Saihoji Temple in Kyoto

Saihoji Temple, located in the western side of the Kyoto city, is believed to have been erected by Priest Gyoki in the Nara period. Later in 1339 the temple was renovated and transformed into a Zen temple by a Zen Buddhist priest, Muso Soseki.

Features

Popularly known as the Moss temple, the Saihoji is famous for its beauty of moss-covered soil, trees, water and stones.
Before entering into the sacred garden, visitors are required to chant prayers to the Buddha along with the Buddhist monks for some time in the temple’s main hall. Once you are inside the garden, you are enclosed in a pleasant atmosphere of soothing sunlight leaking through the leaves, in an abundance of green of the mossy carpet and huge trees. The branches and leaves of the maple, oak and pine trees create the shadow required for the growth of moss over the surface. The sunlight that filters through the leaves gives a glowing touch to the moss carpet.

The theme of the garden is centered on a pond in the shape of "Kokoro", a popular Chinese character for heart. The temple has a rich collection of more than 120 species of moss sprawling over the entire temple complex.
A common belief among the Japanese people is that the three islands inside the sacred pond namely Horai, Tsuru, and Kame stand for the Buddhist idea of paradise. Yodomari-shi, the rock structures near the Horai Isle are regarded as anchored boats on the way to or from paradise.

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