🗺️ Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion)銀閣寺（慈照寺）

Ginkaku-ji, originally built as the villa "Higashiyama-den" by Ashikaga Yoshimasa, the 8th shogun of the Muromachi shogunate, is a temple that serves as a counterpart to Kinkaku-ji. Like Kinkaku-ji, it is a sub-temple of Shokoku-ji, referring to temples built in secluded locations after the main temple. After Yoshimasa's death, it was named "Jishō-ji" based on his posthumous Buddhist name. In contrast to Kinkaku-ji, which was almost completely destroyed during its creation, Ginkaku-ji's Hondo (Main Hall) and Tōgu-dō have preserved their original appearance, continuing to convey the Higashiyama culture to this day. After passing through the entrance gate and turning right, the worship path extends straight along the temple wall to the middle gate. In the Hōjō, built in the mid-Edo period, one can see the sliding door paintings by artists Sōtatsu and Ike no Taiga. Tōgu-dō is the Amida Hall dedicated to Amida Buddha, with the inscription on the plaque written by Yoshimasa himself. The view of the Kannon Hall from the wave garden and the "Silver Sand Beach" is particularly beautiful. It is worth mentioning that the Kannon Hall, known as "Ginkaku," has never been covered in silver foil. The name "Ginkaku" emerged in the mid-Edo period, as it was often compared to Kinkaku-ji.

The view of the Kannon Hall from the scenic spot known as "Yue Dai Shan" is pleasant. The silver sand beach and the circular garden of the "Mizuki" platform are not to be missed. The worship route is one-way, and once you start from the entrance, you cannot turn back. It is said that the "Tōkyūdō" hall, which was favored by Yoshimasa, is also worth a visit.