Kyoto, Kyoto / 西芳寺（苔寺）
Saihoji (Kokedera, the Moss Temple)
Called "Kokedera" (moss temple) because about 120 kinds of moss cover the grounds like a green carpet. Said to have been founded by the monk Gyoki in 731 and revived by Muso Kokushi in 1339 as a Rinzai temple, it is a World Heritage site. The garden, a Special Place of Scenic Beauty, has two tiers: a dry landscape garden above and a strolling garden around the Ogon pond below; the moss is said to have begun covering it in the late Edo period.
Last official check
26 Sept 2026
Traveler reports
0
Reports open in Phase 2
Next scheduled check
25 Dec 2026
Decide before you go
A short summary made from the official facts below. Check the rows for details.
- Getting there
- Bus
- Admission
- Paid (see the price below)
Before you go
Only facts we confirmed on official sources are shown. Anything else is marked “Not checked yet”.
- Opening hours
The time is set when you apply (see the official website).
Checked 26 Sept 2026 on the official site- Closed
Not checked yet — we have not confirmed this on an official source yet. Check with the spot before you go.
- Admission
Offering fee from 4,000 yen.
Checked 26 Sept 2026 on the official site- Getting there
Kyoto Bus to Kokedera-Suzumushidera, or city bus to Suzumushidera-Kokederamichi.
Checked 26 Sept 2026 on the official site- Parking
Not checked yet — we have not confirmed this on an official source yet. Check with the spot before you go.
- Payment
Not checked yet — we have not confirmed this on an official source yet. Check with the spot before you go.
- Accessibility
Not checked yet — we have not confirmed this on an official source yet. Check with the spot before you go.
Found wrong or outdated information? Let us know
Address: Kyoto, Kyoto (Japanese address: 京都府京都市西京区松尾神ケ谷町56)
Official site: https://www.kyoto-kankou.or.jp/info_search/9525
Location
Smaller pins are other spots nearby.
Nearby spots
Photo: Tomomarusan / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.5 (cropped)Togetsukyo BridgeKyoto2 km away (straight line)- No photo yetTenryu-ji TempleKyoto3 km away (straight line)
Photo: Basile Morin / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)Bamboo Grove Path, ArashiyamaKyoto3 km away (straight line)- No photo yetKoryuji TempleKyoto3 km away (straight line)
- No photo yetKyoto Railway MuseumKyoto5 km away (straight line)
Distances are straight-line distances, not travel distances.
Crowds
- Crowd level
Not checked yet — no official source yet, and not enough traveler reports.
- Best time to visit
Not checked yet — no official source yet, and not enough traveler reports.
- Peak time
Not checked yet — no official source yet, and not enough traveler reports.
- Busiest days
Not checked yet — no official source yet, and not enough traveler reports.
- Busiest season
Not checked yet — no official source yet, and not enough traveler reports.
- Latest traveler report
- None yet
Traveler crowd data by time of day appears after 5 traveler reports (0 so far).
You can check typical busy hours in Google Maps ("Popular times" on the place's page). Open this spot in Google Maps
Visiting respectfully
- RulesVisits require an application; the time is set when you apply.Checked 26 Sept 2026 on the official site
Verification log
- 26 Sept 2026First check · Tourism board · https://www.kyoto-kankou.or.jp/info_search/9525Hours, access, description, address and coordinates read from a tourism organization's site.