Saiho Ji is a 12th century garden in Kyoto designed around a large pond featuring three small islands linked by moss covered wooden bridges, that was once part of a Jodo Temple, dedicated to Amitabha Buddha, known as Saiho Jodo in Japan. When the temple was converted to a Zen Buddhist one in the 14th century, it is thought that the garden underwent subtle alteration at the hands of Muso Soseki a famous Japanese garden designer of the time. It became one of the first gardens to be associated with Zen thought. The heavily wooded garden of today is missing some of the pavilions and the abbot’s residence that were part of the garden in the 14th century. However the garden is still a stunning example of the dedication to nature that was expressed when it was first established. Inevitably subtle changes took place over the years as rebuilding was done after damage from wars, floods and negligence.
The pond around which the garden is designed is said to resemble the Chinese letter for heart or mind. Ironically the present day garden is celebrated for its 120 varieties of moss which is supposed to have grown due to poor maintenance in an earlier time. Along with the pond and the islands it also retains an arrangement of rocks thought to resemble a turtle and dated to the 11th century. These rocks are now named Turtle Island and are part of a dry waterscape. Other prominent features include bamboo flanked pathways, vistas of foliage over water that bring forth different colours each season, three tea houses inspired by a Zen poem the first of which was built in the 14th century and the others in 1920 and 1928. The main temple hall and study constructed in 1969 are found in the eastern section of the garden as is a three storied pagoda erected in the 1970s. Protected as a UNESCO heritage site, the garden is considered a special place of beauty and visitor numbers are limited to protect the moss from being trampled. The garden is at its greenest between the months of June and July, during the rainy season when the moss is lush and spongy.
A much appreciated aspect of Citadenes Karasuma-Gojo Kyoto is its convenience of location for both leisure and business travelers. The city’s famed cultural areas, business district, shops, restaurants and entertainment areas are easily reachable via public transport systems that are just a few minute’s walk away from the apartments. These popular Kyoto serviced apartments offer furnished, well equipped contemporary accommodation in studio and one bedroom configurations with a relaxing ambience in a noise free environment. Up to date leisure and other facilities and amenities not only provide for a comfortable stay but makes this Kyoto Apartments excellent value for money.
Umanga Kahandawaarachchi is a passionate travel writer who writes under the pen name, Maggie Tulliver. Her field of writing covers a wide array of content and articles related to travel and hospitality industry.
