Saihō-ji monastery in Kyoto, Japan was created around 729-749. It’s thought to have been constructed by Gyoki, a famed Buddhist priest, or that’s one of the legends surrounding it. The monastery was falling apart by the 1300s when Muso Soseki was employed to restore the garden. Since then the temple and grounds have been restored numerous times due to war and floods–the Onin War in the 1400s was particularly damaging.

The most famous feature is the moss garden but according to some it wasn’t intended in Soseki’s plans but rather happened after one of the floods. The grounds also have a Zen rock garden, 3 tea houses, a pagoda, and of course the temple itself.

To protect the gardens, especially the moss, Saiho-ji has limited the amount of foot traffic and began requiring reservations. Starting around 2010 reservations have to be made at least 7 days in advance and are allowed access for 90 minutes.

Saiho-ji is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.