Kinkakuji Temple in Autumn

The very popular Kinkakuji or also known as the Golden Pavillion. We went there, Amy and I, after our Ohara trip. We decided to skip Mt Hiei and Enryakuji temple. The place was just absolutely packed with people. I should be used to crowds by now but I just don't like them because some people have no manners, it is irritating!



The entrance to Kinkakuji. I had my doubts about the maple trees, I was not sure if they had changed colour already but we were in luck. We joined the throng of people at the entrance and had to stand in a long line just to buy the ticket.



This was on the *free* grounds. I don't know what that carved stone was suppose to represent. A boat? Pity I could not read the kanji.



And this is the close up of the maple leaves casting shadows unto the carved stone. Gorgeous colours.



The crowd of people walking along the gardens of Kinkakuji. There were a lot of foreigners here as well unlike Ohara's Sanzen-in which were mostly Japanese. Kinkakuji was first constructed as a villa for the Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu but his son later turned it into a temple. In 1950, a monk burnt the temple to the ground. 5 years later, the temple was reconstructed to its original design using real gold foil coverings.



A splash of bright red against the green trees.



The side view of Kinkakuji. Amy was disappointed to learn that the temple was not open to public. We joked that she wasn't President Bush who came here last week.



The temple gardens. I like the look of the carpet of red leaves on the ground but at the same time, I like to see leaves on the branches as well. I ask for too much, don't I?



I started with a picture of Kinkakuji and I will end this post with another picture of the Golden pavillion. I think I prefer the view when it snows. The blanket of white goes very well with the golden pavillion.