For those who don’t know, this is the silver temple - Ginkakuji. There’s nothing too fancy about the buildings here as opposed to the gold temple (Kinkakuji), but the garden is nicer in my opinion. We were there on a semi raining day, but that actually made it much nicer. There were some very cool mushrooms (if you are into those). And we just happened to encounter a family of deer passing by the back. It was a great experience.

Beautiful relaxing temple. Just the right size for 1 hour visit. Not too big not too small. Impeccable gardens and unique zen dry garden (Karesansui). 100% worth visiting!

The silver pavilion, which is actually more white and brown, might be what this Buddhist temple is known for even though it's modest and understated. However, its simple yet precise design is set amongst trees, a pond, and a zen garden, making it a beautiful place to visit. As you walk through the well-kept grounds, you can go up a bit higher and get a bit of a view over the temple and neighbouring area. We arrived before opening time and soon, others gathered before the gates opened. It's not terribly crowded, thus not requiring a lot of lining up like other attractions, but there'll be tour groups using the same entrance.

For some, the poor relation of the golden temple, but for my money this wins hands down. Not showy, but subtle. Its moss garden is sublime, and the best Japanese garden I have seen. Its sand garden is surprising. A real air of peace and calm.

🏛️🇯🇵 Silver Pavilion. Autumn 2018. Visit during autumn if you can. The foliage is spectacular. A must see in Kyoto.

This is the most beautiful Japanese garden I visited in my Kyoto Trip. The Japanese garden is very mesmerizing. The Japanese culture is indeed beautiful. This is known as Temple of Silver Pavilion. You can visit here by bus. I would suggest to buy the one - day unlimited pass for bus. It's very affordable and it will save you a lot of money. You also need to pay an entrance fee which is 500 yen. The fee is worth it because you will witness the beauty of nature. We visited during Autumn and I love the scenery.

A famous pagoda with impressive sandworks and very beautiful garden. Walking around the garden is a fantastic experience. In particular, the mossy areas and the small creeks and ponds compose such a relaxing environment. There were some people queuing, however, due to our guide we could pass by. Likely it would have been a wait of up to 30min.

Kinkakuji might be covered in gold, but Ginakakuji is covered with Wabi Sabi. This place was built by Ashikaga Yoshimasa (grandson of Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, who built Kinkaluji) as a retirement villa in around 1490. Although he was not a good leader and made many poor political decisions, which ultimately led to Onin war that ended the reign of his family. But his sole interest in Art has propeled "Higashiyama culture" that set standard for many important Japanese art that we see today (tea ceremony, ikebana, Noh, garden). To fully appreciate this place, you might need to have some knowledge of its history, concept, and features. Because it is built on the concept of Wabi-Sabi. Unlike Frence Garden and Palace, which meant show off power / authority and command over nature, this place was designed to be one with nature / to appreciate simplicity and aesthetic of beauty in imperfection. Or otherwise it may seem underwhelm to viewer. The main purpose of the pavilion was for moon viewing. It is said that during the full moon, the moonlight would reflex against the silver sea (the stone garden) and the pond and redirect the light toward the pavilion. The pavilion then would lit up in a silvery hue, hence the name of the silver pavilion. It took us around 1.15 hours to leisurely walk around the place with occationally stop for photoes. You could do less or more depending on how long you want to enjoy the place.

Good to see if you had time. Although if you don't, the kinkaji or golden temple is prettier, especially on a blue sky day. If you need to choose one. The way to the attraction is almost better than the attractions itself. It was the beginning of April, the cherry blossom on the way was beautiful to see it.

The pavilion itself was nice. Not the fanciest or most striking that I have seen, but it's appeal is enhanced by its own reflection over the nearby pond. The best thing about this temple (in my opinion) was the short walk behind the pavilion. It takes you through a very tranquil moss garden and near waterfalls and streams.

The temple is a must-visit for only 500Y. (Stamps of Temple is available for an additional 300Y) The visit takes about 30-40 minutes and is mainly about wandering is the beautiful temple zen garden, where you will get the chance to see many species, got a nice view of Kyoto, and get a view on different angle of the Silver Pavillon.

I believe everyone visiting Kyoto cannot miss seeing this temple. This temple is said to be one of the masterpieces of Japanese old temples and it well represents a traditional Japanese wabi-sabi culture which is a world view centered on the acceptance of transience and imperfection. This is also a historically important place. You never miss this place from both cultural and historical viewpoints when you visit Kyoto.

