Ginkaku-ji ?Silver Pavilion Temple, ???? – officially called Jish?-ji ?Temple of Shining Mercy, ???? – is 1 of 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites in Kyoto and isn’t actually silver.

Ginkaku (Silver Pavilion, ??)
In this article:

Explore Ginkaku-ji (photos and info)
Map of Ginkaku-ji
How to get to Ginkaku-ji
Opening hours and admission cost
Traveler?s tips
Other things to do near Ginkaku-ji

Quick facts:

Construction completed around 1482, built as a villa for the Shogun.
Converted into a Buddhist temple and named Jisho-ji when the Shogun died in 1490.
Originally the exterior of the Kannon Hall, the storied icon of the temple, was finished in a black lacquer.
There are two tales of why the temple is commonly called The Silver Pavilion:
The Shogun who ordered construction of the buildings originally planned to cover the Kannon Hall in silver leaf, similar in style to his grandfather’s Golden Pavilion Temple. However, Ginkaku-ji was never painted silver.
Lights reflecting off the pond surrounding the Kannon Hall shone like silver on black lacquered exterior walls.

UNESCO World Heritage status given in 1994 as part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto.
Open 365 days a year.
Easily accessed by Kyoto city bus, 5 minutes walk from the bus stop.

Explore Ginkaku-ji
Ginkaku-ji features a handful of buildings. Although comparatively small in size to other famous locations in Kyoto, this temple has a rich history.

Panasonic DMC-LX3 (5.1mm, f/3.2, ...