Kinkakuji is the popluar name for one of the main buildings of this temple, which is properly called Rokuonji. In the 1220’s it was the villa of Kintsune Saionji. Yoshimitsu, the 3rd Shogun of Ashikaga, abdicated the position in 1393. After three years he began to build Kitayamaden and he made a special effort to make it a breath-taking site. After Yoshimitsu’s death, Kitayamaden was made into a Zen temple in accordance with his will.

The main building Kinkaku, formally called Shariden is an elegant, harmonious building consiting of three types of architecture. The first floor is Shinden-zukuri - palace style, Second floor is in the style of Buke-zukuri or the style of the typical Samurai house, the third floor is Karayo – the Zen temple style.

The second and third floors are covered with gold-leaf on Japanese lacquer and a Chinese phoenix sits guard on the roof.