A great temple to visit in the autumn thanks to the beautifully maintained gardens with colourful trees. The Silver palace is not quite as spectacular as the Golden palace at first sight, but it has a great atmosphere. Thanks to this there are slightly fewer tourists flooding this place, so you can enjoy it a bit more peacefully. The Zen gardens here are some of the more impressive in Kyoto and certainly do this temple a justice.

For the first time, I had a one day trip in Kyoto. At first, I was thinking of removing Ginkakuji in my itinerary because I was going to Kinkakuji anyway, but because of good reviews, I’ve ended up going. The nearest bus station was Ginkakujimichi Bus stop. The entrance fee was 500 yen. The landscape design of the place was amazing! I’ve went to Kiyomizudera and Kinkakuji (every place has different vibe) but this was my favorite. If you like Japanese gardens, you should come here! If you have limited time, it’s also good. The place is not that big and I’ve went around the place and have taken pictures within just 35minutes.

Definitely a must to do if you come to Kyoto. Entry cost around 500yens but they worth it. The park around the temple is beautiful, even more in autumn with the momiji 🍁. At the top, you can have a nice view of Kyoto with the temple. This place can be really crowded, so prefer to come at the opening or early in the morning.

This is neither the largest temple nor the most extensive grounds, but the sand sculptures (?) and the garden make it worth the visit. The sand sculptures are really unique and impressive, but the garden is just beautiful. The ground is covered in carefully tended moss so that every landscape has a very verdant glow to it. It feels very magical. Make sure you take your time as walk through the garden to appreciate the colors and serenity.

Higashiyama Jisho-ji, commonly known as Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion) was constructed in 1482 by a shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa to serve as his retirement villa. It was modeled after Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion), his grandfather's retirement villa. After Yoshimasa's death in 1490, the villa was converted into a Zen temple. Nowadays there are just 3 buildings in the complex: Silver Pavilion, the Hondo (main hall) and Togudo. None of them is open to the public. Despite its name, the Silver Pavilion was never covered in silver. Its two stories are constructed in two different architecture styles. The first floor is built in the traditional Japanese residential style and the second floor deisplays Chinese temple architecture. On the top of the roof there is a bronze phoenix. Other attractions of the temple complex include: - meticulously maintained sand garden, known as the "Sea of Silver Sand", with a massive sand cone named "Moon Viewing Platform"; - moss garden, with ponds, islands, bridges, little streams and various plants; - scenic viewpoint to enjoy the nice views of the temple grounds and the city beyond. In 1994 Ginkakuji was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is really lovely place, worth visiting. The temple is open from 08:30 to 17:00. The Entrance fee is 500 ¥/pax.

Stunning grounds with old-growth pines and beautiful “borrowed scenery” displays. The 500¥ entry price is a bargain. Goushuine available. It’s worth noting that the pavilion isn’t even remotely “silver.” In my opinion, it’s prettier than the gaudy “golden pavilion.” The view from the top of the route is beautiful and worth the walk. I’ll say it again, the grounds are beautiful and offer a nice shaded walk.

This garden is by far the most beautiful Japanese garden I visited in my Japan Trip. The Japanese garden is very mesmerizing. The Japanese culture is indeed beautiful. This is known as Temple of Silver Pavilion. You can visit here by bus. I would suggest to buy the one - day unlimited pass for bus. It's very affordable and it will save you a lot of money. You also need to pay an entrance fee which is 500 yen. The fee is worth it because you will witness the beauty of nature. We visited during Autumn and I love the

One of the temple that must be visited during your trip in Kyoto. Here, you can just go to this site by using the bus from the Kyoto JR Station. The entrance fee ticket is 500 yen, but you can enjoy the scenery inside. You can see the sea of sand and observe the scenery from the observatory deck. Be careful when you come especially during holiday, you need to line up a bit longer.

Beautiful garden. It started a bit disappointing with a plain area full of stones and a small hill, but finally you had a nice walking route with good views and colorful plants. The rock, water and tree combination is perfect with the mossy bottom. On a clear day you have nice reflections in the water too. It takes approximately 30 minutes maximum to go around. There is a designated walking route to stick to.

This temple may not be as famous or flashy as the Golden Kinkakuji, but it has unique simple and zen style of building and landscape that will inspire you as well. Enjoy the walk up hill and appreciate how nature and human culture intertwine.

