One of the most widely known temples in Kyoto, Kinkakuji was built in the late 14th century by Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu to serve as his retirement villa until his death in 1408 when it was turned into a temple complex for the Rinzai Zen sect in accordance with his will. Built to mirror temples of the Imperial Court in Kyoto and to display the lavish wealth of the Ashikaga Shogunate who established the Muromachi Period (1392-1573) in Kyoto, the main hall of the complex is three stories tall with a public reception on the first floor, a private prayer room on the second, and a reflective villa room on the third floor. The main hall has burned down several times including twice during the Onin Wars of the Muromachi Period and as recently as 1950 when a monk accidentally set it on fire then unsuccessfully attempted suicide. The current building was constructed in 1955. Though gold is one of the most valued metals in modern society, traditionally in East Asia, gold was second to silver. And yes, the building is covered inside and out in gold leaf.

For the casual: 10. For the educated: 9.

A warning, Kinkakuji is one of the most famous sites in Kyoto and will be busy when you visit. To beat the crowds, go as early as you can or go in the colder seasons, although the pond and park do still draw massive crowds despite the time of year. So my tip of advice, go because there's no other like it, and try to be patient. The rest of the complex is just as beautiful even though it's not covered in gold, so keep your eyes open and find the beauty in the micromanagement of the temple grounds.

Some of you educated readers may be wondering why I actually gave this temple a 9 instead of a 10, and the reason really comes with the level of tourism. Kinkakuji is naturally a major tourist attraction and anything that becomes that popular will cater towards those sorts of crowds. There is no reason why you shouldn't go, but I felt that there were more interested in temples in the Kyoto area that are just as visually amazing, have a richer history, and yet are not as crowd heavy as Kinkakuji.