There are hundreds of temples in Kyoto, big and small, but the real showpiece is of course the Golden Temple in the north-west of the city. Built as the villa of a shogun, it became a temple after his death. It's made of wood covered with real gold leaf, all together several kilograms of the precious metal. It's one of the most popular sightseeing spots in Kyoto and it's usually photographed from across the large pond in front of it so it reflects in the water. Apart from the fact that it's famous and golden, it's also one of the most elegant buildings of that period.