while i was there. Very well liked by the elderly, huge area to explore and expose in the religion in another country. Really interesting to see the similarities and differences of japanese buddism.

Absolutely amazing place. I met and talked with a couple of the Monk's, and they made me feel completely at peace. They also complimented me about my Ora. I actually felt like I had arrived home. Unusually, my eyes started sweating (😢🤭) from the overwhelming emotions I felt being here. Thank you to all the monks (male and female) who made my experience and trip, a life changing moment. Peace to you all.

What a holy place it is. Enryakuji is not one temple but temple complex around Mt. Hiei. The main one is under renovation but you can see inside and roofs as well which usually you can’t see. During my visit, I knew about the two hardest ancient practice there, one is the 1000 day 'Kaihogyo' which is circling the mountain 20km~ per day and other is 12 years training alone in Mt. Hiei, and both have been kept alive by the monks. That’s too impressive and unbelievable.

To get to this place you will have to drive up Mount Hiei North East of Kyoto. This incredible complex is a 45 min drive to 3 historical areas; Todo, Saito, and Yokawa areas. Each are a short distance drive from the next. There are tolls up the mountain, total cost is approximately 2000 Yen. Each area costs approximately 500 to 1000 yen per person to enter and parking is free. Enryakuji, the birthplace of Buddhism in Japan where many monks trained. It was also a famous battle site during the late 1500 civil war of Japan due to its strategic location from Kyoto City. The site is remembered for many things amongst which was the famous massacre of 1571 by warlord Oda Nobunaga. The views of the city on the way up are incredible during the fall, so stop by in the rest areas up or down Mount Hiei.

Best way to get here is by the Eizan Railway and then Cable Car/Rope Way and then walk 2km around and down the mountain. If you can't face the walk back up, then you can a bus back to Kyoto. Well worth the effort (and the ¥1,000 entry price) to see the temple that is being painstakingly restored.

It was a nice experience trying to write the sutra and also enjoying the green moss. An hour here felt fast.. but the entrance fee was overpriced I think and I recommend to try the hiking course nearby after the visit. The walk was relaxing and not that hard, enough to make you sweat and enjoy lunch in arashiyama after the hike

This was a highlight of our trip to Japan. Came here as part of a day visit to the Arashiyama area during our visit to Kyoto. An easy commute from the Togetsukyo bridge in Arashiyama to the temple. The temple and moss garden is sublime, beautiful and tranquil. The walk around the moss garden makes for a very Zen like experience - seeing the light dance across the green moss and hearing the wind rustle against the trees of the temple grounds made for a nice and pleasant walk. The visit quota the temple has per day, ensures visitors will be able to feel peace and tranquility as they visit the temple grounds - which can be a challenge in Kyoto! Also I understand the garden is one of Japan’s best, and historic examples of its moss gardens - seeing it in person you can understand why. Also enjoyed the sutra process before visiting the temple grounds - an expensive visit but very much a worthwhile one during our visit in late December. We booked online a few weeks in advance - found the process to be simple and easy.

Amazing garden filled with moss. Unlike other UNESCO heritage sites in kyoto this is very less crowded. Reservation is required in advance through postcard to visit the temple and garden. Also great experience trying calligraphy inside temple. Totally worth visiting

The must visit temple and garden in Kyoto. You have to reserve in advance by postcard or website, but totally worth the trouble. The temple is at the final stop of city bus 63 so not need to worry to miss the stop. Breath taking garden covered by various moss. And you could round up the day at the arashiyama. I will definitely come again when revisiting Kyoto!

This was a place of unimaginable tranquility and beauty. The peace I felt here exceeded my wildest thoughts. If I could retire here and tend the grounds so that others could enjoy this place for another 700 years I would do so without hesitation. Tickets must be purchased in advance online. You must copy a sutra before going into the garden. It was so worth it I cannot fully explain it.

The experience was amazing, we where given a sutra to copy, it was a very relaxing moment. If you are coming here be prepared to sit around for 1 hour and do some sort of meditation, don't be rude and leave before finishing just because you didn't know what you where getting yourself into. It is distracting for the others. Don The price is a bit high, 3000 yen, but overall I think it was worth it. You have to make a reservation via letter, so prepare before time, see their website for details. After the meditation you are left to visit the beautiful surrounding moss garden.

Stunning place! The gardens are beautiful! I would recommend it to anyone who loves plants and a quite walk. Need to book in-advance, as they limit guests per day in the interest of the gardens.

Amazing zen temple with a beautiful garden. Only accessible through online booking. Worth price and the hassle of booking in advance.

We walked here (45mins) from the bamboo forest. I was able to buy tickets online a few days before our visit - simple process. We booked the 10:00 slot. We arrived about 10 mins prior to our appt time and there were already a dozen people in line. They asked for our QR code and we all started to enter at 10. They gave us a calligraphy pen upon entry and guided us to the temple where you copy a mantra in Japanese. No photos inside the temple. It was a peaceful and beautiful way to relax the mind and set intentions for your visit. After, we visited the garden. Even though there were a dozen or so people it felt like we had the place to ourselves. I could have stayed there all day. Tip/Recommendation: read the material and site prior to visit. It really helps anchor you in the right mindset and intentionality of the space.

my favorite temple in Japan - more focus on nature than religious artifacts 🍃 I just loved it!! the moss is really that wonderfully green 🤩

A beautiful temple and the moss garden was brilliant. The autumn colours were beautiful. The calligraphy of the sutra on arrival really puts you in the right mood.

After many visits to Japan, I finally made the effort to get a reservation here. 100% worth it! The calming tracing of a sutra in kanji before entering was a powerful way to quiet the mind. It isn't as if this is head and shoulders above many other great gardens and temples across Japan, but it is does seem to offer more surprises around each turn and leads to beauty-driven giggles.

It's been my 3rd time. I believe this is one of earth's most beautiful places. There's a tiny waterfall, where the water goes into a pond under a bridge - listen to the sound of water there, don't take pictures, just enjoy and find real tranquility.

One of the most beautiful gardens I have seen during the autumn period. Ticket is expensive but worth it, since visitor number is limited. Unfortunately, only the garden can be seen, entering most of the buildings is not allowed.

Wonderful temple embedded in the greens of the mountainside. A quite place.

Beautiful temple, enjoyed the sprawling layout with a number of sub-buildings connected by large overhanging roofs.

Really nice temple and the chief priestess is really sweat. She explained to me a lot of stuff about bouddhism and the significations of the statues. Will go back again

Small but atmospheric and beautiful temple featuring some very interesting historical artefacts. Well worth checking out along with the other temples located nearby, especially in autumn when the maple leaves change colour.

Seemed closed when visited but was still a photogenic place.

Beautiful small temple. Feels magical with the river nearby

It's a beautiful place. Anyone who wants to take good pictures should go visit.