Ginkaku-ji Temple

Address: 2 Ginkakujicho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8402, Japan

Hours: Daily 8:30am-5:00pm

Admission: ¥500 (approx., adult)

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.

Ginkaku-ji (the Silver Pavilion) is in eastern Kyoto. Take a Kyoto City Bus that stops at the “Ginkakuji-michi” or “Ginkakuji” bus stop and then walk about 5-10 minutes to the temple entrance; from nearby rail stations (Keihan Demachiyanagi or the Higashiyama area) it is a 15-25 minute walk or a short bus ride.

From Kyoto Station allow roughly 20-30 minutes by bus or about 15-20 minutes by car depending on traffic; the Philosopher’s Path and surrounding streets are walkable once you reach the neighbourhood.

• Arrive at opening time (or just before) to experience Ginkaku-ji with far fewer people-the approach from the Philosopher's Path is pleasant and visiting early gives cleaner photos during cherry blossom and autumn foliage seasons.
• After visiting the Silver Pavilion, follow the paths behind the main gardens to find quieter moss and stone gardens that many visitors miss; then continue along the Philosopher's Path toward Nanzen-ji to extend the visit without backtracking.