By: Alex
Apart from the weather, the most frustrating thing for travel enthusiasts is encountering site maintenance and temporary closures. One Japanese netizen visited the famous Kyoto attraction Kinkaku-ji and just happened to run into the “big day” of its renovation—but they took it very “in stride,” going with the flow, and had the following unusual experience:
Security guard: “Excuse me, customer, before you enter, I need to explain something…”
— Puncho (@Reflet_F_puncho) November 14, 2020
?? “Yes?”
Guard: “Regarding Kinkaku-ji, the roof is currently under repair and covered with cloth, as shown in this photo…”
?? “Ah, yes, I know.”
Guard: “The admission fee remains the same, with no special discounts or reductions…”
?? “That’s fine. I came to see this.” pic.twitter.com/cRk1zkytlW
- Security guard: “Sorry, I have to let you know before you go in…”
- Netizen: “What is it?”
- Security guard: “Kinkaku-ji is currently undergoing restoration, and the entire structure is covered with cloth, just like in this photo…”
- Netizen: “Ah, I know.”
- Security guard: “But there’s no special discount on the ticket, it’s the regular price.”
- Netizen: “It’s okay. That’s what I came to see.”
There are photo boards for souvenir shots, offering some pretty stylish views.
— Puncho (@Reflet_F_puncho) November 15, 2020
Also, right now the autumn leaves are beautifully colored, so you can still get your money’s worth even without seeing the main hall—so if you’re heading to Kyoto, do come by
(Of course, COVID precautions are strictly in place) pic.twitter.com/dklSlr4fWL
The netizen @Reflet_F_puncho later casually snapped a few “I was here” photos and gave a brief introduction. At the “best photo spot,” there’s a painted board allowing visitors to take commemorative shots, which is quite amusing. They also suggested that those planning to visit Kinkaku-ji should go now, as the maple leaves are stunningly red and still worth paying the entrance fee—even if you can’t see the main pavilion. They probably never expected their tweet to generate such a huge response on social media.
▲ The under-renovation Kinkaku-ji is completely covered by scaffolding. A painted board at the “best photo spot” allows visitors to take souvenir pictures. (Photo by Reflet_F_puncho @Twitter)
Many might think that the originally gleaming Kinkaku-ji, now entirely shrouded in scaffolding, is quite a sight-killer, not even worth a glance. But apparently, Japanese netizens have a different perspective. They find it refreshing and even rare to witness a famous site wrapped in scaffolding, leading many to say they want 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)
On the other hand, netizens have also been sharing photos of tourist spots undergoing maintenance, including Hiroshima’s Itsukushima Shrine torii gate, which is also being repaired. The normally sea-standing grand torii has now become a scaffold structure, which feels truly unique. Moreover, when many iconic buildings are under repair, the Japanese often paint designs on the scaffolding, allowing visitors to still catch a glimpse of the structure’s form—giving travelers at least a “momentary encounter.”
▲ In addition to Kinkaku-ji, the tweet author also captured photos of the sea torii gate under maintenance. (Photo by Reflet_F_puncho @Twitter)
▲ Hiroshima’s Itsukushima Shrine torii gate (Photo by Suraimuuu0 @Twitter)
▲ Matsuyama Dogo Onsen in Ehime Prefecture, where the scaffold design is meticulously detailed. (Photo by hibarin_yanagi @Twitter)
▲The structure 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 of photography. This photo shows Cinderella Castle at Tokyo Disneyland. (photo by junst202 @Twitter)
▲The 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, making it impossible for tourists to capture the real view, so they took pictures of the backdrop instead. (photo by examplex @Twitter)
Source: @Reflet_F_puncho