Ginkakuji Revisited 2019 - Kyoto

It was only last year when I last visited Ginkakuji (銀閣寺). It was also my first time visiting it. You can actually read my diary entry HERE.

Ginkakuji Revisited 2019

For those who are not familiar with Ginkakuji, it's located at 2 Ginkakujicho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City in Kyoto Prefecture. This temple is one of the 17 UNESCO World Heritage Site of the city.  

Ginkakuji History

Ginkakuji - Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture

Ginkakuji was originally built as a retirement villa for Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa. The name Ginkakuji actually translates to Silver Pavilion as he originally planned to cover the building with silver leaf similar to the gold leaf-covered Kinkakuji which was built by Ashikaga Yoshimasa's grandfather Ashikaga Yoshimasu. Sadly, Yoshimasa died even before the plan to cover Ginkakuji with silver leaf came to fruition. 

Walking towards Ginkakuji from Imadegawa Street

Ginkakuji Precinct Map

Going in Ginkakuji's gate

Ginkakuji's ticket booth

Ginkakuji Admission Fee 2019

After Yoshimasa's death, the villa was converted into a temple. Although there were talks about finishing the plan to cover the temple with silver leaf as envisioned by Yoshimasa but it was decided to just maintain it as was like when Yoshimasa last saw it. 

Ginkakuji's picturesque sand garden

Ginkakuji's Kogetsudai

A small shrine inside Ginkakuji's vicinity

My brother and I crossed the bridge to Ginkakuji's Moss Garden

Ginkakuji's Moss Garden pond

Exploring the Moss Garden

Ginkakuji Closing time

Aside from the temple structure, Ginkakuji is also famous for its picturesque garden that was supposedly designed by the great landscape artist Soami. The garden is famous for its unique pile of sand which is said to symbolize Mt. Fuji. There is also a hill in the vicinity that has a panoramic view of the temple and the city.

Photos of the Silver Pavilion

Ginkakuji "Silver Pavilion" - Kyoto







My brother and I visited Ginkakuji on the 5th day of our 2019 Japan Trip. Since we arrived a little before closing time, we failed to explore the temple completely thoroughly. Regardless, we still manage to see the temple building and the garden.

Ginkakuji Opening Hours:

Ginkakuji is open 8:30AM - 5PM every day.

Ginkakuji Entrance Fee:

Keep in mind that you need to pay 500 yen per adult and 300 yen per child to enter.

Why visit Ginkakuji?

Ginkakuji is one of those temples that you should visit when in Kyoto City. It's a perfect place to see the Japanese concept of Wabi-Sabi. This concept is described as the beauty in something that is imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete.

How to Get to Ginkakuji:

 

From Kyoto Station, ride either of the following buses; #5, #7, #100. These buses go directly to the temple. 
Travel time: 35-40 minutes
Bus fare: 230 yen

Ratings:

Crowd

Cleanliness

Overall rating

Location: 2 Ginkakujichō, Sakyō-ku, Kyoto, 606-8402, Japan

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