Kyoto · Sagano · Japan

Giōji Temple

templemoss gardenthatched roofgoogle verified

easy

9/10

best: rainy_day, weekday, morning

melancholy, intimate, moss-covered, quiet

A local would say...

Named after a woman who came here to grieve, the moss garden feels like it's still in mourning — in the most beautiful way.

A small, quietly charming temple in the Sagano area with a fine little moss garden and a thatched-roof main hall. Named after a Heian-era dancer abandoned by Taira no Kiyomori, the temple has a melancholy beauty that matches its story. In quieter seasons, it's possible to have the entire moss-carpeted garden to yourself.