Ginkakuji Temple in Kyoto – Highlights & Personal photos.

2023-12-112024-08-31

Ginkakuji Temple was registered as a World Cultural Heritage Site in 1994, and has been a very popular tourist spot representing Kyoto. Ginkaku-ji Temple is a calming place, and calm spots like this are one of the charms of Kyoto.

This article will share the highlights of Ginkakuji Temple, along with some personal photographs.

Getting To Ginkakuji Temple From Kyoto Station

Ginkaku-ji Temple’s official name is Higashiyama Jisho-ji Temple. Even on Google Maps, when you search for “Ginkakuji”, “Higashiyama-Jisho-ji” is displayed. Don’t worry, this is Ginkakuji Temple. The most convenient way to reach Ginkakuji Temple from Kyoto Station is by bus, as there is no nearby train station.

STEP

Board bus 17 from the bus stop A2, or bus 5 from the bus stop A1.

The bus terminal is located right next to the central exit of Kyoto Station on the north side. Follow the “Bus” signs located throughout Kyoto Station to the bus terminal. The photo above is the bus terminal.

Look for the pillar marked A1 or A2 and the bus number is number 5 or 17. Be careful not to board a bus with a different number.

STEP

Disembark at Ginkakuji-michi bus stop.

It takes about 35 minutes to get here from Kyoto Station.

STEP

From the bus stop, walk about 600m, which takes about 8 minutes.

It may be helpful to refer to the sceneries in the photo above.

The photo above is the entrance to Ginkakuji Temple. There were still some autumn leaves left at the entrance, giving it a nice atmosphere.

There is a ticket office right next to the entrance.

Highlights of Ginkakuji Temple

As soon as you enter the entrance and walk a little further, you will immediately see the Ginkaku (Kannonden), a brown building that is the symbol of Ginkakuji Temple.

Also, there are two objects made of white sand near Ginkaku (Kannonden) , which look like pieces of modern art. The sand spread like a rippling river is called “Ginsha-nada”, and the one shaped like Mt. Fuji is called “Kogetsudai”. It is said that these were built to admire the moon, with Ginsha-nada being built to reflect the moon’s light, and Kogetsudai being built for gazing at the moon. The original and one-of-a-kind garden is a major attraction at Ginkakuji Temple.

Ginkaku(Kannonden) is one of “Kyoto’s three great pavilions” along with Kinkaku and Hiunkaku (in Nishi Honganji Temple). It is a two-story building. The first floor is built in the style of samurai residences from about 14th to 16th centuries. It was once used as a residence. The second floor is a Buddhist hall, where a statue of Kannon Bodhisattva is enshrined. There is a phoenix at the top of the roof of Ginkaku (Kannonden), which is said to protect Kannon Bodhisattva.

Although Ginkakuji Temple is modeled after Kinkakuji Temple, in contrast to the glamorous Kinkakuji Temple, the characteristic of Ginkakuji Temple is its calm appearance. A garden with a calm atmosphere, with pine trees, and a pond spreds out in front of Ginkaku (Kannnonden).

The building at the back of the garden is called Togudo Hall. It was originally used as a study, but later was used as a tea room. It is said to be the prototype of the modern tea room and has been designated as a national treasure.

If you go further along the route, you will find a spring water well. It is said that the shogun who built Ginkakuji Temple used the spring water here to make tea. This stream connects to a pond in the garden of Ginkakuji Temple. The high-quality spring water still flows out today and is used for modern tea ceremonies. There was hardly any noise around, and it was a quiet nice atmosphere.

If you follow the route, you will come to an observation deck. From the observation deck, you can see the Ginkaku(Kannnonden) and gardens of Ginkaku-ji Temple, as well as the city of Kyoto. I’d also recommend the view from here. These look beautiful even when viewed from a distance.