Giōji is a small temple in the quieter northern part of Arashiyama, known less for grand halls than for its moss garden. The temple is linked to The Tale of the Heike, where the dancer Gio withdraws from courtly life and devotes herself to Buddhism.
The visit is short, but the setting is lovely: a low thatched hall, maples, and a carpet of bright green moss that looks especially good after rain. It pairs well with Otagi Nenbutsu-ji and the back lanes of Sagano, away from the busiest bamboo-grove crowds.