Ginkaku-ji temple and gardens, Kyoto, Japan travel video

Ginkaku-ji in Kyoto, Japan is one of the prettiest of all of the temples and gardens in Kyoto. It's in the tsukiyama style of hillside garden.
A dramatic entry lined by tall hedges leads into another world, a lyrical dreamscape of ponds surrounded by gardens, dotted with statues and linked together by exquisite bamboo railings that guide you along the very pleasant and calm foot paths. Ginkaku-ji is a Zen temple that represents the Higashiyama Culture of the Muromachi period back in the 15th century. It was originally built as a retirement villa and gardens between 1460 and 1480 by Ashikaga Yoshimasa who arranged for the property to become this Zen temple and after his death. The main structure is similar in design to that of Kinkaku-ji, another famous temple in Kyoto that was built by his grandfather.
Railings are typically made with green bamboo to blend in with the scenery providing an organic and clean appearance while at the same time being functional to help you steady yourself and keep you from walking into the garden.
And then you can walk up the hill and gain some lovely views.
The main pavilion is known as Ginkaku, the "Silver Pavilion," because originally they were planning to cover its exterior in silver but that never happened. Instead the outside has had a unfinished appearance for the last 500 years which illustrates one of the aspects of Wabi-Sabi quality.
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