Philosopher's Path

Named after the philosopher Nishida Kitaro (1870-1945), who used this canal-side path for his daily meditative walks, the Philosopher's Path follows a small canal for approximately 2 kilometers between the Silver Pavilion (Ginkaku-ji) in the north and Nanzen-ji temple in the south. Cherry trees line both sides of the canal, creating one of Japan's most beloved hanami (flower viewing) locations in late March and early April.

Along the path, small sub-temples, stone shrines, coffee shops and craft stores appear at intervals. The Honen-in temple garden, accessible through a thatch-roofed gate, is particularly beautiful and almost never crowded. Nanzen-ji at the southern end contains the famous red brick aqueduct — an extraordinary piece of Meiji-era infrastructure running through the ancient temple grounds. Walk the path from north to south in the early morning for the best light.