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Kyoto's Famed Saihoji Temple
Mandy BartokTucked away in the hills west of Kyoto, this unique World Heritage sight boasts one of the city's most amazing gardens
El Templo Saihoji o Templo Kokedera fue fundado durante el período Nara, hace unos 1300 años, por el sacerdote Gyōki a petición del Emperador Shōmu, junto con otros cuarenta y nueve templos de la secta Hosso.
En 1339, en medio de la devastación del período de posguerra, Musō Kokushi, uno de los sacerdotes Zen más respetados de Japón, revivió el templo como templo Zen por invitación de Fujiwara Chikahide (el sacerdote principal del santuario de Matsunō).
El complejo con un área de 35,000 metros cuadrados es ahora uno de los sitios históricos más especiales y lugares de belleza escénica en Japón y fue agregado a la Lista del Patrimonio Mundial de la UNESCO en 1994 como un monumento histórico del antiguo Kioto.
Debido al hermoso musgo que cubre el área, el cual lo hizo saltara a la fama, ahora se lo conoce popularmente como Kokedera (Templo de musgo) el jardín de Saiho-ji contiene más de 120 especies diferentes de musgo.
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The upper floor of Saiho-ji’s famed garden is the Karesansui Style Garden. Unlike its lower floor, this garden is made entirely out of rocks. It was said that the creator, Muso Kokushi, meant for this to be his grave. However, he decided to let the garden live on as a symbol of Zen Spirituality. In 1339 when it was built, it was common to have ponds and water in Zen gardens. Yet Muso Kokushi chose to use rocks to portray this spirit, an innovative idea that served as inspiration to many others. The Karesansui-style garden in Saiho-ji is also regarded as Japan’s founder of rock gardens.
The lower floor of the famed moss garden is a classical-style garden. Amongst the lush foliage and green moss carpets is the Ougonchi Pond. The heart-shaped pond lies at the center of the garden, producing stunning reflections in the water on a clear day. Also known as Shinji Ike, the term ‘heart’ is also known as the Chinese character 心, giving the pond a second identity as the “Heart Pond”. Both gardens are recognised as Historic Sites and Places of Scenic Beauty by the Japanese Government.
Built during the Toyotomi Period, the Shonantei Tea House is a historic building recognised by Kyoto as a National Treasure. The tea house was allegedly used as a hiding spot for Iwakura Tomomi during the Meiji Restoration. Now, Shonantei is also known for being a moon-watching spot in Northern Kyoto.
To visit Saiho-ji, one must make a reservation at least 1-2 months in advance. The guided tour includes an exclusive meditation and sutra chanting service, in addition to the comprehensive 90-minute tour of the gardens. It’s best to seek the advice of your hotel to help arrange a reservation as the process is mostly in Japanese.
5-minute walk from Kokedera Bus Stop
Tucked away in the hills west of Kyoto, this unique World Heritage sight boasts one of the city's most amazing gardens
Saihoji's famed moss garden is worth the effort it takes to get to on the outer fringes of Kyoto
สวนมอสส์ชื่อดังของไซโฮจิที่ชายขอบของเกียวโตนั้นคุ้มค่าที่ลงแรงไป
Koke-dera (Saiho-ji) Temple: Moss carpeted, Zen practice garden has a unique atmosphere that has attracted famous people such as Steve Jobs (co-founder of Apple) or Richard Gere (American actor).
京都 苔寺（西芳寺）：境内一面が苔に覆われていることから、通称・苔寺（こけでら）と呼ばれる西芳寺（さいほうじ）は、アップル創始者の一人だったスティーブ・ジョブズや、ハリウッド俳優のリチャード・ギアが、何度も足を運んだ京都の古寺である。
Temple Koke-dera (Saiho-ji) : ce jardin de méditation zen avec son tapis de mousse dégage une atmosphère unique.
Templo Koke-dera (Saiho-ji): O jardim para prática Zen, coberto de musgo, tem uma atmosfera única que atraiu pessoas famosas como Steve Jobs (co-fundador da Apple) ou Richard Gere (ator americano).
Aninhado nas colinas a oeste de Quioto, esta paisagem única de um Património Mundial vangloria-se como um dos mais espetaculares jardins da cidade
Khu vườn rêu nổi tiếng ở Saihoji rất xứng đáng ghé thăm ở ven Kyoto
Perched on the forested slopes above Kyoto’s Arashiyama district, Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama offers one of the most memorable wildlife encounters in the city. Home to over 100 wild Japanese macaques, the park provides a rare opportunity to observe these intelligent, social animals in a natural environment, rather than in enclosed zoo spaces. The experience begins with a moderately challenging uphill hike that takes around 15–20 minutes. The path winds through shaded woodland, creating a sense of anticipation as you ascend toward the summit.At the top, visitors are rewarded with sweeping panoramic views across Kyoto, framed by mountains and the winding Katsura River below. The open space allows the monkeys to roam freely, often gathering in small groups, grooming each other, or playfully interacting. While the macaques are accustomed to human presence, clear guidelines are in place to ensure a safe and respectful interaction. Feeding is permitted only inside a designated hut, where visitors can hand snacks through a protective barrier, offering a close yet controlled encounter.The park strikes a careful balance between accessibility and authenticity. Informational signage throughout the area provides insight into macaque behavior, social structures, and conservation efforts, making the visit both entertaining and educational. Families, couples, and solo travelers alike will find the experience engaging, with enough variety to hold interest beyond a simple animal sighting.Beyond the monkeys themselves, the park’s location enhances its appeal. It sits just across the river from the iconic Togetsukyo Bridge, making it easy to combine with a broader exploration of Arashiyama’s bamboo groves, temples, and riverside scenery. Seasonal changes add another layer of charm, with cherry blossoms in spring and vibrant foliage in autumn transforming the landscape.Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama is more than a quick stop—it’s an immersive outing that blends light adventure, natural beauty, and cultural context into one unforgettable Kyoto experience.
The Katsura Imperial Villa, or Katsura Detached Palace, is a villa with associated gardens and outbuildings in the western suburbs of Kyoto, Japan. It is one of Japan's most important large-scale cultural treasures. [Wikipedia] A reservation is required to visit the Katsura Imperial Villa.
El Tenryuji es el templo principal de la secta del budismo Zen Rinzai del mismo nombre y está ubicado en el distrito de Arashiyama en el noroeste de la ciudad de Kioto. Es el templo Zen más importante de la ciudad y es Patrimonio de la Humanidad por la UNESCO. El templo fue construido en 1339 por Shogun Ashikaga Takauji, quien lo dedicó al recientemente fallecido Emperador Go-Daigo. Ambos hombres eran antiguos aliados hasta que Takauji se rebeló contra el emperador en la lucha por la supremacía en Japón. Los edificios de Tenryuji han sido destruidos repetidamente por el fuego a lo largo de los siglos, por lo que el complejo actual data en gran parte del período Meiji (1868-1912). Por el contrario, el jardín circundante, que fue diseñado por el conocido maestro de la jardinería, Muso Soseki, es casi en su totalidad original. Especialmente en otoño, cuando el follaje de los árboles y las montañas de Arashiyama visibles detrás de ellos se vuelven rojos y amarillos, Tenryuji y su jardín son un destino popular.