Saihō-ji

Saihō-ji is a Zen Buddhist temple featuring a garden where the ground is covered with around 120 varieties of moss beneath tall trees. A central pond anchors the landscape, with stones and water arranged to create a restful composition for contemplation.

Founded in 1189, the temple shifted through different Buddhist schools over the centuries, from Hosso to Jodo and eventually to Rinzai Zen. These transitions reflect the broader religious changes that reshaped Japanese Buddhism through the centuries.

Visitors engage in sutra copying before exploring the grounds, a practice that connects them to Buddhist traditions still performed here today. The temple remains an active place where monks maintain these rituals as part of their daily spiritual life.

Visitors should reserve well in advance by postal mail, as spaces are limited and planning ahead is essential for entry. It is helpful to allow time for participation in meditation or sutra copying before exploring the garden itself.

The stones and water in the garden are arranged in the shape of the Chinese character for heart around the main pond, a subtle design many visitors miss on first visit. This symbolic arrangement blends landscape artistry with spiritual meaning in an unexpected way.

Location: Sakyō-ku

Inception: 1189

Founders: Fujiwara no Tsunemune

GPS coordinates: 35.01283,135.77806

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:43