Saiho-ji (Koke-dera)（西芳寺 (苔寺)）
Kyoto’s Legendary Moss Temple and Masterpiece of Zen Garden Design The garden of Saihō-ji is considered by many to be Kyoto’s most beautiful garden and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is especially famous for its lush moss garden, which has earned it the popular name Koke-dera (苔寺), or Moss Temple. In […]
The Silver Pavilion (Ginkaku-ji)（銀閣寺 （慈照寺））
The Silver Pavilion and the Spirit of Wabi-Sabi in Kyoto Ginkaku-ji (銀閣寺), also known as the Silver Pavilion, is one of Kyoto’s most iconic Zen temples. Located on the city’s eastern hills, it was built by Ashikaga Yoshimasa, the grandson of Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, who commissioned the famous Kinkaku-ji. While its golden counterpart shines with opulence, […]
Zuisen-ji (Flower Temple)（瑞泉寺 （花寺））
Kamakura’s Hidden Flower Temple in the Eastern Hills Zuisen-ji, also known as the Flower Temple, is a small temple tucked into the eastern mountains of Kamakura. Its nickname comes from the flower garden in front of the main hall, which many consider the most beautiful in Kamakura. The temple is a branch of Engaku-ji in […]
Kencho-ji（建長寺)
Japan’s Oldest Zen Monastery and a Garden of the Mind Kenchō-ji (建長寺) is the oldest Zen training monastery in Japan and holds the highest rank among the Kamakura Five-Mountain temples (五山). Completed in 1273 during the Kamakura period (1192–1333), it introduced formal Zen architecture and spiritual practice to Japan on a grand scale. The temple […]
Erin-ji（恵林寺）
Zen Gardens and Samurai History Erin-ji Temple in Yamanashi is a quiet yet historically significant Zen temple, surrounded by the peaceful beauty of the mountains. It was founded in 1330, when Nikaidō Sadafuji, the military governor of Kai-no-kuni, invited the renowned Zen priest and garden designer Musō Soseki (夢窓 疎石), also known as Musō Kokushi, […]