Philosopher’s Path

It’s easy to see why philosopher Kitaro Nishida chose this route for his meditative strolls. The canalside path connects the area’s two greatest temples, Ginkaku-ji and Nanzen-ji, and is lined with cherry trees, 450 of which were donated by the great artist Kansetsu Hashimoto. Of course, Nishida never had to deal with the hordes of tourists who swarm along the route during peak season. Nor was his path lined with souvenir shops. Still, amble along the route on an off-peak weekday and you’ll be able to recapture the old thinker’s enthusiasm. The walk takes 30 minutes, but you’ll want to stop at teashops and smaller temples en route, so allow a couple of hours.