To the western eye, Japanese gardens can seem rather one dimensional at first as they all seem to feature similar elements, like water, rocks, gravel and bridges along with a narrow selection of live plants. 

But many of these gardens grow on you after a while as the careful positioning of elements gradually seeps into the psyche encouraging an unwitting sense of well being and peace.

However there is one garden that outdoes them all, creating an almost immediate sense of awe and inspiration. 

These gardens of Kyoto's Silver Pavillion took this reviewer's breath away at times, and although some features were clearly the source, most of the significant feelings and emotions were stimulated by the combination and intensity of garden design. 

This really is the most extraordinary garden space and is one of this reviewer's favourite in Japan.

Can it be accurately described? No, and it is not possible to capture its magic photographically either as the lens looks for single framed compositions while the impact of these gardens is three-dimensional and cumulative. 

You have to experience it. I would also hasten to add that the building of the Silver Pavilion plays only a small part in the success of these gardens.

For those who like to know its place in history - the Silver Pavilion was built 100 years after the Golden Pavilion, in the 1400's, by the grandson of Ashikaga Yoshimitsu who was clearly impressed by his grandfather's estate. At the time of his death, however it was converted to a Zen Temple.

The original estate contained dozens of buildings celebrating leisure pursuits including moon gazing, flower arranging and poetry and it became the centre of Higashiyama Culture developing and influencing many arts including garden design, architecture, poetry and the refinement of the tea ceremony.

Today the estate is much smaller and only a few buildings have survived. They are the Silver Pavillion, Hondo (main hall) and Togudo Hall (Yoshimasi's private residence).

If you have already visited the Golden Pavillion you may be disappointed that the Silver Pavillion is not covered in silver foil but made instead of lacquered wood. 

There are two schools of thought, firstly that he ran out of money and secondly that he enjoyed the silvery light from the moon reflecting on the lacquer and on the lake. It sounds like the former in actuality.

The Pavillion itself is a two storey building, the first floor is in a more residential style and the second with a more religious feel is in the Zen style. Look carefully at the roof, the shingles are made of Japanese Cyprus and held in place with bamboo nails.

The gardens are divided into two areas, the lower part is organised around the pond and the upper part consists of an elevated rock and tree covered slope.

Visitors enter into the Lower Section of the gardens with the paths offering a tantalising glimpse of the Silver Pavilion. They then meander away towards views of the surrounding hillside before returning to view the pavilion close up.

The temple's dry landscape garden features an impressive, perfectly raked sea of silver sand, raised above ground level, which has been designed to appear to ripple in the moonlight. 

Placed closed to the raked garden is a perfect, flat top cone of sand, clearly meant to be a representation of Mount Fuji. Both are extraordinary examples of the Japanese art of sand and gravel sculpture and require some time to take in the exquisite skills on display.

The pond garden is believed to have been designed by the master garden designer Soami. He has created a garden that offers different perspectives as the visitor moves through. It features seven small stone bridges, one miniature waterfall and lots of references to scenes in Japanese and Chinese literature that can really only be appreciated by those who have studied the subject.

All the rocks in the garden were donated by supporters of the Shogun and came from all over Japan, with each Rock bearing its own name and recorded history.

The path takes visitors up a steep slope, through intensely mossy woodlands featuring many varieties of trees and shrubs and dry rock arrangements. At the end of the path is a bamboo fence that separates the formal part from a grove of Japanese cedars. Views of the garden and city beyond make the climb well worth it.

If your schedule limits you to only a few gardens while visiting Japan, then make sure that Ginkaku-ji is at the top of your list whilst in Kyoto.

P.S. Local traders have capitalised on its fame, with the gentle hill street that leads to the main gate being lined with small shops and stalls selling everything a visitor might need - and more.