The Golden Pavillion is a Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan. The garden complex is an excellent example of Muromachi period garden design. The Muromachi period is considered to be a classical age of Japanese garden design. The elegant, harmonious building consists of three types of architecture. The 1st floor is Shinden-zukuri, the palace style. It is named Ho-sui-in. The 2nd floor is Buke-zukuri, the style of the samurai house and is called Cho-on-do. The 3rd floor is Karayo style or Zen temple style. It is called Kukkyo-cho. Both the 2nd and 3rd floors are covered with gold-leaf on Japanese lacquer. The roof, upon which the Chinese phoenix settles, is thatched with shingles. Kyoto is the cultural center of Japan. The vast number of world heritage sites, shrines, temples, palaces, and cultural facilities are easily accessible from Citadines Karasuma-Gojo Kyoto. Shopping, restaurants and entertainment venues are also close by to the residence and the business district is a convenient 10 minute walk. This luxury Kyoto apartment offers elegantly and stylishly appointed apartments, with a range of modern amenities and facilities.
The pavilion and the pond on which it stands were designed to resemble the image of the Seven Treasure Pond in scenes of the Buddhist Paradise. The pond is even filled with lotus plants, symbolizing the flower of truth rising from the mud of the mundane world. Also placed in the pond are several stones and islands, representing the eight oceans and nine mountains of the Buddhist creation story. The name of the pond is Kyōko-chi (Mirror Pond). The pond contains many large and small islands. Climbing a few steps, you stand on the edge of another small pond, An-min-taku. The small stone pagoda on the island is called Hakuja-no-tsuka. The classic teahouse is called Sekka-tei. Inside, the teahouse is quite modest but contains a celebrated, crooked pillar supporting the alcove. The pillar is made from the wood of the nandin, a very slow-growing tree, so that to reach this size is very rare.
Shehera Fioni is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Catalina Forbes. Her content is based on many thrilling escapades offered to travellers across the world. Google+
