Ginkaku-ji Temple

The name Ginkaku-ji means Silver Pavilion, but the main pavilion was never finished with silver leaf. It was built as part of Ashikaga Yoshimasa's retirement villa in the late 15th century and later became a Zen temple.

Ginkaku-ji is known for its raked white-sand garden, including the cone-shaped Kogetsudai, often translated as the Moon Viewing Platform. The temple grounds also include a moss garden and a path climbing to a Kyoto city viewpoint.

They are often paired in Kyoto itineraries, but they were built in different contexts. Kinkaku-ji is tied to Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, while Ginkaku-ji is associated with Ashikaga Yoshimasa and Higashiyama culture.

Ginkaku-ji is in Kyoto's Higashiyama area, near the northern end of the Philosopher's Path. Many visitors combine it with Nanzen-ji or Honen-in because those sites are along the same walking corridor.