The Green Secret Garden of Kyoto’s Saihō-ji Temple — Apply by Letter to Enter!

By / MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Network Editorial Department Compilation and Report

In Japanese gardens, moss plays a very important role. Known as the "Moss Temple," Saihō-ji is famous for its hundreds of varieties of moss and is the best place to enjoy moss gardens in Kyoto.

Only beautiful moss covers the entire pond-and-garden complex, forming a lush, emerald-green velvet carpet — a truly unique sight. Saihō-ji was established in the Nara period as a villa built by Emperor Shōmu for personal spiritual practice. After years of decline and multiple transitions, it once became a temple of the Jōdo sect. By the end of the Kamakura period, it was converted to the Rinzai sect by the Zen master Musō Soseki. A prominent Zen figure during the reign of Emperor Go-Daigo, Musō Soseki was also skilled in garden design — both the Saihō-ji and Tenryū-ji gardens were created by him. The garden uses stones and moss to condense the beauty of nature within its grounds, where each rock resembles a small mountain, giving the impression from any angle of seeing a miniature version of the world.

Saihō-ji, along with 16 other temples in Kyoto, has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, truly deserving its title as a "Cultural Property of Ancient Kyoto." However, because Saihō-ji strives to maintain a serene and tranquil environment, unlike other temples that allow free access, it not only has daily visitor limits but also requires advance application by mail for entry. In addition to paying an admission fee of 3,000 yen, visitors must also submit a handwritten letter in order to secure a visit — quite a unique process.