Visiting route
Which way do you walk through Kinkakuji?
The path runs from the entrance to a separate exit: in through the gates, along the pond to the Golden Pavilion, behind it and up the hill, and out past Fudo-do. It is about 560 m from the Main Gate to Fudo-do, and about 1.0 km from Kuramaguchi-dori and back to it.
Distances are our calculation along the paths on OpenStreetMap (30 October 2026), not measured on foot. The temple doesn't publish a walking time and we haven't timed it, so we don't give one.
20 spots
The first gate on the approach from Kuramaguchi-dori. The ticket counter is a short walk further in.
The bell is said to date from the Kamakura period and to have come from the Saionji family, who had a villa here before Kinkakuji.
A building in the Zen style, thought to date from 1492–1504.
A giant evergreen oak, rare around Kyoto. A Kyoto City natural monument since 1983.
A gate in the Chinese style (kara-mon).
A memorial to the Heian-period monk Jozo (891–964). Visiting it is said to help wishes come true.
Kyoko-chi, the Mirror Pond (about 6,600 m²), with Ashihara Island and other islands and named rocks. The pavilion stands on its edge.
Three floors in three styles; the upper two are covered in gold leaf on lacquer, with a phoenix on the roof. Regilded in 1987.
The abbot's hall. The Rikushu Pine grows on its north side.
A pine trained into the shape of a boat, said to have been planted by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu.
A small shrine north of the pavilion to Kasuga Myojin, the temple's guardian deity.
Yoshimitsu is said to have drawn water for tea from this spring, which still flows.
Water that Yoshimitsu is said to have used to wash his hands.
A small stone bridge with low bamboo fences on both sides, the model for the 'Kinkakuji-gaki' style of fence.
A 2.3 m waterfall with the 'carp stone' at its foot, after the legend of a carp that climbs a waterfall and becomes a dragon.
A small pond in the woods, up a few steps. It never dried up in droughts and was used to pray for rain.
A five-ringed stone pagoda on the islet in Anmintaku.
An Edo-period tea house up the hill path, named for the view of the pavilion in the evening sun. Restored in 1997.
Temple stamps (goshuin) and amulets, near the end of the route. Card payment covers admission only, not goshuin or amulets.
Houses a stone Fudo Myo-o said to be by Kobo Daishi, a hidden image shown on 3 February (Setsubun) and 16 August. The exit is just beyond.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, map images © CARTO. Numbers are the temple's own and match our map of Kinkakuji.
The route, stretch by stretch
- 01
From Kuramaguchi-dori to the Main Gate
About 210 m
Leave the street by the taxi stand and walk in along the approach.
1. Main Gate (Somon)
- 02
Bell tower, ticket counter and entrance gate
About 130 m
Pay at the ticket counter (adults ¥500, cash or card) and go through the entrance gate. The Kuri, the old oak and the Karamon gate stand close to the path.
2. Bell Tower (Shoro) · 3. Kuri (temple quarters) · 4. Ichiigashi oak · 5. Chinese-style Gate (Karamon) · 6. Jozokisho Tomb
- 03
Kyoko-chi Pond and the Golden Pavilion
About 110 m
The path follows the pond with the pavilion across the water, then passes close to it. The Hojo and its Rikushu Pine are beside this stretch, although the temple numbers them after the pavilion.
7. Ashihara Island and Kyoko-chi Pond · 8. Golden Pavilion (Shariden) · 9. Hojo (Main Hall) · 10. Rikushu Pine
- 04
Behind the pavilion
About 150 m
Past the Shin-un shrine to the two springs, the Ryumon Falls and the Kokei Bridge.
11. Shin-un shrine · 12. Ginga-sen Spring · 13. Ganka-sui · 14. Kinkakuji fence and Kokei Bridge · 15. Ryumon Falls
- 05
Up the steps to Anmintaku and Sekkatei
About 100 m
Steps and a hill path lead up past the Anmintaku pond to the Sekkatei tea house. Wheelchair and stroller users turn back to the entrance at the pavilion, before the steps (official FAQ).
16. Anmintaku Pond · 17. White Snake Mound · 18. Sekkatei tea house
- 06
Fudo-do and the way out
About 70 m
The goshuin office and Fudo-do are the last stops. From there the path goes back down to Kuramaguchi-dori, about 260 m.
19. Goshuin office · 20. Fudo-do Hall
Before you start
- Gates are open 09:00–17:00. By our estimate the quietest hours are 09:00–10:00 and 16:00–17:00. When it's busy
- The temple has no lockers or luggage storage, so leave big bags at the station.
- After the pavilion there are steps. If steps are hard for you, the temple asks you to turn back to the entrance there; wheelchairs can be borrowed at the temple. Official FAQ
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