3. Ginkakuji Temple
Known in Japan as the “Silver Pavilion,” Ginkakuji is located in a mountainous area of Kyoto where it is situated amidst a lovely moss garden. It was founded by the grandson of the man who built the “Golden Pavilion” who had every intention of covering it in silver-leaf. It never happened, but the name stuck. It’s rather ironic that this structure that was supposed to be ornate and ostentatious is now a symbol of the Japanese aesthetic of restraint and refinement. Ginkakuji was converted to a Zen temple in 1490, and today, the sacred site is known for its air of tranquility.
