noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru'
visit to a family grave; grave visit during Bon
Refers to the custom of visiting and cleaning family graves, especially during the Bon festival in summer. The focus is on the visit and paying respects, not just cleaning.
お盆には家族で掃苔に行く。
During the Bon festival, the family goes to visit the grave.
noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru'
removal of moss from a tombstone
Literally the act of cleaning moss off a gravestone. This sense is more literal and less common than the broader grave-visit meaning.
古い墓石の掃苔は手間がかかる。
Removing moss from old tombstones takes a lot of effort.