This post is also available in: French
Kinkaku-Ji, the Golden Pavilion, is without doubt the temple I remember most from my real first visit to Kyoto in 1979. It was in the Summer and it was very hot and very humid. I was traveling around Kyoto with a young Japanese singer who wanted to practice his French as much as possible. This had been an incredible opportunity for both of us and I still have a great souvenir about it.
Kinkaku-Ji was so beautiful, even with this nonstop flow of visitors, and the buses full of young students in uniform coming from all over Japan.
At this time, I had just finished reading the book by Mishima, and here I was, in front of the Golden Pavilion.
Since then, I’ve seen it several times, and each time I am amazed by the view. Kinkaku-ji’s golden reflection on the surface of the pond before it. This splendor is at its best when the pavilion is covered in snow.
The day before leaving Kyoto, I managed to arrive at the temple just at the opening. The weather was perfect, the atmosphere very clear, and with a beautiful light and very few people, I took what I think are my best pictures of the pavilion.
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