One of the coolest hidden landmarks to visit in Forza Horizon 6 is the recreation of Kinkaku-ji, also known as the Golden Pavilion. The area looks amazing during free roam, especially with reflections on the lake and the forest roads leading into the temple grounds.

If your goal is simply getting there as fast as possible, there are actually two different methods depending on whether you have already discovered the location.

The absolute fastest route is using Fast Travel directly onto the temple grounds after the landmark has been unlocked. If this is your first visit, though, you will need to drive through the off-road mountain paths in the Ohtani region to reach it manually.

The Fastest Method Overall

Once you have visited Kinkaku-ji at least one time, the quickest route becomes very simple:

1. Open the map.
2. Select the Kinkaku-ji landmark.
3. Use Fast Travel directly to the temple area.

This skips the forest approach entirely and saves several minutes compared to driving manually across the map. If you are farming screenshots, collectibles, or seasonal objectives near the temple, Fast Travel is easily the best option.

First-Time Free Roam Route

If you have never visited the landmark before, you must take the hidden access road through the forest.

Starting Point

The easiest starting area is the stretch between the Horizon Festival site northeast of the temple and Mei’s House southwest of the area.

Most players accidentally stay on the paved highway too long and completely miss the turn-off leading into the mountain trail.

The Dirt Trail Entrance

Drive along the southern road in the Ohtani region and watch carefully for a dirt path branching north into the woods.

The entrance is easy to miss at high speed because it looks more like a rally shortcut than a main route. Slow down slightly as you approach the forest section.

Once you enter the trail, stay on the main gravel road and avoid cutting through the trees. The direct route is actually faster than trying to force your way cross-country.

Through the Forest

The road becomes a winding uphill gravel track surrounded by dense forest. This is where the route can slow down dramatically if you bring the wrong car.

A lot of players try using hypercars for everything in free roam, but the loose gravel and tight corners make them difficult to control here. You lose more time sliding into barriers than you gain from raw speed.

As you get closer to the temple, the environment changes noticeably. The gravel road transitions into a cleaner pathway lined with yellow walls, making it obvious you are approaching the temple grounds.

Arrival at Kinkaku-ji

The final road leads directly into the gardens surrounding the Golden Pavilion.

The area opens up beside a large reflective lake with the temple sitting near the water, closely inspired by the real-world Kinkaku-ji. It is one of the best photo locations in the entire game map and worth visiting even outside of challenges or exploration objectives.

Best Cars for the Route

Because most of the approach uses gravel and dirt roads, rally-oriented vehicles are significantly faster than traditional road racing cars.

Two excellent choices are:

• 2022 Subaru BRZ 'Forza Edition'
• 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX STI

The BRZ Forza Edition handles the tighter forest corners extremely well, while the older Impreza feels stable and predictable on loose surfaces.

If you already have a tuned rally setup with off-road tires and suspension, almost any AWD dirt-focused build will work better than a pure S2 hypercar.