(Trip was made back then on 2 Dec 2019, 2 years before the Covid-19 Pandemic hit) Due to he rainy weather, we had a change of plans and ended up visiting Ginkakuji instead. The temple was initially supposed to be covered with silver leaf, in emulation of the gold-leaf covered Kinkakuji. However, it never came to fruition due to disruptions from the zoning war. Even though Ginkakuji isn’t as extravagant or lavishly adorned like it’s golden counterpart, it’s subdued exterior emanate a subtle charm. Personally, I prefer Ginkakuji as it feels more intimate as you can get up close and personal by wandering within its beautifully landscaped compound, which has a beautiful Japanese garden and a dry sand garden. There were some autumn trees in the compound but most of them have already shed their leaves and were bare from the onset of winter. It would probably be a more amazing sight during the peak autumn season when the foliage are more lush and vibrant. It’s probably one of the most popular sites to visit aside from Kinkaku-ji and Fushimi Inari Shrine. It was very touristy even though it was raining, with people spewing in in droves.

Green everywhere is so green. nice and quite scenery. Been there early to avoid tourist and worth it

Ginkaku-ji or the Silver Pavilion is in my oponion a much nicer place to visit than Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion. Not because of the temple iteself but because of the stunning garden that can be found at Ginkaku-ji and because it isn't as crowded as Kinkaku-ji. You can stroll through the beautiful garden and when you climb the small hill you have a great view over Kyoto. Worthwile the visit!

The perfect imperfection? Just like his grandfather Ashikaga Yoshimitsu had shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa build a villa and a garden between 1482 and 1490. The main building of this villa is the Kannonden, better known as the Ginkaku-ji (the Silver Pavilion). Yoshimasa's plan to clad the pavilion in silver was never realized due to long delays, this "unfinished" appearance illustrates one of the aspects of "wabi-sabi" (the acceptance of imperfection and transience). After his death, the villa and garden became a Buddhist temple called the Jishō-ji (Temple of Shining Mercy). While the Silver Pavilion may be nice, the garden, attributed to Japanese landscape artist Sōami, is magnificent. All together it is the perfect imperfection!

Perhaps the most beautiful place I have ever been to. Even in Kyoto, full of beauty, this is something extraordinary. Maybe it was the ceremony held inside the temple that created the very special, touching atmosphere.

Not to be missed. The ‘get-away’ home of a shogun that was later converted to a zen temple. The gardens are divine. I’ve visited many times on trips to Kyoto. Plan to arrive at or before 9:00 or 9:30am to avoid crowds.

The silver pavilion is stunning. Less crowded than the golden pavilion but has much to offer. It’s located along the Philosopher’s path. A massive and calming garden. Definitely worth a visit.

Beautiful temple! The place was larger than I thought and it was lovely strolling around the sand gardens, ponds and moss. There is also a view point, which was nice. Entry ¥500

Really nice temple. It's only 500yen to go in and the sand garden is beautiful. There is a short walk around the gardens that you can take which will take you up to a small area where you can get a nice view of the city. Quintessential Japanese experience.

Really relaxing walk in the garden! One of the also must visit places if you have spare time or days traveling in Kyoto! Came here around 10AM on a weekday and there wasn’t alot of people.

I would like to spend all my afternoon and early morning here if I could. Stunning grounds with old-growth pines and beautiful borrowed scenery display. The 枯山水s here are definitely masterpieces that intrigues you to think about your life, the world, as well as what you should eat for dinner lol. So isolated with the outter world. Must visit

Beautiful with snow if you have the chance in wintertime. Autumn has warm reds, oranges, and yellows. Also gorgeous when it’s raining.

A fantastic temple to explore around, with some small shops and lots of corridors to explore.

So, this temple is a little furthur out than the rest of them, it has a path to follow and it is 500 yen to enter. You spend most of you time outside as you cannot enter any of the buildings, but it is very green. There is a small souvenir shop as you leave and there are a few shops on the road walking up to the entrance. .just outside the temple is the start of the philosopher's walk trail. The temple closes at 5 pm sharp, so plan accordingly...

Beautiful but small area with temple (Silver Pavilion) and Zen garden in Kyoto. Nice streets with foods and souvenirs on the outside. Not so busy, easy to buy tickets outside the temple.

In fact, there is only a garden in the active area here, nothing more. Because many areas were blocked and inaccessible, I was confused as to why no one told me this when I bought the tickets. When I bought the tickets and went in, I found that many areas were blocked and the only area I could move around was a garden. . . Is this considered deception? The map at the door showed that this place was very spacious. I thought I could have a good walk inside, but the range of activities was very small.

