Ginkaku-ji

Ginkaku-ji, formally Jishō-ji, is a Zen temple in eastern Kyoto founded as a retirement villa by the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa in 1482 and later converted into a temple. It is commonly known as the Silver Pavilion and is a key site of Higashiyama culture.

The site is best known for its quiet, carefully composed gardens that include a moss garden, a reflective pond and a sculpted dry-sand feature. The two-storey pavilion and surrounding promenade garden are arranged for seasonal viewing and exemplify Muromachi-period aesthetics.

Ginkaku-ji is part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto UNESCO World Heritage site and is one of Kyoto’s major temple-visiting destinations. The temple sits along the eastern hills and is immediately adjacent to the Philosopher’s Path pedestrian route, linking it to other Higashiyama attractions.

Visitors typically experience the pavilion, the moss garden and the dry-sand features in sequence along the formal walking route that circles the site.

• Founding date: Founded in 1482 by the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa and converted to a Zen temple after his death.
• World Heritage: Included in the UNESCO World Heritage listing 'Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto.'

What to See #

• Silver Pavilion (Ginkaku): Two-storey wooden pavilion originally constructed as a Higashiyama-period retirement villa and built in the late 15th century; the exterior was never silvered despite the temple's popular name.
• Moss garden and pond: A moss-covered stroll garden with ponds and winding paths incorporating hills, bridges and carefully composed plantings dating to the Muromachi period.
• Dry sand garden (Kogetsudai): A compact dry-sand garden and sculpted sand cone used as a focal, reflective feature within the temple grounds and visible from the promenade path.