Beside Mt. Fuji, the most recognizable symbol of Japan has to be Kinkaku-ji ?????????, the Temple of the Golden Pavilion. No trip to Japan is complete without a visit to the site in Kyoto, attracting millions of tourists each year. Countless numbers of Twitter and Instagram profiles are adorned with a shot of this photogenic temple.
And yet, if you ask most Japanese people, they’ll say Ginkaku-ji, the Silver Pavilion, is far more beautiful.
Looking at the two photos, the beauty of the Golden Pavilion is clear. The Silver Pavilion? It looks plain. It’s not even silver.