By: Alex
Aside from bad weather, nothing dampens a traveler’s mood more than finding a popular attraction under repair and closed to the public. One Japanese netizen visited the famous Kinkaku-ji in Kyoto and just happened to arrive on the “big day” of its renovation—but they took it all in stride, going with the flow, and ended up having the following unusual experience:
Security guard: “Excuse me, guest... before you go in, I need to explain something...”
— PUNCHO (@Reflet_F_puncho) November 14, 2020
Netizen: “Huh?”
Guard: “Well, Kinkaku-ji is currently undergoing roof repairs, so it’s covered with cloth, just like in this photo...”
Netizen: “Ah, yes, I know.”
Guard: “There’s no special discount on the admission fee, though—it’s the regular price...”
Netizen: “That’s fine. I came to see this.” pic.twitter.com/cRk1zkytlW
- Security guard: “Excuse me, guest... before you go in, I need to explain something...”
- Netizen: “What’s up?”
- Guard: “Well, Kinkaku-ji is currently undergoing roof repairs, so it’s covered with cloth, just like in this photo...”
- Netizen: “Ah, yes, I know.”
- Guard: “But there’s no special discount on the ticket—the price is the same as usual.”
- Netizen: “That’s fine. I came to see this.”
There’s a commemorative photo board set up at the best photo spot, offering a rather stylish scene to enjoy.
— Puncho (@Reflet_F_puncho) November 15, 2020
Also, right now the autumn leaves are beautifully colored, which alone makes the admission fee worth it. So if you’re heading to Kyoto, do come by (of course, COVID-19 precautions are strictly in place). pic.twitter.com/dklSlr4fWL
— PUNCHO (@Reflet_F_puncho) November 15, 2020
The netizen @Reflet_F_puncho later casually snapped a few “I was here” photos and gave a brief description: at the “best photo spot,” there’s a painted board that lets visitors take commemorative shots—it’s quite fun. He also suggested that those planning to visit Kinkaku-ji should still go, as the maple leaves are stunningly red right now (even if you can’t see the Golden Pavilion itself). He probably never expected his tweet to cause such a huge stir on social media.
▲ The under-renovation Kinkaku-ji is completely covered by scaffolding. At the best photo spot, there’s a painted board for visitors to take commemorative photos. (Photo by Reflet_F_puncho @Twitter)
Many might think that seeing the once gleaming Kinkaku-ji completely shrouded in scaffolding is a total mood killer—and not even worth a glance. But apparently, some Japanese netizens have a different take. They find it refreshing and even rare to witness a famous site being covered in scaffolding, so many say they’d like to see it with their own eyes.
▲ Other netizens have also posted photos of Kinkaku-ji “under maintenance.” (Photo by u_n_0wen @Twitter)
▲ The autumn leaves around Kinkaku-ji are very beautiful during this period. (Photo by Venusblaze2 @Twitter)
Meanwhile, netizens have also been sharing photos of other tourist sites undergoing renovations—including Hiroshima’s Itsukushima Shrine torii gate, which is also being repaired. The iconic seaside gate is now replaced by scaffolding, giving off a really unique vibe. Moreover, when major architectural landmarks undergo maintenance in Japan, workers often paint designs on the scaffolding so visitors can still catch a glimpse of the structure—allowing travelers who’ve come from afar to at least get a “glimpse” of the site.
▲ In addition to Kinkaku-ji, the Twitter user also photographed the sea torii gate under maintenance. (Photo by Reflet_F_puncho @Twitter)
▲ Hiroshima’s Itsukushima Shrine torii gate (Photo by Suraimuuu0 @Twitter)
▲ The Matsuyama Dogo Onsen in Ehime Prefecture features meticulously designed scaffolding. (Photo by hibarin_yanagi @Twitter)
▲The area is also illuminated with lights at night. (photo by niihamataik @Twitter)
▲Some netizens mentioned that they specifically went to Kiyomizu-dera two years ago to see its renovation. (photo by viewing_mikka @Twitter)
▲"Kiyomizu-dera at night looks like a fortress." (photo by PoweredBenjamin @Twitter)
▲Aso Shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture. During renovation, the entire appearance of the shrine was painted on the scaffolding. (photo by itayebi @Twitter)
▲In January 2018, the main hall of Nikko Rinno-ji Temple in Tochigi was under renovation. (photo by allmendstr @Twitter)
▲Suwa Taisha in Nagano Prefecture (photo by AohataM @Twitter)
▲Other buildings undergoing renovation have also become subjects for photography. This photo shows Cinderella Castle at Tokyo Disneyland. (photo by junst202 @Twitter)
▲Sapporo Clock Tower in Hokkaido (photo by Tattu1102 @Twitter)
▲The Astronomical Clock Tower in Prague’s Old Town Square, Czech Republic (photo by tomo_UVER @Twitter)
▲A netizen posted this photo: Victoria Harbour was covered in thick fog, so visitors couldn’t take real photos and had to take pictures of the backdrop instead. (photo by examplex @Twitter)
Source: @Reflet_F_puncho