Kinkaku-Ji, the Golden Pavilion

Kinkaku-ji (金閣寺, lit. “Temple of the Golden Pavilion”), is a Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan.  The garden complex is an excellent example of Muromachi period garden design.  The Muromachi period is considered to be the classical age of Japanese garden design.  The correlation between buildings and its settings were greatly emphasized during this period.  It was a way to integrate the structure within the landscape in an artistic way. The garden designs were characterized by a reduction in scale, a more central purpose, and a distinct setting.  A minimalistic approach was brought to the garden design, by recreating larger landscapes in a smaller scale around a structure.

Kinkakuji is designated as a National Special Historic Site and a National Special Landscape, and it is one of 17 locations comprising the Unesco Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto World Heritage Site.  It is also one of the most popular buildings in Japan, attracting a large number of visitors annually.

For more information, we suggest you check out the following web sites (English):  Japan National Tourist Organization or Japanese Official Website