Description: The name Ginkaku-ji automatically links it to its more glamorous cousin Kinkaku-ji. On the surface, Ginkaku-ji fares poorly in this comparison. After all, Ginkaku-ji never received a layer of silver as had been intended at one time or another. Nevertheless, Ginkaku-ji is part of a murderers row of wonderful temples along the East Higashiyama area of Kyoto that draws huge crowds of Japanese tourists and worshippers.
The formal name of this temple is Higashiyama Jishoji, which became a Zen temple in 1432. The entrance is along a path framed with tall manicured hedges atop rock and bamboo walls. The dramatic landscape continues with a lovely pond garden, and sculpted sand that looks like mountains (one particular mound is said to mimic Mt. Fuji). Note the way the picturesque rooftops of the buildings intermingle with the surrounding treetops.
The main focus of this complex is the two-story Kannonden, the so-called Temple of the Silver Pavilion. In a way, it is better this way without any glossy paint job. The pavilion has a quiet simplicity that is not to be found at the Golden Pavilion of Kinkaku-ji. The other original building in the complex is the Tougudo. Both the Kannonden and the Tougudo are recognized as "National Treasures" in Japan. The interiors are off-limits to tourists, but you can gain special admittance on occasion if you apply in advance.
Close