Hi there!
If you like nature, landscapes, and Japanese gardens, there’s a good chance you won’t regret a visit to Ginkakuji Temple!
This is one of the top world heritage sites in Kyoto.
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Ginkakuji Temple as part of a one day Kyoto itinerary
You can make a visit to the Ginkakuji Temple when you walk the Philosopher’s Path that includes temple visits as side trips:
- Ginkakuji Temple (and tea room!)
- Eikando Temple
- Nanzenji Temple
You can start your day off by going from Kyoto station to Ginkakuji.
I also was in the area when I did the Daimonji-yama hike (the start of the trail is located right near Ginkakuji), and on that day I basically went from Fushimi Inari to Ginkakuji.
The Fushimi Inari shrine is another place in Kyoto that’s worth a visit with the thousands of torii gates that you can walk through!
How to spend 5 days in Kyoto
- Day 1: Top tourist spots with one day bus pass
- Day 2: Fushimi Inari Shrine through 1,000 torii gates
- Day 3: Philosopher’s Path walk
- Day 4: Arashiyama and Sagano
- Day 5: Kurama Kibune Ohara with one day pass
Japanese language tip: TEMPLE
The ji in Ginkakuji means temple.
But you wouldnāt use ji on its own to talk about a temple in general. In this case, ji is used when attached to the name of the temple.
When speaking generally of a temple, you would call it tera or otera.
More below about what a visit to the Ginkakuji temple and Ginkakuji gardens can be like!
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A bit of what you can see with a visit to Ginkakuji Temple!
Starting the exploration of the temple grounds
Sand garden
Ginkakuji Temple aka Silver Pavilion
That doesn’t actually look very silver.
More walking around the temple grounds and Japanese gardens
Tea room
Kyoto is known for its matcha green tea, so the Ginkakuji Temple grounds could be a perfect place to drink some!
It could also serve as a nice rest from your walk around the temple grounds.
You’ll come across this Ginkakuji “tea room” or “tea garden” towards the end of your visit.
There’s indoor seating and outdoor seating.
Nearing the end of your temple visit
How much does entry to Ginkakuji Temple cost?!
A ticket for Ginkakuji will be around 500 yen (US$5).
Where to next after Ginkakuji Temple?!
How about the Philospher’s Path!
You can consider this somewhat of a culture walk, and one end of the Philosopher’s Path (aka Tetsugaku no michi) is located right near Ginkakuji.
From there, you can go for a leisurely walk and stop by small shrines and temples along the way.
This can include…
Honen-in Temple
Eikando Temple
Nanzenji Temple
HAPPY GINKAKUJI TEMPLE VISIT!
