Muslim Friendly Japan
Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion)

Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion)

UNESCO World Heritage

銀閣寺（慈照寺）

Ginkaku-ji, the Silver Pavilion, is officially named Jisho-ji and is an affiliate temple of Shokoku-ji. It was first built by Ashikaga Yoshimasa, the 8th Muromachi shogun, as his Higashiyama-den villa, and work on the pavilion began in 1489. The pavilion, officially the Kannon Hall, is the only remaining Muromachi-period example of a multi-story building inside a garden. In front of the abbot's hall, white sand is shaped into the stair-like Ginshadan and the cone-shaped Kogetsudai. From a path on the hillside you can also see the upper garden.

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Visitor information

Opening hours

March 1 – November 30: 8:30–17:00. December 1 – end of February: 9:00–16:30.

Closed

Open all year.

Admission

Adults (high school and older) 1,000 yen; elementary and junior high school students 500 yen.

Getting there

City Bus 5, 7, 32, 102, 203 or 204 to Ginkakuji-michi; or bus 100 or 105 to Ginkakuji-mae.

Time needed

About 30 minutes.

Hours and fees can change. Please check the official website before you go.

Good to know

  • There are stairs up to the viewpoint, which wheelchairs cannot use. Most other areas can be visited in a wheelchair.
  • There is one accessible toilet next to the shop.

Tips for Muslim visitors

  • A visit takes about 30 minutes.
  • Normally only the gardens can be visited; the buildings open only during special spring and autumn openings.
  • Buddhist temples welcome visitors of all faiths. You can enjoy the buildings and gardens without joining any prayer, burning incense or buying charms.
  • Many halls ask you to take off your shoes. Wear socks and shoes that are easy to slip off, and keep a bag for your shoes if none is provided.
  • Photography is often not allowed inside halls. Follow the signs and ask staff if you are unsure.
  • Plan your visit around prayer times. Below are today's prayer times for Kyoto and the verified places to pray nearby.
  • Food stalls and shops near popular sights usually do not have halal certification. Check the ingredients, or choose from the verified places on this site.

Prayer times in Kyoto

Today (5 Nov 2026)

  1. Fajr04:45
  2. Sunrise06:21
  3. Dhuhr11:43
  4. Asr14:37
  5. Maghrib16:59
  6. Isha18:25

Times are calculated for central Kyoto. Times may differ elsewhere in Kyoto.

Next 7 days →

Places to pray near Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion)

All places to pray in Kyoto →

Halal food near Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion)

We have not verified a halal restaurant near here yet. Until then, these guides can help you choose food safely:

Distances and walking times are estimates based on straight-line distance.

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Map

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Photo: Zion C, Unsplash License, via Unsplash

Sources (Checked 5 Nov 2026): shokoku-ji.jp, pref.kyoto.jp