Today we’re putting the MOC spotlight on this Kinkakuji Temple by Edwin Knight (Instagram/Flickr). Known as the Golden Pavilion, Kinkaku-ji is a Zen temple in northern Kyoto, Japan whose top two floors are completely covered in gold leaf. It is quite a breathtaking sight and is one of the most famous destinations in Japan. It is also one of the 17 UNESCO Heritage Sites in Kyoto.

Kinkaku-ji Temple, located in Kyoto, Japan, is one of many UNESCO Heritage Sites in Kyoto. (Image via Wikipedia.)

Given its popularity, it’s no wonder that it has been depicted in LEGO several times. One of the more famous models is the LEGO pop-up Kinkakuji by Talapz (which is absolutely mind-boggling). Alanboar HK likewise built a beautiful model for Brick Adventure 2011.

This latest model by Edwin has many charming golden features that really set it apart from previous versions. We appreciate its many details, especially considering the difficulty in sourcing gold parts! We had a quick chat with Edwin to ask a few questions about his build.

Edwin Knight’s version of the famous Kinkaku-ji Temple.

Inez: Hi Edwin! Before I ask you about Kinkaku-ji, could you tell us a little bit about yourself and your LEGO journey?

Edwin: I am a New Zealander living in Japan. I moved here about 14 years ago. Prior to living here, I had an online store selling rare/secondhand LEGO and original custom sets, so I had a link to the community here before coming here. Now I run Kansai LEGO User Group and Japan Brickfest Kobe Fan Weekend.

Edwin at Ryan McNaught’s “Brickman Experience” in Auckland, New Zealand.

Inez: Why did you choose to make a model of the Kinkakuji Temple?

Edwin: I made it for a MOC competition. The competition theme was Shiritori, which is a Japanese word game. One person says a word and the next person must say a word starting with the last letter of the previous word… and so on. So it was really by chance I had the opportunity to make this model.

A fishing deck is attached to the building, as can be seen here.

Inez: Do you know how many parts you used? Oe how many gold parts you used?

Edwin: More than five, sorry I really have no idea… but I only used several types of gold pieces, mostly plates or tiles.

Inez: I like how you were able to use tiles for the walls! Can you describe your build process? Do you use digital software to plan your builds? How long did it take you to build it?

Edwin: Usually I think about something for months until I feel like I have figured it out in my head. Then I would normally order roughly what I need to build it, and then just build it from the plan in my head or a couple of reference photos. This model took me about two days to build as I had the plan well formulated in my head.

Details of Edwin’s Kinkaku-ji MOC. Can you count how many gold parts Edwin used?

Inez: What is your favorite feature in your Kinkakuji Temple?

Edwin: My favorite feature on this model is the phoenix on the top of the temple. I think that took the most time to figure out.

The phoenix at the top of the temple, Edwin’s favorite feature.

Inez: Thanks for chatting with us, Edwin! It will take some time before I’ll get to visit Japan again, but I’m thankful your MOC gave me the opportunity to explore Kinkakuji. I hope to see it someday!

Have you visited Kinkakuji Temple? Have you seen other LEGO builds depicting UNESCO Heritage Sites? Tell us about it in the comments below!

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