Philosopher's Path
哲学之道
A roughly 2-kilometer cherry-lined path along the Lake Biwa Canal, connecting Ginkaku-ji, Nanzen-ji, and Eikan-dō, the route where philosopher Nishida Kitarō walked and reflected.
The Philosopher's Path is a path of about 2 kilometers built alongside the Lake Biwa Canal, running from Ginkaku-ji Bridge in the north to Wakaōji Bridge in the south. It is named after Nishida Kitarō, a Kyoto University philosophy professor who walked and reflected here every day. Around 450 cherry trees line the path, the Kansetsu variety donated by the painter Hashimoto Kansetsu and his wife. In early April, when the trees bloom, the blossoms form a tunnel above the canal, and petals float on the water. It is one of Kyoto's most famous cherry-blossom walks. Autumn foliage, summer greenery, and fireflies each have their own charm, and there are cafés and craft shops along the way, where you can often spot cats. Recommended route, from north to south: start at Ginkaku-ji (Jishō-ji, a World Heritage site and the mountain villa of Ashikaga Yoshimasa, with its Silver Sand Beach and Moon-Viewing Platform dry gardens, admission 500 yen). Walk the Philosopher's Path, and along the way you can duck into Honen-in (thatched gate, white-sand altar, free, a famous autumn foliage spot) and Anraku-ji. At the south end, visit Eikan-dō (the 'Looking Back Amida' statue; the autumn foliage and night illuminations in November are among Kyoto's best, admission 600 yen, 1,000 yen during the foliage season) and Nanzen-ji (you can climb the Sanmon gate, the red-brick aqueduct, and the abbot's garden, with free entry to the temple grounds). Finally, walk from Nanzen-ji to Keage subway station or Heian Jingu. The whole route takes about 3 to 4 hours. Getting there: city bus No. 5, 17, or 203 to the 'Ginkakuji-michi' stop, or take the subway Tozai Line to Keage station and start from the south end. Note: the path is extremely crowded during cherry-blossom season, so go early, around 7 to 8 a.m. The path is narrow and partly gravel, so it is not suitable for large strollers. Many temples along the way close around 4:30 to 5 p.m.
Opening hours
Open all day (Ginkaku-ji 08:30–17:00; 09:00–16:30 in winter)