Ginkaku-ji Temple, Silver Pavilion

The information about Ginkaku-ji Temple is presented here. Ginkaku-ji Temple was added to the list of World Heritage Sites in 1994 as a “Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities)”. A scientific investigation by the Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties in 2007 revealed that Silver Pavilion (Ginkaku) had never been covered with silver leaf. However, it was found that the interior and exterior walls of the 2nd floor were covered with black lacquer and the materials around the eaves had brightly colored patterns.

• Temple Location Map ＆ Directions
• Temple History
• Temple Highlights

【Ginkaku-ji Temple Location Map ＆ Directions】

Address: 2 Ginakuji-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
Access (How to get there): Ginkakuji-mae bus stop (about 5 minutes on foot), Ginkakuji-michi bus stop (about 10 minutes on foot), Keihan Demachiyanagi Station (about 30 minutes on foot)

Ginkaku-ji Temple is located in the northeast when viewed from Kyoto Station and is about 5.9 kilometers away in a straight line. The closest station to Ginkaku-ji Temple is Demachiyanagi Station on the Keihan Kamo Higashi Line, but it is some distance away. The Keihan Kamo Higashi Line does not serve Kyoto Station. It may be difficult to reach by train except for users of the Keihan Kamo Higashi Line.
If you go to Ginkaku-ji Temple from Kyoto Station, take a city bus and get off at Ginkakuji-mae bus stop or Ginkakuji-michi.

【Opening Hours ＆ Closed (confirmation required)】

Opening Hours: 8:30-17:00 (March-November), 9:00-16:30 (December-February)
Closed: open year round

【Entrance Fees ＆ Tickets (confirmation required)】

Individual: Adults 500 yen, Junior High and Elementary School Students 300 yen

【Ginkaku-ji Temple History】

Ginkaku-ji Temple (銀閣寺), whose official name is Tozan Jisho-ji Temple (東山慈照寺), is a sub-temple of Shokoku-ji Temple (相国寺). On the site where Ginkaku-ji Temple is located, there was Jodo-ji Temple, which was founded in the middle of the Heian period (794-1185) by Chishodaishi Enchin and rebuilt by Myogu, the 25th head of Tendai (Tendai-zasu) during the Kannin period (1017-1020). Later, due to the struggle to succeed Ashikaga Yoshimasa (足利義政), the 8th shogun of the Muromachi shogunate, who built Higashiyama-dono, the predecessor of Ginkaku-ji Temple, the Onin War (Onin no Ran) broke out in 1467 and Jodo-ji Temple was burned down. Incidentally, the Onin War (Onin no Ran) broke out in 1467 and lasted for 10 years until 1477, devastating the city of Kyoto. In 1473, Ashikaga Yoshimasa handed over the shogunate to his eldest son, Ashikaga Yoshihisa, and in 1482, he began building Higashiyama-dono on the site of Jodo-ji Temple, and when the Tsune-no-gosho was completed in 1483, he moved there. The name of Higashiyama-dono was given by the 103rd Emperor Go-Tsuchimikado. When Ashikaga Yoshimasa completed Seishi-an in 1485, he shaved his hair off and became a monk under the name of Kizan Dokei. Later, in 1486, Togu-do was built, followed by Higashiyama-dono Kaisho and Izumiden (Rosei-tei) in 1487, and Silver Pavilion (Ginkaku, Kannon-den) was built in 1489. However, Ashikaga Yoshimasa died without seeing the completion of Silver Pavilion (Ginkaku). Ashikaga Yoshimasa built Higashiyama-dono, modeled after Koke-dera Temple (Saiho-ji Temple), and Silver Pavilion (Ginkaku), following the example of his grandfather Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, who built Kinkaku (Golden Pavilion). In 1490 , Ashikaga Yoshimasa died, and by his will, Higashiyama-dono was converted into a Zen temple, Jisho-in Temple, with Musokokushi (Muso Soseki) as the recommended founder. The name of Jisho-in Temple is derived from the Buddhist name of Ashikaga Yoshimasa, “Jishoin-dono Kizan Dokei”. In 1491, the name of Jisho-in Temple was changed to Jisho-ji Temple. In 1550, the battle between Ashikaga Yoshiaki, the 15th shogun of the Muromachi Shogunate, and Miyoshi Nagayoshi took place around Ginkaku-ji Temple, and all temple buildings except Silver Pavilion (Ginkaku) and Togu-do were destroyed by fire. Later, when Oda Nobunaga built Nijo Castle (Nijo-jo) for Ashikaga Yoshiaki in the Azuchi-Momoyama period (1573-1603), the famous stones and other items were taken from the garden. With the decline of the Muromachi shogunate, Ginkaku-ji Temple also fell into ruin. In 1615, Miyagi Tangonokami Toyomori undertook a major renovation of the Ginkaku-ji Temple, bringing it closer to its present appearance. Ashikaga Yoshimasa called upon the gardener Zenami, the Kano school painter Kano Masanobu, the Tosa school painter Tosa Mitsunobu, the Noh performer Otoami, and the Zen monk Yokogawa Keizo, among others, and laid the foundation for the “Higashiyama Culture” that emphasized wabi and sabi.
*reference・・・Ginkaku-ji Temple website

