🗺️ Kinkaku-ji (Rokuon-ji)

The predecessor of Kinkaku-ji was the residence "Hokuzan-den" of Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, the third shogun of the Muromachi shogunate. It was named Rokuon-ji after Yoshimitsu's posthumous name and became a sub-temple (or auxiliary temple, referring to a hermitage built outside the main temple after retirement) of the Shokoku-ji temple that he founded. Upon entering the main gate, one can see the bell tower with its bronze bell, which dates back to the Kamakura period and is tuned to the "hōgaku" scale (similar to the note LA in Western music). The name Kinkaku-ji comes from the shariden (reliquary hall) that is decorated with gold leaf in front of the pond. The roof, made of thin boards of Japanese cypress stacked in layers, is adorned with pure gold leaf on the second and third levels, showcasing the splendid glory of Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. Kinkaku-ji was burned down due to arson in Showa 25 (1950) and was rebuilt in Showa 30 (1955). During the restoration in the Meiji era, it was reconstructed almost exactly according to preserved blueprints and detailed information. Walking further from the bell tower, one can find the tea house "Yōkatei," built by Hōrin Shōjō during the Edo period, and the "Fudō-dō," constructed by Ukita Hideie during the Azuchi-Momoyama period.

The Hall of Relics and the pond each have their own unique charm in every season. The direction for worship is a one-way route, and once you enter, you cannot turn back. The "Galaxy Spring" on the side of the Hall of Relics is the clear water used by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu for tea preparation. The boat-shaped "Pine of Land Boat" is a pine tree transplanted from Ashikaga Yoshimitsu's bonsai.