Despite its namesake (which means Silver Pavilion), there is not a hint of silver in this building. Initially built as a retirement home for then-Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa (1436 – 1490), it was later converted into a Zen temple after his death. Enjoy a walk around the temple and stroll through the Japanese garden, the sand garden, as well as the wooded grounds covered with mosses. Take a hike and climb the trail behind the garden, and be rewarded with a fantastic view of the temple compound and the rest of the city. All these will definitely make the trip to the Ginkaku-ji worthwhile, and it comes as no surprise that many visitors put this on their must-see list when coming to Kyoto.