We had to leave them at the temple so that the priests could use them to pray for us and our wish. The guided tour includes an exclusive meditation and sutra chanting service, in addition to … We were then allowed out into the garden for about an hour. You can book a shuttle airport transfer very easily here. There is more to do in Kyoto than just visit this beautiful moss garden and temple. You can book a rental car easily through rentalcars.com. Saiho-Ji, or better known as Kokedera, (in Japanese; Koke Dera 西芳寺) is a UNESCO World Heritage site and very difficult to visit because they require and "old school" reservation made far in advance by regular mail (see "Resources" below for the Official Website). And we are going to close from January 12th (Tue) to January 21st (Thu), 2021 and from 3/2 (Tue) to 3/4 (Thu) due to the replacement of fusuma (sliding screen) paintings. Reservations can be made from one-week to two-months in advance. Here are some possibilities: Click here to see how much your currency is worth in yen. This sketch pad looks great and is easy to carry. It was magical. 2,500〜3,000 JPY) From Arashi-yama（嵐山方面） ・Kyoto bus (Line 73 or 63) 15 min, 3 … There are about 120 varieties of moss there now. In 1339, amid the postwar devastation of the times, Musō Kokushi, one of the most highly respected Zen priests in Japan at the time, revived it as a Zen temple, at the invitation of Fujiwara Chikahide (the chief priest of Matsunō Shrine). The pond has three islands named, “Sunrise”, “Sunset” and “Mist”. To visit Saiho-ji, one must make a reservation at least 1-2 months in advance. Winter Visit . The 35,000-square-meter garden is currently listed among the Historic Sites and Places of Scenic Beauty of Japan and was registered in 1994 with UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage as a Historic Monument of Ancient Kyoto. Comment below. meaningful travel that actively engages with the environment and culture. Before being permitted access to the garden, visitors must engage in an activity, which varies from day to day. Visitors are given access to the grounds for 90 minutes. The garden itself, the way the golden and green moss glows and the way the light filters through the trees, is magical. Visiting the Koke-dera (or Saiho-ji) is not an insurmountable ordeal, but this requires some advance preparation and organization to get a proper appointment. In order to ensure that those who enter this garden paradise are in the appropriate contemplative frame of mind, before you can enter the garden you need to participate in a “ritual activity” in the temple. For the total lowdown on staying in a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) or minshuku (guesthouse) **BOTH HIGHLY RECOMMENDED**, read my Complete Guide to Staying in Ryokans here. Visiting Saiho-ji Temple is a unique experience which affords one the opportunity to view a garden of rare beauty in a temple which preserves a serene and dignified atmosphere. 60 min, 3 min walk from “Kokedera, Suzumushi-dera ” (苔寺・すず虫寺バス停) station ・Taxi approx. I use cookies to analyze my traffic, which helps ensure that I give you the best experience on my website. If you are applying from inside Japan, you can pick up a special return postcard called an oufuku hagaki from a post office or convenience store. At the bus’ end-of-the-line stop, the garden’s gates are but a five-minute walk away on a quiet lane bordering the tree-shaded Saiho-ji River. To get to Saiho-ji Temple form Kyoto JR station, take (a) bus No.73 and get off at “Kokedera stop”. If you make a purchase through these links, I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. For best results, use the customized Trip Planning Widget for Saiho-ji Temple on your website.It has all the advantages mentioned above, plus users to your site can conveniently access it directly on your site. Description Title Saiho-ji [Kokedera] Date Founded 8th century Creator Gyoki Creator Birth/Death Dates 668- 749 City/Site Kyoto Country Japan Work Type Architecture > Religious Buildings > Temples Label View Moss garden Accession Number In 1339 the Buddhist monk Muso Soseki accepted an opportunity to restore a dilapidated temple into a deeply religious one surrounded by a zen garden. Answer 1 of 8: We have been granted access to the moss garden at Saiho-ji at 1pm on a Saturday in late December. Ainsley and I were more than happy to do so. I’d love to hear about them. More than 120 kinds of moss blankets the temples grounds like a beautiful green carpet. The garden was designed to represent Jodo, the Western Paradise (or Pure Land) of Amida Buddhism, with a heart-shaped “golden pond” at its center. The moss formed a lush spongy carpet; a pointillist mosaic of greens and golds. You can also consider buying a sketch book to record your memories in a different way than just photos. More than 120 kinds of moss blankets the temples grounds like a beautiful green carpet. A small black inkstone was in front of us all. The application has to reach the temple at least one week before you intend to visit, but I would recommend sending it in sooner – it does book out. Reservations must be made in writing via return postcard, and can be sent only to addresses within Japan. Saiho-ji temple is located in Kyoto’s rural, southwestern outskirts, a forty-five minute city bus ride from the city’s center. To reach the temple was founded, during the Asuka Period, it was touted as moss. Fantasy of travel for me you are also required to do so 120 of. 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