Kinkakuji was built by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu 600 years ago and later converted into a Zen monastary after his death. How a zen monk can focus on the meaning of nothing with a huge, gold foiled building sitting in front of him is beyond me.

I have lived in Kyoto for quite a while and have only this to say to travellers there, welcome and enjoy it. ...

Kinkakuji is oft portrayed in pictures of Japan, but it is the least representative temple there is. The golden color is too bright and the temple is relatively old, having been burnt to the ground by a young priest about 59 years ago. The only reason I go to Kinkakuji is for the garden. Note the large, leaning tree on the island in the lake, ...