A true testament to the magnificence of Japanese architecture and garden construction of days old, this temple most certainly looks best during the autumn season, but the rainy season would also be worth it as there are various channels through which water flows, thus creating quite the beautiful effect.

Ginkakuji has to be one of the temples that the Japanese love more than the tourists because it lacks the pizazz of Kinkakuji and the view of Kiyomizudera. But it is more zen than most of the famous destinations in Kyoto. A great place to visit in autumn. Also nearby the daimonji (Kanji letter 大 on the mountain) and the philosopher's path

The temple is at the start/end of the Philosopher's Path, depends on your route. Entrance costs 500 yen. Inside the temple, you'll be greeted by a scenic zen Japanese garden. You wouldn't find a real silver pavilion like how gold is in the Kinkaku-ji, however it is still amazing to see. One thing on my mind was, with the not so large complex, it can get quite crowded in the narrow path round the garden. I was there in low-season, couldn't imagine how it would be in peak season.

If you want to escape from the crowd, this Buddhist Temple is the best place to go (I’d suggest to go early and during the week to avoid the queue). Worth the ticket, you will find your own piece walking through the garden, amazed by nature, flowers and of course, lots of culture!

This place is absolutely magical. Most people only go to the golden pavilion and skip this one, but definitely don't! This is an absolutely beautiful place; the gardens are so peaceful and when we went in the late afternoon, the sun rays just made the place all the more magical. Note: Visited prior to Covid, so things may be different.

Another famous attraction in Kyoto. This located corner of kyoto city. Less crowded compared to other main places. Really nice for photos.

Over the past 40 years of living and traveling to and from Japan, the nation has become the second destination I call home. A visit to the ancient capital of Kyoto is a must for any traveler interested in history, culture, arts, cuisine, music and so much more. Kyoto refreshes the soul and heightens awareness as you turn each and every corner. Ginkakuji or the Silver Pavilion is one of Japan's great treasures which lies at the end of a narrow pilgrimage pathway at the foot of the surrounding Kyoto mountains. Unlike its gilded 'cousin' Kinkakuji or Golden Pavilion, Ginkakuji is modest, rustic and quiet. But when you pass through the long corridors of hedges and bamboo, you enter a beautiful paradise complete with gardens, tea houses, temple buildings, mountain paths, and spectacular views of Kyoto. Spring Cherry Blossoms and Fall Foliage are of course the most popular, but I love Kyoto in winter when it is truly quiet to all the senses. Summer is extreme given the basin effect and the way heat is trapped by mountains on three sides of the city. But even in summer, the residents of Kyoto create wonderful ways to escape the heat and humidity, especially along the Kamogawa River and along other waterways throughout the ancient city. Don't forget to visit Omen for noodles, stroll the Philosopher's Walk, and learn about the magic of Japanese ceramics at the Robert Yellin Gallery which is just a few minutes walk from both Omen and the Philosophers Walk. GH

What an amazing place to visit. I've wanted to visit the Silver Pavilion for over a decade and I finally got to see it. The walk around the gardens doesn't take very long, so be sure to take your time and enjoy it. And if you're into history take a few minutes to look the place up before you make the trip.

What a truly gorgeous place and is a must visit on your Kyoto itinerary. Breathtaking gardens that are so well-maintained and it really feels like your 500 yen entrance fee is being paid for the immaculate up keeping of the place. One of our entire Japan highlights!

My personal favourite temple in Kyoto. The perfected nature around the temple itself is the highlight here. There's also the bamboo forest next door. Word of advice though, once you leave the temple, towards the bamboo forest entrance, you would have to pay again to get back into the temple; otherwise it's a long walk back around the streets to get back to where you were. Not a bad walk though, you'll get to see other shrines and temples.

The temple was beautiful and very peaceful. Great to walk around, the tour will take you approximately 20 minutes. There's an admission fee of 500¥

A magical place, the shrine itself is a bit underwhelming despite it’s name, the entrance fee is 500 yen. Although the shrine is not that special the whole environment is a beautiful sight to behold. The gardens surrounding the shrine are truly mesmerising and are so well kept and cared for. If you’re in the area you should stop by and see for yourselves.

Beautiful temple with a nice visiting route, especially in this red-leaf season. The entrance ticket cost 500 yen but is deserved.

Beautiful temple and garden. Not shiny like kinkakuji but it’s more tradition and good contrast with surroundings.

Again a must visit in Kyoto. Loved this place. Because of absence of international tourist till now, the place was comparatively less crowded..