The Kinkaku-ji complex, situated on the edge of Kyoto, consists of a Zen Temple with a Golden Pavilion and pond garden and is a must-see for visitors to Japan's ancient capital.

The original Golden Pavillion was built as a retirement home by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu in the late 1300s. At the time of his death he willed the estate be turned into a Zen Temple. 

The current pavillion was rebuilt in 1955 after the original was destroyed by fire in 1950. The only piece to survive the fire is the Golden Phoenix sitting on the roof apex, it was off site being repaired at the time. 

The pavilion, which is covered in gold leaf, is quite stunning and worth visiting the gardens for this alone.

The garden here is also one of the most famous in Japan, being designed during the Muromachi Period (1333-1573) which was a high point in garden design. 

It was based on the Paradise Gardens of the late Heian Period, with the garden arranged around a pond for visitors to a walk around and enjoy the different aspects from carefully created viewpoints. Unfortunately, because of the popularity of the garden, visitors can only walk half way around the pond these days.

From the main pond of Kyoko-chi the path passes up the hill where the temple can then be admired from above the trees. At the top of the hill is a Tea House (no longer serving tea) before a long flight of steps down towards the car park.

The designers have incorporated 'borrowed views' of Mount Kinugasa giving a depth to the views of the garden they have created. Within, garden focal points have been placed to give additional interest giving the garden a sense of being much larger than it is.

Behind the Golden Pavillion is a dock where small boats would have been moored ready to take guests for a trip around the Pond. Guests would be able to appreciate the 10 small islands in the lake with the largest island representing Japan; and they would also have been able to see the parts of the garden created to reflect scenes from literature.

In the lake close to the Pavilion are four stones in a line which represent sail boats anchored on their way to the Isle of Eternal Life from a Chinese myth.

Be sure to check out the waterfall with a fish-shaped boulder placed under it to symbolize a carp swimming upstream, and the pond above with a stone pagoda situated on a small island dedicated to Benzaiten, the lucky goddess of music and artistic skill.

The path takes visitors from the pond past the living quarters of the current priest to the smaller Anmintaku Pond where visitors toss coins towards the statues for good luck.

Before leaving the complex visitors pass the Sekkatei Tea House built later during the Edo period (1600-1868)

Outside the temple are stalls selling whipped green tea - this is a delicacy and not to be missed.

This is one of Japan's busiest tourist garden sites so choosing your time of visit could be important.  At peak times it can be difficult to move freely around through the throngs of camera wielding tourists.

As a gardens it is of greater academic interest than that of the everyday aesthetic interest. But the Golden Pavilion itself is quite stunning and well worth a visit for that alone if you find yourself in Kyoto.