Very calm, tranquil and lovely. My personal favorite temple gardens so far - although I appreciate simple & natural gardens so this was just right for me
I arrived at 4:10p — they close at 4:30 — and they said I could stay until 4:50p. I thought this was helpful. I liked having the gardens almost entirely to myself other than the gardener. This however is not the norm, I imagine.
It was very quiet and up against the bamboo forest so the sounds here are peaceful. Absolutely worth a visit. Close to Ogura Pond and right next to the preserved street
Small but stunning. On a sunny day, the array of rich greens are out of this world. Soft mossy carpet looks fantastic against the bark and sharp leafy canopy above. It's out of the way so there's no sound - so serene, beautiful to amble through slowly with only your calm thoughts and the sounds of nature
Small but cute temple, the gardens around are the real highlight. Moss garden cute and peaceful. Much nicer to visit as little to no crowds, very different experience.
Honestly a bit underwhelming compared to some temples I've visited (such as Tofukuji in Kyoto). The moss garden is totally gorgeous but the whole area is quite small and the proximity to Arashiyama means it was pretty crowded. If you're going, I'd recommend planning to visit a few other nearby sights as it's probably not worth it to come all the way to Arashiyama for Gioji alone. Beautiful though!
One of the most unique Temples I’ve visited. It’s quite small, so manage your expectations. Despite its size, it’s an absolute must-visit. There’s barely any crowd, the moss landscape is mesmerizing, and there’s a small exhibit of the types of moss that they use. You can also take a rest inside the main building which has a traditional Japanese layout.