Saihō-ji, Kyoto

Name: Saihō-ji
Address: 56 Matsuo Jingatanicho, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto, 615-8286, Japan
Telephone: +81 75-391-3631

#85 among attractions in Kyoto

Buddhist architecture, Temple, Sacred and religious sites, Buddhist temple, More...

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Photo details 1. Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Ivanoff / URL • 2. Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA-3.0 / Ivanoff / URL • 3. En.wikipedia.org / CC-BY-SA-3.0 / Knj ucsc / URL • 4. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Yanajin33 / URL • 5. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Yanajin33 / URL • 6. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 / अन्तकरण / URL • 7. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 / अन्तकरण / URL

Facts and practical information

Saihō-ji is a Rinzai Zen Buddhist temple in Matsuo, Nishikyō Ward, Kyoto, Japan. The temple, which is famed for its moss garden, is commonly referred to as "Koke-dera", meaning "moss temple", while the formal name is "Kōinzan Saihō-ji". The temple, primarily constructed to honor Amitābha, was first founded by Gyōki and was later restored by Musō Soseki. In 1994, Saihō-ji was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as part of the "Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto". Over 120 types of moss are present in the two-tiered garden, resembling a beautiful green carpet with many subtle shades. ()

Local name: 西芳寺 Unesco: from 1994Area: 0.79 mi²Coordinates: 34°59'30"N, 135°41'2"E

Address

56 Matsuo Jingatanicho, Nishikyo-kuKyoto 615-8286 Japan

Contact

+81 75-391-3631

Website

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Kyoto

Day trips

Saihō-ji – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)

Nearby attractions include: Iwatayama Monkey Park, Matsunoo Taisha, Umenomiya Shrine, Bamboo Forest.

1.3 miNW
Park, Zoo, View point
Iwatayama Monkey Park, Kyoto
34 min walk • Nestled in the verdant hills of Arashiyama, on the outskirts of Kyoto, Japan, lies the Iwatayama Monkey Park, a unique wildlife reserve that offers an unforgettable experience for visitors. This park is home to a troop of over 120 Japanese macaque monkeys, also known...
0.6 miN
Temple, Sacred and religious sites
Matsunoo Taisha, Kyoto
16 min walk • Matsunoo Taisha, formerly Matsunoo Jinja, is a Shinto shrine located at the far western end of Shijō Street, approximately 1.3 kilometers south of the Arashiyama district of Kyoto. It is home to a spring at the base of the mountain, Arashiyama, that is believed to be blessed.
1.1 miNE
Temple, Sacred and religious sites
Umenomiya Shrine, Kyoto
28 min walk • Umenomiya Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Ukyō-ku in Kyoto, Japan.
1.6 miNW
Forest
Bamboo Forest, Kyoto
41 min walk • Bamboo Forest, Arashiyama Bamboo Grove or Sagano Bamboo Forest, is a natural forest of bamboo in Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan. The forest consists mostly of Moso Bamboo and consists of several pathways for tourists and visitors. The Ministry of the Environment considers it a part of the soundscape of Japan.
1.2 miSE
Neighbourhood
Katsura, Kyoto
31 min walk • Katsura is a neighborhood in Nishikyo-ku, in the western part of the city of Kyoto, Japan. Predominantly residential in character the district is situated and the western bank of the Katsura River. The neighborhood is renowned as the location of the Katsura Imperial Villa, a historic garden maintained by the Imperial Household Agency.