Temples & religious sites
Ginkaku-ji Temple
Ginkaku-ji Temple
Ginkaku-ji, officially Jishō-ji, is a Zen temple in the Sakyo ward of Kyoto and one of the buildings that define the Higashiyama Culture of the Muromachi period. Despite its nickname, "the Silver Pavilion," the main hall is not covered in silver; visitors go for the layered garden design instead — a dry sand garden shaped into cones and ridges beside the main pavilion, and a moss and pond garden that climbs the hillside behind it, with a path leading up to a viewpoint over the temple grounds and Kyoto beyond.
Getting there
From central Kyoto (Kyoto Station area), the temple is roughly 30-40 minutes by bus. It sits at the northern end of the Philosopher's Path, so many visitors combine the walk with the visit.
How long to stay
Allow about 45 minutes to an hour to walk the garden circuit at a normal pace, more if you want to stop often for photos or sit and take in the hillside view.
When to go
Arriving early in the day helps avoid the heaviest crowds, since the paths through the garden are narrow in places and can back up with foot traffic. It gets particularly busy during cherry blossom season in spring and autumn foliage season, when the hillside colors draw large numbers of visitors.
Combine it with
- Nanzen-ji Temple (1.8km) and Heian Jingū (1.8km) are both close enough to pair with a visit here.
- The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto (2.2km) suits travellers wanting to break up temple-hopping with something different.
- Shimogamo Shrine (2.7km) is a bit further but still reasonable to add if you're spending a full day in this part of Kyoto.
Updated September 20, 2026 · Edited by the World by City editors
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