Temple · Kyoto, Japan
Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
Kinkaku-ji, officially named Rokuon-ji (鹿苑寺; [ɾoꜜ.kɯ.oɲ.dʑi], lit. 'Deer Garden Temple'), is a Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan and a tourist attraction. Built 1397.
Photo: Nacaru via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped and resized for display.
Landmark facts
| Location | Kyoto, Japan |
|---|---|
| Type | Temple |
| Built | 1397 |
| Area | Area: 0.093 km² |
| Coordinates | 35.0395° N, 135.7285° E |
Every fact above is taken from the sources listed below; anything no source states is left blank rather than guessed.
What Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) is known for
Kinkaku-ji, officially named Rokuon-ji (鹿苑寺; [ɾoꜜ.kɯ.oɲ.dʑi], lit. 'Deer Garden Temple'), is a Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan and a tourist attraction.
About Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
Kinkaku-ji, officially named Rokuon-ji (鹿苑寺; [ɾoꜜ.kɯ.oɲ.dʑi], lit. 'Deer Garden Temple'), is a Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan and a tourist attraction. It is designated as a World Heritage Site, a National Special Historic Site, a National Special Landscape, and one of the 17 Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto.
History
The site of Kinkaku-ji was originally a villa called Kitayama-dai (北山第), belonging to a powerful statesman, Saionji Kintsune. Kinkaku-ji's history dates to 1397, when the villa was purchased from the Saionji family by shōgun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu and transformed into the Kinkaku-ji complex. When Yoshimitsu died the building was converted into a Zen temple by his son, according to his wishes.
Planning a visit? Visit the official Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) website — the official site has the current visiting information.
How to get there
| Nearest town | Kyoto |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | Osaka International Airport (ITM) |
| Distance from the airport | 23.6 miles (straight line) |
Nearest major airport by straight-line distance from the landmark’s coordinates; road distance will be longer.
Airports near this landmark
The airports a visitor would actually fly into, nearest first — each link opens its profile on our sister site AirportProfiles.
- Osaka Itami International Airport (ITM) · Osaka, Japan · 24.2 miles away
- Kobe Airport (UKB) · Kobe, Japan · 40.1 miles away
- Kansai International Airport (KIX) · Osaka, Japan · 50.5 miles away
Landmarks nearby
The closest landmarks in this library, by straight-line distance.
More landmarks in Japan
More temples
Frequently asked questions
What is Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)?
Kinkaku-ji, officially named Rokuon-ji (鹿苑寺; [ɾoꜜ.kɯ.oɲ.dʑi], lit. 'Deer Garden Temple'), is a Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan and a tourist attraction.
Where is Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) located?
Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) is in Kyoto, Japan. Its coordinates are 35.0395° N, 135.7285° E.
How do I get to Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)?
The nearest town is Kyoto, and the nearest airport is Osaka International Airport (ITM), about 23.6 miles away (straight line).
When was Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) built?
Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) was built 1397.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinkaku-ji — Wikipedia article — overview, history and core facts (CC BY-SA).
- https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q270983 — Wikidata — built year, architect, height/size, visitors, official website (CC0).
- https://www.shokoku-ji.jp/kinkakuji/ — Official website of the landmark / managing body.
- https://github.com/jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports — Nearest major airport computed from landmark and airport coordinates (haversine); airport list: jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports.
Page last updated 13 November 2026.