Overview
Moss of 120 species covers the ground - not by design, but because the garden fell into ruin and the moss took it.
About this place
Saihō-ji (西芳寺) is a Buddhist temple located in Matsuo, Nishikyō-ku, Kyoto, Japan. It belongs to the Rinzai school of Japanese Zen, and honzon is a statue of Amida Nyorai. The temple, which is famed for its moss garden, is commonly referred to as "Koke-dera" (苔寺), meaning "moss temple", while the formal name is "Kōinzan Saihō-ji" (洪隠山西芳寺). 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. The gardens of Saihō-ji are designated as both a Special Place of Scenic Beauty and a National Historic Site.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Source ja.wikipedia.org ↗Key facts
Founded / opened：1339 Architect / artist：Muso Soseki Highlights / collection：Garden covered with 120 kinds of moss, Upper-level dry landscape Genre：Architecture, Outdoor art and land art
Source ja.wikipedia.org ↗Official website
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Source saihoji-kokedera.com ↗Before you go
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