Kinkaku-ji
Kyoto, Japan
Kinkaku-ji, also known as the Golden Pavilion, is a famous Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan. Its top two stories are covered in brilliant gold leaf, creating a stunning reflection on the surrounding pond. Surrounded by beautifully maintained gardens, the temple represents harmony between nature and architecture. Kinkaku-ji was originally built in 1397 as a retirement villa for the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu and later converted into a Zen temple.