Why the Golden Pavilion is special
The building in Kyoto, Japan sits on a serene pond, which reflects the beauty of the Golden Pavilion and forested backdrop. This creates one of the world’s loveliest settings.
Long before the camera was invented, the Golden Pavilion became a prized subject for Japanese artists. The resulting visual exposure lured countless Japanese from around the country to visit Kyoto to view the striking Golden Pavilion firsthand.

How the Golden Pavilion evolved
It was built in 1397 by the then ruling shogun. On his death, it became a Zen Buddhist temple.
Disaster struck in 1950. The Golden Pavilion was burned down to the foundation by an arsonist (a fledgling Buddhist priest).
The Japanese rebuilt the Golden Pavilion in 1955, faithfully following the original design. The major change was in significantly increasing the amount of gold leaf applied to the Golden Pavilion's exterior and interior.

What leading travel books say about the Golden Pavilion
The Golden Pavilion's ethereal beauty makes it one of the great buildings of all time.
Japan
Open Road Guides

Even the crowds can't diminish the impact of seeing the Golden Pavilion for the first time.
Japan
Rough Guides