Saihō-ji (Koke-dera) Temple

Buddhist temple · Kyoto-shi

Saihō-ji (Koke-dera) Temple

Buddhist temple · Kyoto-shi

56 Matsuojingatanicho, Nishikyo Ward, Kyoto, 615-8286, Japan

Highlights

A serene Zen temple in Kyoto, famous for its mesmerizing moss garden, where guests engage in calming sutra copying—just remember to book ahead!

56 Matsuojingatanicho, Nishikyo Ward, Kyoto, 615-8286, Japan Get directions

saihoji-kokedera.com

@saihoji_daily

@afar

"It’s said that the human eye can see more shades of green than any other color. Put the theory to the test at the Koke-dera, or Moss Temple, a veritable spectrum of jades, mints, artichokes, emeralds, and olives. TheUNESCO World Heritage site, formallyknown as Saihoji, ishome to around 120 types of moss, which carpet the temple ground’s forested floor in ways Akira Kurosawa couldn’t have dreamed up. Reservations to the temple must be made by snail mail months in advance in Japanese. After arrival, visitors are also asked to participate in Koke-Dera’s religious activities by observing kito and shakyo (respectively, the chanting and copying of Buddhist scriptures, called sutra)."

The Best Things to Do in Kyoto

View Postcard for Saiho-ji

Andre Perello

Google

Amazing temple! You start by copying sutras and later see the moss. Full circle takes at most 2 hours (if you are very slow). Was able to book on a Monday for the next Saturday. Extremely expensive (4k yen / person) vs other temples and not sure it's worth the visit if you are travelling with a tight budget. If you are not worried about budget, would recommend going.

Marieke Burghoorn

Google

This place was incredible. The garden is exactly like I imagined fairytale forests when I was younger and how the sun shines through the leaves onto the mossy grounds is just unbelievably beautiful. I’m so happy I went here after seeing other temples in the area and I totally recommend! The calligraphy exercise in the temple before you enter the garden is also very relaxing. Please make sure to book a couple of weeks or days in advance to get the time slot you want.

Ravemind

Google

The steps they have taken to maintain the peace and tranquility of the garden are much appreciated. It's been a hot summer and I suppose the moss wasn't at it's most vibrant, but it was still breathtaking. I loved every moment of my 2 hours here. I'd like to know more about the process of caring for the garden.

Nick Young

Google

Very meditative and spiritual experience. I loved the serenity in the gardens after writing the scripture. Hardly anyone was talking as we walked around. Highly recommend this temple, plus it's right near Arashiyama so you can pair it with other activities in that area.

Lucas Meaux

Google

This was a highlight of our trip. Super beautiful and serene in the autumn season. I would recommend booking through their website. You can use zipcode 000000 to book if you are not a citizen of Japan.

Georgia

Google

A beautiful temple and moss garden. Tickets must be applied for in advance, and visitors must participate and copy sutra - which is just lovely and calming. The temple, however, is an hour on the bus from the centre of town (and back again!)…which on the one hand is great because there are not as many tourists, but I am unsure whether it was worth the time…

A R Deet (Ardeet)

Google

Saihōji, the moss temple, is truly beautiful and serene place to visit. Make sure you book as visitors are limited. The care taken with the moss, the perfectly manicured trees, understated water features and expressive rocks made this a highlight of our visit to Japan.

Thibault Martin-Lagardette

Google

I didn't know moss could look so beautiful. Definitely a must-see in Kyoto, much more so than some of the other well known, but less interesting, tourist sites (eg Golden Temple). You must book in advance. For our October visit, we had to book 3 days in advance. The copying of the sutras felt more performative than anything else,but was easy enough even if you don't write, read, or speak the language.