kajikawa, CC BY 3.0

Saiho-ji (Kokedera / Moss Temple)

西芳寺（苔寺）

Kyoto · Kansai

UNESCO Rinzai Zen temple famous for its moss garden (120+ moss species) around a heart-shaped pond; strictly reservation-only, requires sutra-copying or zazen before garden access.

Crowd level: Hidden gem
Rating: 4.5· 2,029 reviews
Nearest station: Matsuo-Taisha Station (Hankyu Arashiyama Line)
Phone: 075-391-3631
Website: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saih%C5%8D-ji

How to get there

20 min walk from Matsuo-Taisha Station, or Kyoto Bus #63/73/83 to Kokedera・Suzumushidera stop (~8 min, ¥230).

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