Ginkakuji
Ginkakuji (銀閣寺), officially known as Jishoji, is a Zen temple in Kyoto’s eastern Higashiyama district. Built in 1482 by Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa, it was modeled after the famous Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion) built by his grandfather. Despite its name, the “Silver Pavilion” was never actually covered in silver. Whether the shogun ran out of funds during the Onin War or simply preferred the unadorned beauty of natural wood remains a point of debate. Today, the temple stands as the ultimate expression of wabi-sabi—a Japanese aesthetic centered on the beauty of the imperfect, the aged, and the modest.
Yoshimasa was a tragic political figure but a brilliant patron of the arts. His retirement here fostered the Higashiyama Culture, which refined the tea ceremony, ikebana (flower arrangement), and ink painting. The temple complex is a masterclass in garden design, split between a meticulous dry-sand garden and a lush moss garden. The most striking feature of the sand garden is the Ginshanada (“Sea of Silver Sand”), which is designed to reflect moonlight into the pavilion. Beside it stands the Kogetsudai (“Moon Viewing Mound”), a perfectly conical sand structure believed to represent Mount Fuji.
Unlike many Kyoto temples that emphasize grand scale, Ginkakuji feels intimate and contemplative. Visitors can follow a winding path that ascends the hillside behind the temple, providing a stunning bird’s-eye view of the pavilion nestled against the backdrop of the Kyoto basin. This elevation allows one to appreciate the two-story structure’s architectural restraint: the lower floor is built in a residential palace style, while the upper floor is a Zen sanctum. Following a major restoration completed in 2010, the temple remains one of Japan’s most refined cultural treasures, anchored at the northern end of the famous Philosopher’s Path.
| Visitor Information | |
|---|---|
| Address | 2 Ginkakujicho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, 606-8402 (Google Maps) |
| Opening Hours | 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM (March–Nov) / 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM (Dec–Feb) |
| Price | Adults: ¥500 / Junior High & Elementary: ¥300 |
| Website | Visit Website |
| Access | ||
|---|---|---|
| Station / Stop | Line / Bus | Access Details |
| Ginkakuji-mae | Kyoto City Bus (Line 32, 100) | The bus stop is located directly at the start of the temple approach |
| Ginkakuji-michi | Kyoto City Bus (Line 5, 17, 203) | A 10-minute walk east along the canal toward the temple entrance |
| Demachiyanagi | Keihan Railway | A 30-minute walk or 10-minute bus/taxi ride to the temple |