A complete guide to the Philosopher's Path in Kyoto
Image Copyright: Ollie Ronin
Table of Contents
Overview
The Philosopher's Path is a beautiful 1.8km stone path in northeastern Kyoto, it follows a canal and is lined with hundreds of cherry trees, creating a stunning display which occurs at the end of March and the beginning of April.
Officially opened in 1890 and known in Japanese as Tetsugaku no michi, the canal that runs along the path was constructed to supply Kyoto with fresh water from Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan. The path gets its name from the philosopher Nishida Kitaro, who was famous for trying to bridge the gap between Eastern and Western philosophy. He walked the path each day on his way to university and used it for meditation, and so the path became known as Testugaku no Michi which literally translates to the Path of Philosophy.
The most popular starting point for the Philosopher's Path is near the entrance to Ginkakuji Temple, also known as the Silver Temple. A small street connects the path to the temple, which takes about 5 minutes to walk and is populated with lovely cafes, souvenir shops, and restaurants.
The other end of the path is located near the famous Eikando Temple, which is also a 5-minute walk between the path and the temple. It takes around 30-40 minutes to walk the total length of the Philosopher's Path, it's a charming and peaceful atmosphere featuring boutique shops, restaurants, temples, and some nice Japanese houses.
Location & Access
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The philosopher's path can be accessed via bus, bicycle, or taxi. The bus from downtown Kyoto will take about 30 mins to reach the path, or a taxi will take about 10 mins. If you're riding a bike, note that it becomes extremely crowded during the cherry blossom season so you will need to find a suitable place to park your bike before reaching the path.
🕗 Opening Hours
24/7
📍 Location
Northeastern Kyoto (Google Maps)
💴 Cost
Free
Seasons
Image Copyright: Ollie Ronin
The Philosopher's Path is beautiful year-round but is particularly beautiful during spring, summer, and autumn. It becomes very busy when the cherry blossoms bloom at the end of March.
🌸 Cherry Blossoms
Late March to Early-April
🍁 Autumn Leaves
Mid-November to Late-November
☀️ Summer
June - August
Average temp. 32°C
Fireflies: Late-May to Early June
❄️ Winter
December to February
Snowfall: 1-3 times per season
Interesting Facts & History
Image Copyright: Ollie Ronin
Construction was completed in 1890.
The canal that runs along the path was built to supply Kyoto with fresh water from Japan's largest lake, Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture.
Named after famous philosopher Nishida Kitaro, who walked the path each day on his way to university and used it for meditation.
The total length of the path is 1.8km.
The Northern end of the path is near Ginkakuji Temple, while the Southern end is near Eikando Temple.
It takes about 30-40 minutes to walk the entire length of the park.
Nearby Attractions
Image Copyright: Ollie Ronin
The Philosopher's Path is perfectly combined with two temples that are located at the northern and southern ends of the path. At the northern end you'll find Ginkakuji Temple, and at the Southern end you'll find Eikando Temple. There are some other small temples along the path, plus a nice range of cafes and restaurants which are the perfect option for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The entrance to Ginkakuji Temple is also next to the trailhead for Mt. Daimonji, an enjoyable 40-minute hike that offers some of the nicest views over Kyoto.
