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Ginkaku Ji Temple in Kyoto, Japan
Address: 2 Ginkakujicho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture
URL: https://www.shokoku-ji.jp/en/ginkakuji
Phone: +81-(0)75-771-5725
Ginkaku Ji Temple of the Silver Pavilion — Ginkaku-ji Temple (Silver Pavilion), Kyoto – Viator
Ginkakuji (銀閣寺, Silver Pavilion) is a Zen temple along Kyoto’s eastern mountains (Higashiyama). A UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ashikaga Yoshimasa (1436-90), the eighth shogun of the Muromachi government, emulated Kinkaku-ji (Temple of the Golden Pavilion) built by his grandfather and created Higashiyama-dono, later remodeled into the Silver Pavilion temple. The Goddess of Mercy Hall, known as Ginkaku or the Silver Pavilion, was lacquered on the outside, but whether silver leaf was intended to be put over that is not known. Another building on the premises is Togudo, which served as Yoshimasa’s study.
It is the oldest extant example of a tatami mat writing alcove and of staggered shelves and is a valuable cultural property demonstrating what later came to be known as the shoin-zukuri architecture. Togudo is also a valuable property as an example of a tea room. Its simple form raised awareness of the aesthetic concept of wabi-sabi, which encompasses imperfection and austerity, and is a symbol of the Higashiyama culture. The garden has a pond with a path around it in the chisen kaiyu design style advocated by Yoshimasa.
Although the feel of the Muromachi era permeates the garden, the white sand built into the shape of Mount Fuji (a kogetsudai) and the ginsha-dan or silver wave pattern employed give a distinctly modern aesthetic despite the Edo period construction. The contrast between the old style and the seeming new style is a point of great interest.
Higashiyama Jisho-ji Temple in Kyoto, Japan
Open hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from December through February)
Admission: Adults: 500 yen, Elementary and junior high school students: 300 yen
Access:
- Take Kyoto city bus #5/17/32/100/102/203/204 to the Ginkaku-ji-Michi bus stop. It is a 10-minute walk.
- Take Kyoto Bus #18 or #56 to the Ginkaku-ji-Michi bus stop. It is a 10-minute walk.
