Because the protagonist of Yukio Mishima's novel sees Kinkaku-ji as a symbol of eternal beauty, yet his own imperfect life makes him feel a mix of love, hatred, jealousy, and confinement toward this perfection, he ultimately decides to set Kinkaku-ji on fire to free his soul.
So I came to see it for myself:
At the center of the strolling garden surrounded by Kyokochi Pond, on a clear, windless day, you can capture the stunning reflection of the Golden Pavilion mirrored on the water.
Nearby is the Rikushu-no-Matsu pine: (a 600-year-old Japanese white pine said to have been planted by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu himself and pruned into the shape of a sailboat.)
It further enhances the dazzling Japanese garden aesthetic and is worth seeing.
