Ginkaku-ji

With a sublime wooden hall overlooking an impressive stroll garden, Ginkaku-ji is easily one of Kyoto’s most beautiful sights. Unfortunately, the beauty of the place guarantees that it is almost always swamped with bus loads of visitors from all over the world. We recommend visiting just after it opens, ideally on a weekday morning. Failing that, try coming just before it closes, as the setting sun casts its golden light over the hills above the temple.

Also known as Jishō-ji, the temple belongs to the Shōkoku-ji sect of the Rinzai school of Zen. In 1482 shōgun Ashikaga Yoshimasa constructed a villa here, which he used as a genteel retreat from the turmoil of civil war. Although ‘Ginkaku-ji’ translates as Silver Pavilion, this is simply a nickname to distinguish it from Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion). The main hall was originally covered in black lacquer; at present it’s simply a nice, weathered woody colour. After Yoshimasa’s death it was converted to a temple.

The approach to the main gate runs between tall hedges before turning sharply into the extensive grounds. Walkways lead through the gardens, which were laid out by painter and garden designer Sōami. The gardens include meticulously raked cones of white sand known as kōgetsudai, designed to reflect moonlight and enhance the beauty of the garden at night.

In addition to the Buddha image in the main hall, the Tōgudō (residence of Yoshimasa) houses an effigy of Yoshimasa dressed in monk’s garb. The tiny tea room (closed to the public) is said to be the oldest in Japan.