【Ginkaku-ji Temple Highlights (May be undisclosed)】

★Silver Pavilion (Ginkaku, 銀閣, National Treasure) was built in 1489 by Ashikaga Yoshimasa, the 8th shogun of the Muromachi Shogunate. Ashikaga Yoshimasa named the 1st floor “Shinku-den” and the 2nd floor “Choon-kaku”. Silver Pavilion houses the statue of Kannon, also known as Dochu-Kannon, on the 2nd floor, and is also called Kannon-den (Kannon Hall ,観音殿). It is said that the name “Silver Pavilion” comes from the fact that it was supposed to be covered with silver leaf, but due to financial difficulties and the death of Ashikaga Yoshimasa, it could not be done, and also because the black lacquer on the outer wall seems to shine silver in the sunlight.
★Togu-do (東求堂, National Treasure) was built by Ashikaga Yoshimasa in 1486. Ashikaga Yoshimasa built Togu-do as Amida-do (Amida Hall ,阿弥陀堂) and houses the statue of Amida Nyorai, the leader of the Western Paradise. Togu-do has a four-and-a-half tatami-mat tea room, Dojinsai, which Ashikaga Yoshimasa used as a study.
★Garden (庭園, Special Place of Scenic Beauty and Special Historic Site) is said to have been created by Ashikaga Yoshimasa in the middle of the Muromachi period (1336-1573), imitating the garden of Koke-dera Temple (Saiho-ji Temple), where women were not allowed, in order to show it to his mother. Garden was later renovated during the Edo period (1603-1867) and is said to have lost its original appearance. Garden is a pond walking garden centered on Kinkyochi Pond. Garden is decorated with stones such as the Zazen-ishi stone, and has a stone bridge.
Ginkaku-ji Temple Highlights

【Events (confirmation required)】

★Ginkaku-ji Temple holds special viewing events in the spring and fall of each year. During the special viewing, Togu-do, Dojinsai, Hojo, and Rosei-tei are sometimes open to the public. Togu-do represents the Higashiyama culture and is considered the origin of the tea ceremony, flowers, and incense.

【Flower Calendar (cherry blossoms, etc )】

★The best time to see autumn leaves (紅葉) is from mid-November to late November. Maples and other trees are distributed in the temple grounds, and you can see the precincts colored with autumn leaves from Tenbosho (observatory).
★The best time to see camellias (椿) is from mid-March to early April. Camellia hedges and bamboo fences line the 50-meter-long approach leading from the main gate to the central gate. Yabu camellias, wabisuke camellias, and other camellias are planted at Ginkaku-ji Temple.
(The best time to see the plants depends on the climate of the year.)

【Telephone (Please refrain from making phone calls.)】

Tel: +81-75-771-5725

【Recommended Walking Route】

The recommended walking route from Ginkaku-ji Temple is to go south along Tetsugaku-no-michi (Philosopher’s Path) to Eikan-do Temple and Nanzen-ji Temple. Tetsugaku-no-michi is one of the most famous cherry blossom viewing spots in Kyoto, and during the cherry blossom season, you can enjoy the cherry blossoms while walking along the path. Tetsugaku-no-michi has been selected as one of the 100 best paths in Japan, and you can enjoy walking along it outside of the cherry blossom season.

【Remarks（access, parking, disclaimer, etc）】
If you plan to visit Ginkaku-ji Temple, be sure to check the latest information.