Kinkaku-Ji--The Golden Temple

I guess you can tell why this is called the Golden Temple. It was built in 1937. This little gem is located in the northwest part of Kyoto. I love the reflection pond in front of it.





It was originally built as a retirement home for a shogun. Later, his son converted it into a temple. In 1950 it was burned down by a young monk. The story goes that the monk was mentally deranged and obsessed with the temple's beauty. One of Japan's greatest fiction writers, Mishima Yukio, wrote about this monk's story in "The Temple of the Golden Pavilion." I just happen to be reading it now...

The temple was rebuilt in 1955 and supposedly is exactly the same as the original, with the exception of more gold leafing on the lower floors.

Reena and I did our best to reenact the Japanese school-girl picture pose. You've got to have the peace sign, a subtle or no smile, and a slight tilt of the head. I think Reena mastered it, I'm still practicing...

Some of those lovely fall colors around Kinkaku-Ji.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinkaku-ji