Saiho-ji Temple

Saiho-ji Temple

Introduction

Saiho-ji Temple was established during the Nara period and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as one of Japan’s oldest gardens. The garden is covered with moss, featuring over 120 varieties, hence its nickname “Moss Temple.” In front of the heart-shaped Golden Pond is a pond-and-stream corridor. Shonan-tei is where Iwakura Tomomi, a statesman of the late Edo period, lived in seclusion. A prior application is required for visiting, with an offering of 3,000 yen. To apply for a visit: write your preferred visit date, number of visitors, representative’s name, and address on a round-trip postcard. Registration for the postcard begins two months before the desired visit date, and the card must be received at least one week before the visit.

 Kyoto, Japan