Kinkaku-ji hours and prices at a glance
Kinkaku-ji hours are simple: the temple is open daily from 9:00 to 17:00, all year round, without a regular closing day. 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. Special openings can have different times and fees.
You buy your ticket at the gate on the day. If you would rather have the admission sorted and a guide to explain the garden, Kinkaku-ji guided tours with admission start at the temple and last about 90 minutes or longer.
Kinkaku-ji price in 2026
The regular rate for a garden visit.
| Visitor | Entry fee (2026) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Adults, including high school students | ¥500 | Plan with up to ¥600 in case the rate changes |
| Elementary and junior high school students | ¥300 | – |
| Groups | No discount | Same rate per person |
| Holders of a disability certificate | Reduced | Show the original card at the gate |
| Special openings | Separate fee | Times and prices announced for each event |
The ¥500 Kinkaku-ji price covers the regular route through the garden, with views of the pavilion across the Kyoko-chi pond and the path with stairs beyond it. If you hold a disability or rehabilitation certificate, show the original at the gate; there is also a procedure by return postcard in advance. For any other reduction, ask at the gate before you pay.
How to pay: cards at the gate since September 2026
The entrance is no longer cash only.
Since 28 September 2026 the visitor entrance accepts payment with Omairi Pay, a card service that works without an app. It takes Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express and Diners Club.
Card payment covers the entry fee only. Amulets and goshuin, the temple seal written into a stamp book, are not part of it. If you want either, keep some yen in cash.
Kinkaku-ji tickets online
A regular visit needs no booking: you buy your ticket at the gate and pay there. Tickets sold online are usually part of a tour, where the admission is bundled with a guide.
Our pick: a tour with two admissions included
Admission to Kinkaku-ji and Ninna-ji is already covered, so there is no ticket to buy on the day.
Hand-picked tours, booked through 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.
Kinkaku-ji tours with admission
Guided walks with the temple ticket included, and day tours from Kyoto Station that cover Kinkaku-ji with other sights.
Kinkaku-ji opening hours through the year
The regular hours are the same in every season: 9:00 to 17:00, every day. That includes busy periods such as the autumn leaves, which turn in mid to late November, and the turn of the year. Events and special openings can change the schedule on single days, so check close to your date.
Plan about 40 minutes for the visit itself, more if you stop for tea. Add the bus ride of about 40 minutes from Kyoto Station and the walk of about 10 minutes from the Kinkakuji-michi stop. The temple runs a live camera that refreshes about every 3 minutes, which gives you a sense of the crowd before you leave. More on seasons and crowds is on the best time to visit page.
Matcha with a Japanese sweet is sold on the grounds, at ¥500 as of January 2026.
Rules on the grounds
What the temple allows and what it does not.
Wheelchairs and strollers
The route is largely step-free up to the area beside the pavilion. After that come stairs, so wheelchair and stroller users return to the entrance from there. Wheelchairs can be borrowed as available, without reservation, and there is an accessible toilet.
Pets
Assistance dogs are allowed. Small dogs and cats must stay fully inside a cage or carry bag. Slings are not enough, and you may not take the animal out for a photo.
Photos and drones
Small cameras for private snapshots are fine. Publishing the photos, including on social media, commercial shoots, group photos, live video streams and drones are not allowed. Photographers for school trips can get a special permit.
Luggage and food
Leave large suitcases at your hotel, and eat before or after your visit rather than in the garden.
Getting there →Parking at the temple
The temple car park is open from 8:40 to 17:10 and has space for 250 cars. Cars pay ¥400 for the first 60 minutes, then ¥200 for every further 30 minutes. Minibuses and jumbo taxis pay ¥600 for the first hour, then ¥300 per half hour; coaches ¥1,300 and then ¥650; motorbikes ¥200 and then ¥100.
Entry fees nearby compared
If you combine Kinkaku-ji with other temples on the same day.
| Temple | Adults (2026) | Regular hours |
|---|---|---|
| Kinkaku-ji | ¥500 | 9:00 to 17:00 |
| Ginkaku-ji | ¥1,000 since 1 April 2026 | 8:30 to 17:00 (March to November), 9:00 to 16:30 (December to February) |
| Ryoan-ji | about ¥600, check on site | 8:00 to 17:00 (March to November), 8:30 to 16:30 (December to February) |
| Ninna-ji palace garden | ¥800 | 9:00 to 17:00 (March to November), 9:00 to 16:30 (December to February) |
For most visitors who want two temples in the northwest, Kinkaku-ji plus Ryoan-ji is the easiest pairing: about 18 minutes on foot along the Kinukake-no-michi and about ¥1,100 in fees for an adult. Details are on the Ryoan-ji and Ginkaku-ji pages.
Kinkaku-ji hours and entry fee: questions
How much is the entry fee at Kinkaku-ji?
In 2026 adults including high school students pay ¥500, elementary and junior high school students ¥300. There are no group discounts.
What time does Kinkaku-ji open and close?
9:00 to 17:00, every day of the year. Special openings can differ.
Can I pay by credit card?
Yes, since 28 September 2026: Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express and Diners Club through Omairi Pay at the visitor entrance. Amulets and goshuin are not covered.
Do I need to book Kinkaku-ji tickets in advance?
Not for a regular visit. You buy the ticket at the gate. Online tickets are usually part of a guided tour.
Is Kinkaku-ji wheelchair accessible?
Partly. The route is largely step-free to the area beside the pavilion, then stairs follow and you return to the entrance. Wheelchairs can be borrowed as available.