Our Last Day in Kyoto at Kinkaku-ji Temple and Gear Theatre

The beautiful Zen Buddhist temple of Kinkaku-ji in Kyoto was the second-last item on our must-see wishlist, and the only temple left to visit on our 4-day Kyoto trip. We had also planned to visit the famous non-verbal Theatre in Kyoto, GEAR, on our last evening, located in Kyoto's Downtown district.

In this blog, I'll give you tips about visiting the beautiful Kinkaku-ji Temple, about watching the riveting Gear non-verbal show and spending time in the Nishiki Marketplace in the heart of Downtown Kyoto.

Visiting Kinkaku-ji Temple

The World Heritage Site of Kinkaku-ji Temple is one of the 17 Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto, and a visit to this stunning temple reiterates its rightful place in this prestigious list.

Owing to its surreal beauty, the temple has also been named as a designated World Heritage Site and a National Special Historic Site.

Kinkaku-ji Temple, also called the Golden Pavilion, is built on the edge of a small pond called Kyoko-chi, or Mirror Pond. When the sun's rays hit the gold-leaf-covered exterior facade of the temple, it casts a luminous golden shadow in the mirror pond, creating a surreal effect.

What to Know before visiting Kinkaku-ji Temple, Kyoto

• Kinkaku-ji is located in the Kitayama District of Northern Kyoto.

• Access to the temple is easy. Close to the temple is the Kinkakuji-michi bus stop with direct connections from all over the city.

  
  

• The entry fee for Kinkaku-ji Temple is 500 yen for adults and 300 yen for children. Entry inside the temple is prohibited for all visitors. You can only walk around the pond with this ticket on a one-way path. So, take your time to see the temple and to take pictures.

  You will need about an hour to go around the temple on this short loop. There are some more smaller shrines along the path, a small marketplace and some eateries, too.

  
  

• Like most tourist spots in Japan, this temple also attracts hordes of visitors throughout the day. The best time to see it is early in the morning, so you can enjoy the serenity of this place.

An Evening at GEAR Non-Verbal Theatre in Kyoto

After spending a serene afternoon at the Kinkaku-ji Temple, we made our way to Kyoto Downtown for an evening that turned out to be just as memorable, this time at Gear Theatre.

The unassuming small space that Gear Theatre occupies in Downtown Kyoto can never prepare you for the complete sensory experience that awaits you inside.

The title of the 90-minute show is 'In the age of AI, what does it mean to be human?' Mime, Juggling, Magic, Acrobatics, Comedy, special effects executed to perfection and a human story that will leave you completely speechless!

The theatre is small, so there are no good or bad seats. We were provided with protective glasses to wear at the start of the show. We were still wondering what they could be for... until the show started...

We had booked our tickets way ahead, after reading such rave online reviews about the theatre, but I saw some people walking in to buy tickets on the spot. So, you can take your chances if you're not sure about making bookings beforehand.

Photography inside the theatre during the show is strictly prohibited. I made some videos for my personal use, but I'm obliged not to use them publicly.

I would not like to delve deeper into what we saw and experienced at the theatre because it might work as a spoiler, but if you have an evening available in Kyoto, then don't miss this show.

After watching this riveting show, we spent our last evening around the Nishiki Marketplace in Downtown Kyoto.

This is a great spot for sampling traditional Kyoto-style foods and picking up souvenirs. Like all touristy markets, it's crowded and a little more expensive, too. But go there to see the vibrant Kyoto vibe!

So, that was our last day in Kyoto. From there, we were headed to Odawara for our next Japan adventure...