The Saihoji Temple belongs to the Rinzai school of Japanese Buddhism. The temple is more commonly known as Kokedera, the Moss Temple, referring to the temple garden’s estimated 120 different varieties of moss. In 1994 the site was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Entrance to this temple requires a reservation made well in advance by mail.
A unique experience
Kokedera offers a unique opportunity for visitors to participate in some of the temple’s religious activities. Every visitor to Kokedera is asked to contribute to the observances of kito and shakyo (respectively, the chanting and copying of Buddhist scriptures, called sutra). After entering the gates, visitors should proceed directly to the temple to pay the entrance fee and begin the sutra copying. They will take a seat at one of the low-writing desks. A monk leads the room in sutra chanting and then the copying begins. When ready, visitors can take their sutra paper up to the alter and exit. After the kito and shakyo, a stroll through the moss garden is not to be missed. Completing the entire activity may take over an hour and sitting on the floor for this length of time can be uncomfortable. It should be stressed, however, that copying out the sutra is not as challenging as it may first sound. A tracing of the Japanese characters guides even those with no previous knowledge of Japanese calligraphy or Buddhism.
About the reservation
To make a reservation, send a request by postal mail to the temple with your name, the number of people in your group, the name and address of your “group representative” and the proposed date of your visit, as well as a self-addressed, stamped return postcard. The request must reach the temple seven days before the date of your intended visit, but far more time is recommended.
For visitors applying from inside Japan, a special return postcard called an “ofuku hagaki” is available from the post office for exactly these purposes. It comes in a set of two postcards, one of which is used by the receiving party to reply. Visitors applying from overseas can make use of an International Reply Coupon, available from most local post offices around the world. A reply indicating your reservation date and time will be sent to you by the temple on your self addressed return postcard. Reservations are not possible via internet or over the phone.
The temple address is: Saihoji Temple 56 Jingatani-cho, Matsuo Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto, 615-8286, Japan
The admission fee of yen 3,000 per person is paid at the time of the visit.
