Kinkaku-ji also known as the Golden Temple was our last stop on our rather intense sightseeing day. We managed to make it in right before they stopped letting people in which was quite awhile before their 5pm closing time. Kinkaku-ji is a Zen temple and the retirement villa of shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. It inspired the silver temple to be built later on the other side of the city, which we didn’t have time to visit. On the first floor through the open windows you can spot statues of Shaka Buddha and Yoshimitsu.
Despite just making it in before closing it was nice to look around. Since no one else was allowed in we were able to take our time taking photos without worrying about fighting a crowd. Afterwards we walked slowly through the lovely forest surrounding it past Fudo Hall and all of the closed souvenir shops. There’s also a Tea Garden but it too was closed. Kinkaku-ji is open from 9-5, however get there around 4pm or earlier if you want to get in. It costs 400 yen to visit.
