Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion — Zen Temple Wrapped in Gold

Kinkaku-ji (金閣寺, 'Temple of the Golden Pavilion') is a three-story Zen Buddhist temple covered in pure gold leaf, reflecting perfectly in the Mirror Pond (Kyōko-chi) that surrounds it. Originally built in 1397 as a retirement villa for Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, it was converted to a Zen temple after his death. The current structure dates to 1955 after the original was burned by a monk in 1950.

Each floor represents a different architectural style: Shinden-zukuri (aristocratic palace) on the first floor, samurai-house style on the second, and Zen temple style on the third. The golden reflection on the pond creates Kyoto's most photographed image.