Incredible temple that's two floors of solid gold in one of world's best cities

One of the world's few solid gold buildings spans two floors and is located in one of the world's best cities for tourists in a famously . It is rare to see a building completely made of gold but it turns out there are a few examples of just that across the globe. One of them is located in , a country loved by tourists from around the world for its culturally-rich experiences and friendly people.

The Golden Pavillion is located in Deer Park in north , an area known for its historic sites. Officially named Rokuon-ji, it is a Zen Buddhist temple as well as a tourist attractions and is covered in gold leaf, making it one of the most unique buildings in the world. This breathtaking pavilion was originally a holiday villa for Ashikaga Yoshimitsu and was built all the way back in 1394. After his death in 1408, it became a Buddhist temple and remains as that to this day, hundreds of years later.

While the building itself is more than impressive, it is surrounded by beautiful Japanese gardens. Part of the pavilion is built over a pond where you can see gorgeous reflections of the building.

While the temple dates back to the 1300s, it was actually burned down when a monk attempted suicide in 1955. However, it was quickly restored.

The gold leaf feature is said to be a reflection of what is housed inside the temple, the shrines. Visitors can experience the of this place when they book a tour, which costs 500 Yen (just £2.66). Previous visitors have praised this attractions as a must-do Kyoto experience.

One reviewer wrote on Tripadvisor: "This one [temple] offers an opportunity to bang the oversized bell for 200 yen. My husband took advantage of this offer and it was a fun experience. It's a nice walk around the lake and past the golden temple."

Another said: "It is one of the most beautiful places in Japan because besides the history it carries has a whole landscape architecture that results in a beautiful and perfect space to calm down, to think and relax."

A third wrote: "This temple is unique among temples in Kyoto and should be seen. The moment it comes into my eye, oh!"

Kyoto, and Japan in general, is considered one of the friendliest places in the world for tourists. Just this year, in the world.

Japan receives a huge amount of tourists every year and in 2024, it welcomed 36.87 million international visitors, according to Statista. Other regions of the country that visitors flock to include , and Yokohama.

In Kyoto, the golden temple is ranked as the second-best thing to do in the city. Ranked at number one is Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine, one of many of its kind in Japan and originally built to honour Inari, the Shinto god of rice.

The other high-ranking things to do in Kyoto include Kiyomizu-dera Temple, the town of Arashiyama and the Samurai Ninja Museum.