The Green Hidden Gem You Can Only Visit by Mail: Kyoto’s Saihō-ji Temple!

Written / Compiled and reported by the MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Department

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.

The beautiful moss covers the entire pond-and-garden landscape, forming a lush, emerald velvet carpet — a truly unique sight. Saihō-ji was established in the Nara period as a villa built by Emperor Shōmu for his personal spiritual practice. After years of decline and many changes, it once became a temple of the Pure Land sect. By the end of the Kamakura period, it was converted to the Rinzai sect by the Zen master Musō Kokushi, who was also a master of garden design during the era of Emperor Go-Daigo. Both the Saihō-ji and Tōfuku-ji gardens were designed by Musō Kokushi. The garden uses stones and moss to condense the beauty of nature within its bounds, with each stone resembling a small mountain — from any angle, it feels like 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 earning its title as part of the “Cultural Properties of Ancient Kyoto.” However, because Saihō-ji aims to maintain a tranquil and serene 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.