Ginkaku-ji The Silver Pavilion in Kyoto surrounded by trees and pond.

Ginkaku-Ji: The “Silver” Pavilion

Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavillion) is often associated with the similarly named Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion). Kin means gold, and gin means silver. Like Kinkaku-ji, Ginkaku-ji was first the retirement villa of a shogun, later converted into a Buddhist temple. Both have the focus of a beautiful pavilion beside a pond. The similarities stop there. Ginkaku-Ji:  Silver Doesn’t … Read more

Three Geisha Walking Down the Street in Gion, Kyoto.

Gion: Where Geisha, Elegance, and Old Japan Meet

Gion: Much More than Geisha Unlike Nijo Castle and Ginkakuji, the beautiful Gion district in Kyoto’s Southern Higashiyama doesn’t suffer from having a more famous counterpart. Instead, it’s misunderstood. Is It Worth Visiting? A visit to Gion in Kyoto is something you need to do while you’re in Japan.  While there are crowds of tourists, … Read more