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Saihoji Temple is our new favorite temple in Kyoto. Nicknamed Kokedera or Moss Temple, this lovely spot includes a backyard lined in vibrant inexperienced moss.
You will need to make a reservation for the Kyoto Moss Temple, however because of this crowds are decrease than different standard temples within the metropolis.
We discovered the expertise so peaceable and stress-free, particularly as you begin your go to by copying sutras to calm your thoughts.
On this information to Saihoji Temple, I clarify make a reservation, present instructions to the temple, and share images from our go to.
Contents
About Saihoji
Saihoji is a Rinzai Zen Buddhist Temple that dates again to 731.
In 1339, the excessive priest and grasp gardener Muso Kokushi restored the then-neglected temple as a Zen temple of the Rinzai Sect.
The gardens at Saihoji impressed the designs of many well-known Japanese gardens, together with the Golden and Silver Pavilions (Kinkakuji and Ginkakuji).
The temple has been rebuilt many instances after being destroyed by fireplace and floods. That destruction (and subsequent neglect) ultimately led to the expansion of moss, which took greater than 100 years to cowl the backyard utterly.
In 1994, Saihoji was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Website as a part of the Historic Monuments of Historical Kyoto.
The way to Make a Saihoji / Kokedera Reservation
Saihoji Temple requires all guests to make an advance reservation to restrict customer numbers and shield the moss.
On earlier visits to Kyoto, I used to be postpone by the reservation system, which required sending a postcard, however fortunately, now you can ebook on-line.
Bookings open two months prematurely till 11.59pm JST the day earlier than your go to.
You might discover last-minute availability, however I like to recommend reserving as far prematurely as you may, particularly throughout peak seasons like November.
Opening hours are variable, so verify the reserving calendar on the web site.
To ebook, go to the Nichi-nichi Sanpai web page on the Saihoji web site and create an account.
Entrance prices 4000 yen ($26) plus a 110 yen ($1) reserving payment per particular person. That is way more costly than different temples in Kyoto, but it surely does embrace a pen.
You possibly can solely ebook for as much as two folks. Guests have to be aged 13 or older to go to.
I like to recommend reserving a 9.30am or 10am entry time (we went at 10am), which lets you spend the remainder of the day in close by Arashiyama.
There’s no have to print your ticket—you may present the QR code in your telephone on the gate (you’ll be despatched a hyperlink by e mail). You might want to indicate ID, however we didn’t must.
Cancellation charges are:
- As much as 4 days earlier than – Free.
- 1 – 3 days earlier than – 50% of the payment.
- On the day of your go to – 100% (no refund).
The place is the Kyoto Moss Temple?
Saihoji is a bit out of the best way in western Kyoto, but it surely’s not removed from the Arashiyama space, which is stuffed with issues to do (see my Kyoto information for concepts). It’s straightforward to mix the 2.
It’s positioned at 56 Matsuojingatanicho, Nishikyo Ward, Kyoto. See the Google Maps location.
Getting from Downtown Kyoto to Saihoji
To get to Saihoji from downtown Kyoto, take the Hankyu prepare from Kawaramachi Station to Katsura Station (11 minutes) after which change to get to Kami-katsura Station (2 minutes).
From there, it’s a 20-minute stroll by means of a peaceable neighbourhood. We had been early, so we stopped at Jizō-in Temple (500 yen/ $3) on the best way, a hidden gem with a stunning bamboo grove.
You can too seek for various transport routes on Google Maps. You will get a bus from Kyoto Station all the best way to Saihoji, but it surely takes at the least an hour and can possible be crowded.
Getting from Saihoji to Arashiyama
To get from the Kyoto Moss Temple to Arashiyama, you may take the bus or taxi or stroll 45 minutes.
The bus cease is just a few minutes away (Kokedera Suzumusidera on Google Maps) and buses 63 or 73 go to Arashiyama.
As a taxi was ready close to the bus cease, we determined to get it to save lots of time.
It was a 15-minute drive and price 1500 yen ($10). I like to recommend getting dropped off earlier than Togetsukyo Bridge to keep away from driving on the crowded essential road.
Copying Sutra at Saihoji
Each go to to Saihoji begins in the principle corridor, the place you copy a sutra (a Buddhist prayer written in Japanese).
The thought is that specializing in the copying calms your thoughts and prepares you for visiting the gardens. This did work, and everybody walked across the gardens quietly.
You might be given a calligraphy pen (which you retain) while you enter the temple, and the sutras are prepared in the principle corridor.
You’ll discover bogs in the principle corridor earlier than you enter the sutra room. Take off your footwear earlier than coming into the corridor and put on the offered slippers.
You possibly can select to take a seat on a stool at the next desk on the porch or on the ground on a low desk in the principle a part of the temple.
Photographs and speaking will not be allowed.
I used to be a bit nervous, however copying the sutra wasn’t troublesome—you simply hint over the Japanese script together with your pen.
Directions are in English, and nobody pays consideration to what you might be doing. You don’t even want to complete it, however we accomplished ours in about quarter-hour.
You possibly can then take your sutra with you or depart it as an providing.
It’s a stunning, calming strategy to begin your go to.
Exploring the Saihoji Moss Backyard
When you’ve completed your sutra, you may depart and discover the moss backyard at your personal tempo.
The decrease backyard is a strolling backyard centered round a big pond known as Ogonchi (Golden Pond).
The route takes you on a stone path across the pond, the place you may benefit from the view of its mossy banks. To keep away from damaging the moss, don’t stroll on it.
The backyard has 120 varieties of moss that create a carpet from golden to vibrant inexperienced, particularly beautiful in dappled daylight.
It’s such a phenomenal place, and it felt so particular to have the ability to take pleasure in it with out hoards of individuals. Everybody was quiet, having fun with the tranquillity.
In late November, we loved the distinction of yellow and purple maples in opposition to the inexperienced moss.
The reflections within the pond and the picturesque stone bridge resulting in a mossy island added to the magic.
An previous rowing boat reminds us of the time when shoguns got here to view the backyard by boat.
The gardens have a number of previous teahouses (now not in use), however the expertise is extra about nature than structure.
We cherished the Moss Backyard a lot that we did a second loop across the pond, this time with out taking any images and simply having fun with all the main points.
How Lengthy to Spend at Saihoji
We spent 1 hour and quarter-hour at Saihoji, which was sufficient time to finish our sutra drawing and stroll across the backyard twice.
You may spend longer in case you needed to linger over your copying or discover a peaceable spot to meditate.
The Finest Time to Go to Saihoji
Saihoji/ Kokedera will be visited at any time of 12 months besides mid-January to February when the backyard is closed to vacationers to permit it to relaxation.
The most effective time to go to Saihoji is when the moss is greenest throughout or simply after the wet season from June to mid-July.
We visited in late November, on the peak of the Kyoto autumn season, and it was fantastic to see the backyard contrasting with the purple maples. I extremely suggest it, however do ebook two months prematurely.
The moss is a duller shade of inexperienced in winter and spring, however I nonetheless assume it might be value seeing.
Is Saihoji Price Visiting?
Saihoji or the Moss Temple Kyoto is the most costly temple within the metropolis, and it’s fairly removed from downtown Kyoto, however for us, it was completely value visiting.
It’s now our favorite temple backyard in Kyoto. It’s a surprising place with low crowds and a serene environment you don’t usually discover at Kyoto’s standard sights.
Sahoji isn’t the place to return for gorgeous temple buildings, however in case you love gardens and desire a distinctive, quieter expertise, it’s nicely value reserving your spot.
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