Kinkaku-ji in Japanese — 金閣寺
Kinkaku-ji is a Buddhist temple in Kita-ku, Kyoto Prefecture. Written in Japanese it is 金閣寺, read きんかくじ. Below is everything you need to get a taxi there: the characters to show, the reading, and a card you can print or keep on your phone.
Kanji
金閣寺
| Kana | きんかくじ |
|---|---|
| Romaji | Kinkakuji |
| English | Kinkaku-ji |
| Category | Buddhist temples |
| Location | Kita-ku, Kyoto Prefecture 北区 |
How to ask for it in a taxi
- Show the driver: 金閣寺
- Then point and say: ここまでお願いします (koko made onegai shimasu) — "please take me here".
- If asked which area: 北区, 京都府.
- On arrival: 領収書をください (ryōshūsho o kudasai) — "please give me a receipt".
Temple names are read in ways that surprise even Japanese speakers, and the same characters can be read two different ways in two different cities. Handing over the kanji removes the guesswork; the reading on this page is the local one.
Nearby places of the same kind
- 龍安寺 — Ryōan-ji, Ukyō Ward
- 高山寺 — Kōzan-ji Temple, Ukyō Ward
- 天龍寺 — Tenryū-ji, Ukyō Ward
- 西本願寺 — Nishi Hongan-ji, Shimogyō-ku
- 建仁寺 — Kennin-ji Temple, Higashiyama-ku
Frequently asked questions
How do you read 金閣寺?
金閣寺 is read きんかくじ, romanised Kinkakuji. English-language sources usually write it Kinkaku-ji. The kanji is what a taxi driver reads; the reading is only there so you know what you are handing over.
How do I show Kinkaku-ji to a taxi driver in Japan?
Do not try to pronounce it. Show the driver the Japanese characters 金閣寺 together with the sentence ここまでお願いします ("please take me here"). Use the button on this page to build a card with both, then save it to your phone or print it — it works with no mobile signal.
Do I also need the address for Kinkaku-ji?
For a well-known Buddhist temple the name is usually enough, but adding 住所 (the address) removes all doubt, especially where several places share a name. This Buddhist temple is in Kita-ku, Kyoto Prefecture; open the map link on this page to copy the exact address before you travel.