The photographs above are of Saihoji, the Moss Garden, also known to most Japanese as Kokedera. It was this place, above all others, that most made me want to come to Kyoto. The garden was created in 1338 by Muso Kokushi, a distinguished Zen priest. More than 120 varieties of moss grow here, and the garden is best viewed in May and June (a little luck and good timing!). Because hoards of tourists started trampling the moss in recent years, you may now visit only by applying a month or two in advance. Once at the temple, you are asked to pay a $30 entrance fee, as well as copy sutras and listen to a brief taisho (speech) by the resident roshi. The whole temple experience took about one hour, and then we were told "please see the garden by yourselves". It was all well worth it - I can't imagine a more beautiful place.
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