Saihō-ji (Kyoto)
| Saihō-ji 西芳寺 | |
|---|---|
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Independent Rinzai (formerly Tenryū-ji) |
| Deity | Amida Nyorai (Amitābha) |
| Location | |
| Location | 56 Matsuo Jingatani-chō, Ukyō-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture |
| Country | Japan |
| Geographic coordinates | 34°59′33″N 135°41′03″E / 34.99250°N 135.68417°E |
| Architecture | |
| Founder | Gyōki (acc. legend) (restored by Musō Soseki) |
| Completed | 1969-1978 (reconstruction) |
Saihō-ji (西芳寺) is a Rinzai Zen Buddhist temple in Matsuo, Nishikyō Ward, Kyoto, Japan. 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). The temple, primarily constructed to honor Amitābha, was founded by Gyōki and later restored by Musō Soseki. 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.