about Saihoji

Saihoji opened its garden to the general public in 1928. The beauty of the over 120 varieties of moss that cover the garden earned the temple the nickname “Moss Temple” (Koke-dera), and after the Second World War, it served as the setting for Osaragi Jiro’s novel Homecoming (Kikyo), adding to its fame. Starting from around 1955, an increased global interest in gardening and Japanese gardens inspired a large number of visitors from all over the world to come and see the garden at Saihoji. At one point, Saihoji received the fourth-highest number of visitors of all temples in Kyoto.

Unfortunately, the huge number of visitors caused many problems such as congestion, traffic jams, noise, and littering. The temple discussed the issues and considered countermeasures with local authorities and residents, but was unable to find a meaningful solution. Rather than recklessly taking advantage of the boom in tourism to increase revenue, the temple decided in 1977 to allow only a small number of people to visit, requiring them to apply in advance (by return postcard). This policy would allow the temple to maintain its authentic tranquil and spiritual atmosphere while also enabling people to visit in peace and quiet.

The offerings the temple receives from visitors is a precious financial resource used for the upkeep and maintenance of the temple. Much of this source of income was lost with the creation of the advanced reservation system, so from the perspective of temple preservation, it was a difficult decision to take this step. Nevertheless, out of a sincerely-held conviction that a temple should be a spiritual home for people, it was decided that the new system would allow Saihoji to remain true to the fundamental principles of a Buddhist temple.

Since adopting this policy of limiting entry, the temple has been able to offer more personalized guidance to each visitor, and the temple has received much positive feedback from visitors. The policy has also reduced the impact on the garden and helped preserve the moss and natural surroundings. At the same time, the advanced reservation policy added to the image of Saihoji as “the beautiful moss temple that everyone must visit at least once in their lifetimes.”

Re-Thinking the Role and Meaning of Being a Temple

Fifty years have passed since Saihoji suspended public access, and the environment surrounding the temple has changed dramatically over the decades. The temple has always adjusted the content of the visitor plans that it offers in order to keep up with the changing times, but with the approaching 1,300th anniversary of the temple’s founding in 2031, the time has come to take a fresh look at what it means to be a Buddhist temple. What can Saihoji do to carry on and deepen our devotion to being a “spiritual home” for people today? One of our answers to this question is the “Saihokai Supporters’ Program”, which was launched in September 2023. This program enables the temple to establish closer and deeper ties to those who love Saihoji, while allowing the temple to maintain its policy of limiting entry to a restricted number of visitors.

Saihoji wants visitors to see the beauty of moss and experience the temple in all five seasons, while reflecting on its history and legacy. The temple wants to continue being a temple that is like a “spiritual home” where people can regularly come to reflect on themselves, return to their origins, and prepare to embark on new journeys. That is the temple’s sincere desire.