Kinkaku-ji | Must-visit Temple in Kyoto

kingtolentino.com is reader-supported. When you purchase through links on our site, I may earn an affiliate commission with no extra cost to you. This will help me run my website and channel to provide more content to everyone.

After a preview of the old Kyoto in Higashiyama district, we made our way to the northern part of Kyoto to visit Kinkaku-ji.

Kinkaku-ji or the Golden Pavilion, a Zen Buddhist temple located in Northern Kyoto. It is part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

To access Kinkaku-ji, visitors shall pay the entrance fee of 500.00 yen per person.

For the tour, visitors can cover the whole temple ground by following a path. The area is surrounded by lush greeneries and has several buildings with zen type architecture.

Kinkaku-ji is a three floor temple situated beside Kyoko-chi pond. The top 2 floors are covered in golden leaf and a golden phoenix at the top.

You’ll appreciate the beauty of Kinkaku-ji on a clear day from across Kyoko-chi pond. This is where the Kyoko-chi pond reflects the bright Golden temple. We took our time here taking selfies and photos before ending our Kinkaku-ji tour.

We continued with our Kyoto tour by having lunch at Ramen Kimura.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT KYOTO, JAPAN

The best time to visit Kyoto, Japan is March to May during spring. Do note that cherry blossom season is also a peak season in Japan.

WHAT ARE THE THINGS TO PACK TO KYOTO, JAPAN - WINTER EDITION

Clothes for cold weather
Jacket
Comfortable shoes/ sneakers/ boots
Backpack
Camera / gear
Powerbank
Toiletries
Universal Adaptor (For Filipinos, no need since Japan is using the same outlet)
Tumbler

HOW TO GET TO KINKAKU-JI TEMPLE FROM HIGASHIYAMA

To get to Kinkaku-ji Temple from Higashiyama, go to Kiyomizumichi bus stop and take bus 206. Alight at Kumano Jinja-Mae Shrine and walk to Kumano Jinja-mae bus stop. Take bus 204 to Kinkakuji-michi. Then walk a few meters to Kinkaku-ji.

KYOTO, JAPAN BUDGET AND ITINERARY

Based on this itinerary, which includes all the activities and restaurants covered in the blog, the budget for our second day in Kyoto, Japan for two person is around 11,600.00 Yen or around Php4,400.00. Total expense with a private photoshoot is Php15,000.00. See detailed budget and itinerary below:

NOTE: Rates indicated above may change.

IMPORTANT THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN VISITING KINKAKU-JI

Aside from the basic things to consider in Japan, here are the things to consider in Kinkaku-ji:

Kinkaku-ji Information:
- Website: https://www.shokoku-ji.jp/en/kinkakuji/
- Address: 1 Kinkakuji-cho, Kita-ku, Kyoto 603-8361 Japan
Kinkaku-ji Schedule:
- Open from 9:00am-5:00pm
Kinkaku-ji Admission
- Tickets are sold at the entrance of the main building.
  - Adult - 500.00
  - Student - 300.00

KYOTO, JAPAN TRAVEL TIPS

Secure your passport
Be sure to have a credit card for emergency
Download the following Google Apps: Google Maps for Navigating and Google Translate for basic translation.
Rent a pocket Wi-Fi or eSim in advance. This way you’ll have data as soon as you land in Japan. I’ve tried pocket Wi-Fi during our vacation and encountered no issues on connections or signal.
If you are travelling around Japan, buy the Japan Rail Pass or JR Pass in advance. For convenience, best to avail the Green Car option. For Green Car holders, best to reserve your seat in advance as well. You can buy the JR Pass here.
Since trash cans or sorting bins are not common in public places or streets of Japan, best to have a small plastic/paper bag for your garbage.
Travelling with luggage in Japan across multiple cities in Japan can be challenging. For a convenient experience, try a luggage delivery service.
If you want to avoid crowd in tourist spots, schedule your visit early morning.
Exploring Japan often involves a significant amount of walking, so it's important to wear comfortable shoes.
Instead of buying bottled water, bring your own tumbler.