The place originally was a villa of a powerful statesman SAIONJI Kintsune (1171-1244), that was called Kitayama-dai. The third ASHIKAGA Shogun, Yoshimitsu (1358-1408), who abdicated the shogunate in 1394, bought the place from the Saionjis in 1397. Three years later, he started to build his version of villa, Kitayama-den. The villa, that constitutes of Kinkaku, gardens and other buildings, is said to be designed to realize Buddhist paradise on the earth.

After Yoshimitsu's death, Kitayama-den was made into a Zen temple, so as to carry out his will. Muso Kokushi was assigned as the founder of the temple also in accordance with the late shogun's will. During Onin civil war (1467-1477), all the buildings except Kinkaku were burned down. The garden, however, remains as original and can be enjoyed as it was hundreds of years ago. In 1950, Kinkaku was set fire by a student monk and reduced to ashes. The present building was rebuilt in 1955.

35 minutes from Kyoto Station to Kinkaku-ji-michi by Kyoto City Bus 101 or 205.

32 minutes from Shijo-Kawaramachi to Kinkaku-ji-michi by Kyoto City Bus 205

34 minutes or 36 minutes from Shijo-Kawaramachi to Kinkaku-ji-mae by Kyoto City Bus 12 or 59 respectively.

32 minutes from Sanjo-Keihan-mae to Kinkaku-ji-mae by Kyoto City Bus 59

From Ninna-ji or Ryoan-ji, take Kyoto City bus 59 bound for Shijo-Kawaramachi. It takes about 10 minutes or 6 minutes respectively to Kinkaku-ji-mae.

9:00-17:00

All except those listed below: 400 yen
Schoolchildren and Junior High School Students (1st to 9th graders): 300 yen
Children under school age: free