Japan 2012 - Kinkaku-ji Temple Kyoto

Kinkaku-ji Temple is in the North-Western part of Kyoto City. The easiest way to get there is by bus, which will drop you off right at the entrance to the complex.

Kinkaku-ji Temple (Temple of the Golden Pavilion) is one of the most beautiful sights in Kyoto - with one caveat! You have to go at the right time when the weather is perfect and the air is perfectly still - and the lake that surrounds the Golden Pavilion becomes the perfect mirror that reflects the beautiful structure - presenting you with the perfect vision of the pavilion. Unfortunately, when I went there I was caught in a drizzle. The sky was grey, and the surface of the lake was broken by the raindrops. But still, the Pavilion looks resplendent as if to defy the elements. It is truly an unforgettable sight.

Kikaku-ji is not just about the Pavilion. The surrounding garden plays an integral part in creating the overall aesthetic appeal of the complex. This was built during the golden age of Japanese culture - the Muromachi period. Inside the garden are mini shrines where visitors thrown coins as offerings - hoping to make their wishes come true. I threw some coins to make sure I would return to Kyoto soon.