Experts' Choice Award Ginkakuji Temple
What the experts agree on
Ginkakuji's 15th-century silver pavilion exemplifies Zen elegance with its refined garden and sculpted sand landscape, though expect crowds despite the serene aesthetic.
“Breathtakingly modern though half a millennium old, its sculpted sand garden would transport anyone into a Zen state (if not for the crowds).”
– Concierge
Fodor's "The Temple of the Silver Pavilion... is an exercise in elegance and restraint." Full review
Frommer's "Ginkakuji, considered one of the more beautiful structures in Kyoto, was built in 1482 as a retirement villa for Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa." Full review
