Kinkakuji at a glance
Kinkakuji, the Golden Pavilion, is the everyday name of Rokuon-ji, a Rinzai Zen temple in Kita ward in the northwest of Kyoto. The temple belongs to the Shokoku-ji branch and counts as an outlying subtemple of Shokoku-ji. The name Kinkaku-ji comes from its relic hall, the Kinkaku, whose upper two floors are covered with gold leaf on lacquer. Many visitors know it simply as the golden temple of Kyoto. The address is 1 Kinkakuji-cho, Kita-ku, and the nearest bus stop is Kinkakuji-michi.
Do not mix it up with Ginkaku-ji, the Silver Pavilion, which lies on the other side of the city in the east. The two temples are often visited on the same day, but they have different hours and different fees.
Kinkakuji tours and what this guide covers
Book a guide for the stories, or a day tour for the transport.
A regular visit works without a tour: you pay the entry fee at the gate and follow the garden path around the pond. Tours make sense in two cases. If you want to understand what you are looking at, small-group walks of about 90 minutes to a few hours include a guide and the Kinkaku-ji admission. If you want to see several sights in one day without working out the buses, full-day bus tours from Kyoto Station combine Kinkaku-ji with Fushimi Inari and Arashiyama, and some day tours start in Osaka and add Nara.
This guide covers the entry fee and opening hours, tours, combining Kinkakuji with Arashiyama, the garden with the Kyoko-chi pond, the pavilion itself, its history with the fire of 1950, the comparison with Ginkaku-ji, nearby temples such as Ryoan-ji, Ninna-ji, Kitano Tenmangu and Daitoku-ji, the best time to visit, where to stay and how to get there. For Kyoto as a whole, see our guide to Kyoto city and prefecture.
Our picks: Kinkaku-ji tours
To see Kinkaku-ji alone, the 90-minute guided tour or the small-group walk is the simpler choice. If you want the main Kyoto temples in a day, the coach tours with tickets included are the easiest way to do it. The morning tour adds Nijo Castle and the Imperial Palace.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide and Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Kyoto Station day coach to Kinkaku-ji and three more temples
- Admission to four temples incl. Kinkaku-ji
- English guide and audio guidance
- Departs and returns Kyoto Station
A day by coach from Kyoto Station that takes in Kinkaku-ji, Kiyomizu-dera, Tenryu-ji and Sanjusangendo. The buffet lunch is only included if you select it.
Check availability →Kyoto in one day by coach: Kinkaku-ji, Kiyomizu-dera and Arashiyama
- Tickets for four temples incl. Kinkaku-ji
- Guide and coach transport
- Japanese buffet lunch (if selected)
A coach tour for seeing the main temples in one day, with the temple tickets already covered. Lunch is part of it only if you pick that option when booking.
Check availability →
Morning tour: Kinkaku-ji, Nijo Castle and the Imperial Palace
- Licensed English-speaking guide
- Admission fees
- Transport costs
A half day that pairs Kinkaku-ji with two sights in central Kyoto. Admission fees and transport are already part of the price.
Check availability →
Kyoto day tour: Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama, Kinkaku-ji and Kiyomizu-dera
- Kinkaku-ji and Kiyomizu-dera tickets
- Guide with live audio translation
- Coach with Wi-Fi
A ten-hour coach day that you can join from Osaka or Kyoto. Lunch is only included if you select it, and the meeting point depends on your departure city.
Check availability →
90-minute guided tour of Kinkaku-ji with ticket
- 90-minute professional guide
- Kinkaku-ji admission ticket
A short tour that explains the main sights of Kinkaku-ji as you walk. The admission ticket is included, so you do not buy one at the entrance.
Check availability →
Kinkaku-ji on foot in a small group
- Guide fee
- Kinkaku-ji admission
A walking tour for seeing Kinkaku-ji alone and in detail, with the guide and the admission both covered. The length depends on the option you choose.
Check availability →Kinkakuji tours and Kyoto day tours
Guided walks with Kinkaku-ji admission, early morning tours from Kyoto Station and full-day bus tours with Arashiyama and Fushimi Inari.
Which kind of tour fits your day
Four types of tours include Kinkaku-ji. They differ in time, start and what is included.
Guided walk at the temple
About 90 minutes to 3.5 hours with a guide, usually starting near the temple gate. Most of these walks include the Kinkaku-ji admission. Good if you are already in Kyoto and want the history and the garden explained.
Compare temple tours →Early morning tour
Starts at Kyoto Station and uses public transport to reach Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama and Kinkaku-ji in about 6 hours. The guide is included; the temple entry and fares are paid on the way.
Kinkakuji and Arashiyama →Full-day bus tour
An air-conditioned bus from the Kyoto Station area, a guide and several temple tickets, including Kinkaku-ji, in 8.5 to 9 hours. Lunch only with the matching option, and no hotel pickup.
