The Golden Pavilion is a must on any visit to the spectular city of Kyoto. Nestled in the Northern foothills of the city it is only a short bus ride away. The gardens are lush and green and the Pavilion glistens in the sun! Go see it! more

I rarely say this, but I almost wish I hadn't gone to the golden pavilion... well, that's a little strong, but I would have missed little to nothing if I hadn't seen it. You can't go inside the pavilion, and the surrounding gardens aren't special in any way that I could see (remember, that this is Kyoto, land of gorgeous,... more

A magnificent golden pavilion tucked away in a beautiful japanese stroll garden - a must see. Laughably cheap entry fees (few hunder yens) and the sight is unforgettable. Imagine a golden building on the other side of a lake which is full of tiny islands with only a tree or a bush on it. It's a bit out of town... more

I don't think this is anything special, there are better places in Kyoto. The pavilion itself is tiny and surrounded by a little pond. The 'gold' is just a bit of gold foil (not even sure if it's real gold foil) on the small structure. more

I basically love this unique Temple but I can't stand behind many people to take pics with the Golden pavillion over the pond. During best season (spring and fall), I don't recommend you to visit there since SO many tourists are in the garden. And I highlly recommnend you to look around the garden not only just talking pics of... more

Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) should not be missed during a trip to Kyoto. If you're lucky, the sun will be shining, creating a shimmering golden reflection on the aptly named Kyōko-chi (Mirror Pond). The Golden Pavilion is on several bus routes connected to central Kyoto and should not be missed. more

We found the Golden Temple to be reasonably quiet when we visited in December. We enjoyed the walk around the grounds and had a nice cup of matcha and a sweet. I imagine it gets very crowded in the fall when people are out looking at the fall colors. Probably best to go early during the most popular times to... more

so - I have read nothing but glowing reports of Kinkaku-ji on this website - and yet for me it is far far far from being one of the best things in Kyoto. So we also went to the markets in Kitano Tennagi Shrine first - which are huge - and if you like markets, you will love! We had... more

This is a must see in Kyoto! My friend and I visited the Golden Pavilion near sunset in January 2008. The light reflecting off the pavilion was spectacular, as was the pavilion's reflection in the surrounding pond. The pavilion is on the north western side of town, but is easy to get to by bus. We bought a day bus... more