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Saiho-ji Moss temple in Kyoto by RJG

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Saiho-ji Temple Garden

Kyoto's Most Beautiful Garden | UNESCO World Heritage Site


Saiho-ji Temple, renowned for its breathtaking beauty, is often regarded as Kyoto’s most beautiful garden and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.


The Moss Garden

The temple is especially famous for its enchanting moss garden, earning it the nickname "Moss Temple" (苔寺, Koke-dera). The official mountain name, Koin-Zan, refers to the mountain behind Saiho-ji, which also shares its name with the temple.


A Masterpiece by Muso Soseki

In 1339, the renowned Zen monk Muso Soseki became the head priest and redesigned the garden. For Soseki, creating gardens was part of his meditative practice. He designed and remodeled numerous temple gardens, but Saiho-ji remains his crowning achievement.


Historical Visitors

The garden attracted several notable figures, including Emperor Komyo and other members of the imperial family, who visited for boating parties and to admire the cherry blossoms. Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu (1358-1408) meditated in the upper garden to honor Muso Soseki. His grandson, Ashikaga Yoshimasa (1435-1490), so admired the garden that he modeled his own retreat, Ginkaku-ji (The Silver Pavilion), after it.


Notable Monks

Throughout its history, Saiho-ji has been home to several influential monks, including:

  • Kukai (774-835)
  • Honen (1133-1212)
  • Muso Soseki (1275-1351)


During the Edo period, the temple fell into disrepair, allowing moss to gradually take over the garden. Today, approximately 120 varieties of moss thrive in the garden.


Best Viewing Seasons

The garden is particularly striking during the rainy season (mid-June to mid-July), when the moss is soft and vibrant, and in autumn, when the red and orange leaves contrast beautifully with the lush green moss.


Contents:

  • History of the Temple
  • Temple Buildings
  • Soseki's Garden Philosophy
  • The Moss
  • The Lower Garden
  • The Upper Garden
  • Jenny’s Impressions
  • Registration Process
  • How to Get There
  • Literature

  • 18 pages
  • 84 illustrations
  • File size: 19 MB
  • Year of publication: 2012
  • Comes with guide "How to visit Saiho-ji"


You will get the following files:
  • PDF (20MB)
  • PDF (5MB)