Getting to Kyoto Station →Day tour from Osaka
Some tours start in Osaka or Kyoto and combine Kinkaku-ji with Arashiyama, Fushimi Inari and Nara in 9 to 10 hours. Check which entry tickets the tour includes.
Day tours from Osaka →A World Heritage temple in northwest Kyoto
Kinkaku-ji is one of the 17 components of the World Heritage site Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities), inscribed by UNESCO in 1994. The garden of Rokuon-ji is also designated a special historic site and a special place of scenic beauty in Japan.
The pavilion stands at the edge of the Kyoko-chi, the mirror pond, which covers about 6,600 m² and holds several islands and named stones. Its three floors are built in three different styles, with a phoenix on the roof. The present building dates from 1955: the earlier pavilion burned down completely in an arson attack on 2 July 1950 and was rebuilt within three years. Read more about the pavilion, the garden and the history.
Plan your visit
Tickets, tours and the pavilion itself.
Opening hours and entry fee
Prices for 2026, card payment at the gate, wheelchair access and photo rules.
Kinkakuji and Kyoto temple tours
Guided walks with admission, early morning tours and full-day bus tours.
Kinkakuji and Arashiyama
By bus and Randen tram, or on a combined day tour.
The garden and mirror pond
Kyoko-chi, the Ryumon waterfall, Sekka-tei and the path with its stairs.
The Golden Pavilion
Three floors in three styles, gold leaf on lacquer and the phoenix.
History of Kinkaku-ji
Yoshimitsu, the Zen temple, the fire of 1950 and the rebuilding.
Temples of northwest Kyoto and practical pages
What lies nearby, when to go and how to get there.
Kinkakuji and Ginkakuji
Gold and Silver Pavilion side by side, with fees and the bus between them.
Ryoan-ji
The rock garden with 15 stones, about 18 minutes on foot from Kinkaku-ji.
Ninna-ji
Omuro cherry blossoms, the five-storey pagoda and the palace garden.
Kitano Tenmangu
Plum garden, the market on the 25th and autumn maples.
Daitoku-ji
Subtemples with gardens and which ones you can visit.
Things to do near Kinkakuji
The Kinukake-no-michi, Myoshin-ji and more in the northwest.
Best time to visit
Snow, autumn leaves in mid to late November, weather and crowds.
Where to stay
Kitano, Nishijin, Kitaoji or Kyoto Station, and the city lodging tax.
How to get to Kinkakuji
Bus 205, subway plus bus, taxi, and the trip from Kansai Airport.
A few things to know before you go
Practical points for 2026.
Card payment at the gate
Since 28 September 2026 the visitor entrance takes card payment through a service called Omairi Pay, without an app: Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express and Diners Club. Amulets and goshuin are not part of the card payment, so keep some yen in cash for them.
Fees and payment →Two temples, two fees
Kinkaku-ji charges ¥500 for adults. Ginkaku-ji has charged ¥1,000 for adults and ¥500 for elementary and junior high school students since 1 April 2026. Budget for both if you visit both.
Gold and Silver Pavilion →Photos and drones
Small cameras for private snapshots are allowed. Publishing pictures, including on social media, commercial shoots, group photos, live video streams and drones are not allowed on the grounds.
Rules on the grounds →The bus can be full
City bus 205 runs direct from Kyoto Station, but on this long route it is often crowded and can run late. The alternative is the Karasuma subway line to Kitaoji and bus 204 or 205 from there.
Getting there →Kinkakuji is one stop on many Kyoto itineraries. The red torii gates of Fushimi Inari and the bamboo grove of Arashiyama have their own guides.
Kinkakuji: frequently asked questions
How much does Kinkakuji cost?
The regular fee in 2026 is ¥500 for adults including high school students and ¥300 for elementary and junior high school students. There are no group discounts. Plan with up to ¥600 per adult in case the rate has changed by the time you visit. Details are on the entry fee page.
What are the opening hours?
Kinkakuji is open every day from 9:00 to 17:00, all year, without a regular closing day. Special openings can have other times and fees, so check close to your date.
Do I need a tour to visit Kinkakuji?
No. You can pay at the gate and walk the garden route yourself. A tour adds a guide, often the admission and, on day tours, the transport to other sights. See Kinkakuji tours.
Can you go inside the Golden Pavilion?
Plan your visit as a walk through the garden: the regular visit shows the pavilion from the paths around the pond. Do not book a tour expecting a walk through the building. The pavilion page explains the three floors.
How long do I need?
Plan about 40 minutes for the visit itself. Add the bus ride of about 40 minutes from Kyoto Station and the walk from the bus stop.
Is kinkakuji.org the official website of the temple?
No. This is an independent travel guide. It is not run by Rokuon-ji, Shokoku-ji, the City of Kyoto or any tour operator.