The Golden Pavillion

Kinkaku(Golden Pavillion) is a popular name for one of the main buildings of the Rokuon-Ji Temple. In the 1920's it was the comfortable villa of Kintsune Saionji. Yoshimitsu, the 3rd Shogun of Ashikaga, abdicated the throne in 1394. After 3 years,hestarted to build Kitayamaden and he made a special effort to make it a breath-taking site. He indulged in his peaceful life in his serene setting. After Yoshimitsu's death, Kitayamaden was made into a Zen temple in accordance with his will. All the buildings of those days came to ruin except Kinkaku. The garden, however, remains as it was in former days and can be enjoyed as it was hundreds of years ago. Rokuon-Ji Temple was inscribed as the World Cultural Heritage in 1994.