Sight Kitayama, Kyoto
Kinkaku-ji
A sight in Kitayama, Kyoto, budget-friendly ($) and worth about 45 minutes. Best time to go: Opening time.
Why go
Gold-leaf-covered pavilion reflected in a pond, Kyoto's most photographed temple.
It is one of 10 curated places we feature in Kyoto, alongside 3 sights, 2 bars & cafés and 2 places to eat. The closest of our other picks is Nishiki Market, 5.0 km away as the crow flies. At about 45 minutes, it slots neatly between bigger plans.
- Type
- Sight · Culture
- Neighborhood
- Kitayama
- Price
- $
- Time needed
- 45 min
- Best time
- Opening time
Nearby
The 6 closest curated picks in Kyoto, measured as straight-line distance.
- 1Nishiki Market
Covered five-block food market for pickles, tamagoyaki, tofu and knives.
Food · 5.0 km straight-line - 2Pontocho Alley
Narrow lantern-lit lane of restaurants and bars along the Kamo River.
Drinks · 5.5 km straight-line - 3Hanamikoji Street
Gion's main lane of wooden teahouses where geiko and maiko are sometimes seen at dusk.
Sight · 5.6 km straight-line - 4Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
Path through towering bamboo stalks in western Kyoto's Sagano district.
Outdoors · 5.8 km straight-line - 5Omen Ginkakuji
Long-running udon restaurant serving thick noodles with seasonal vegetables to add yourself.
Food · 6.2 km straight-line - 6Philosopher's Path
Canal-side walk lined with cherry trees between Ginkaku-ji and Nanzen-ji.
Outdoors · 6.2 km straight-line
On these curated routes
Kinkaku-ji is a stop on our Japan Golden Route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.
More sights to see in Kyoto
2 more curated sights in Kyoto. See the full Kyoto guide.
When to go
Average daily highs in Kyoto run from 7°C in January to 31°C in August; July is usually the wettest month. For Kinkaku-ji itself, we suggest: Opening time.
Modelled monthly averages for Kyoto from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Kyoto weather by month.
Getting there
Map links open a live search for Kinkaku-ji, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.
- Address
- 1 Kinkakujichō, Kita Ward, Kyoto, 603-8361, Japan
- Coordinates
- 35.03937, 135.72924
- Destination
- Kyoto, Japan
Kinkaku-ji: quick answers
How much time do you need at Kinkaku-ji?
Plan on about 45 minutes at Kinkaku-ji. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.
When is the best time to visit Kinkaku-ji?
Our pick: Opening time.
Where is Kinkaku-ji?
Kinkaku-ji is at 1 Kinkakujichō, Kita Ward, Kyoto, 603-8361, Japan, in Kitayama. The Google Maps and Apple Maps links on this page open it for directions.
Which TripsCircle routes include Kinkaku-ji?
Kinkaku-ji appears on Japan Golden Route, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.
Add Kinkaku-ji to your crew's plan
Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Kyoto.
Plan Kyoto
- Kyoto travel guide 10 places
- Best time to visit Kyoto weather by month
- Kyoto to Osaka 43 km straight-line
- Tokyo to Kyoto 360 km straight-line
Lists & regions
Also in Kyoto
- Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum Drinks
Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.