Kyoto 京都 - Kinkaku-ji 金閣寺,

So looking for an escape for the day from Tokyo. How about heading to Kyoto 京都.

What..too far you say...not at all. In less than 3 hours via Shinkansen 新幹線(bullet train) you'll be in Kyoto and able to explore and enjoy all that this great city and former capital has to offer.

Kinkaku-ji 金閣寺 or the Temple of the Golden Pavilion to you and me, was originally constructed in the late 1300's for the use of Shogun Ahikaga as a villa. This villa was converted to a temple later on by his son Yoshimochi.

The temple that we currently see today is not the original, as that was burned down, rebuilt and burned down again.

The most famous episode of burning down the temple was in 1950 and this event was immortalized in a fictional account of events in Yukio Misima's famous book The Temple of the Golden Pavilion. For those who have not yet had the chance to read this incredible book, it relays the tale of a monk, Hayashi Yoken, who burned down the temple while he attempts to commit suicide.

The Golden Pavilion is a three-story building on the grounds of the Rokuon-ji temple complex and is set amidst a superb Japanese strolling garden (kaiyū-shiki). The pond in front of it is called Kyōko-chi (Mirror Pond). As you can see in my photo, the image of the temple is reflected wonderfully in the waters of the pond. Certainly on a sunny blue sky day your pictures will be out of control and will wow your friends and family.

There are many islands and stones on the pond that represent the Buddhist creation story.

My next few posts will cover other spots in Kyoto well worth your time. So book that train ticket now and head west.

All the best...Mark