Philosopher's Walk
A footpath beside a shallow canal between Ginkaku-ji and Nanzen-ji, lined with cherry trees and first opened in 1890. It is named for the philosopher Nishida Kitarō, who is said to have walked it daily in meditation.
- Where
- Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan
- Grade
- Well known
- Worth
- 10 points collected on site, plus 1 for its grade
- Coordinates
- 35.0251, 135.7962
Get the Philosopher's Walk stamp
Open LOQAH when you are at Philosopher's Walk. It checks where you are once, at that moment, and the stamp is yours: confirmed on site in gold and struck with the date. It goes into your Kyoto volume with your photos and a note.
Near Philosopher's Walk
Ginkaku-ji 0.3 km
A Zen temple in Sakyō, the Silver Pavilion, built in the Muromachi period as a retreat for the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa. Despite the name it was never covered in silver, and its garden of raked sand includes a flat-topped cone called the Kōgetsudai.
Nanzen-ji 1.6 km
A Zen temple founded by Emperor Kameyama in 1291 on the site of his detached palace, and head of its own branch of Rinzai Zen. A brick aqueduct of the Lake Biwa Canal runs through its grounds, near the great Sanmon gate.
Heian Shrine 1.6 km
A Shinto shrine in Sakyō, built in 1895 for the 1,100th anniversary of Kyoto's founding. Its main buildings are a scaled-down copy of the old imperial palace, and a giant red torii stands over the road in front.
Chion-in 2.5 km
The head temple of Jōdo-shū, the Pure Land school founded by Hōnen, who taught that reciting the name of Amida Buddha brings rebirth in his Pure Land. Its Sanmon is one of the largest wooden gates in Japan, and its great bell is rung by a team of monks at New Year.
Shimogamo Shrine 2.6 km
One of the oldest Shinto shrines in Japan, believed to date from the 6th century, before Kyoto became the capital. It is approached through Tadasu no Mori, an old forest, and is the elder of the city's two Kamo shrines.
Yasaka Shrine 2.9 km
A Shinto shrine at the east end of Shijō-dōri, once called Gion Shrine and the centre of the Gion faith. It is dedicated to Susanoo and his consort, and each July it hosts the Gion Matsuri, one of Japan's most famous festivals.
Ponto-chō 3.0 km
A narrow lantern-lit alley of teahouses and restaurants running beside the Kamo River, and one of Kyoto's geisha districts. In summer the restaurants on its river side build wooden platforms out over the water for dining.
Kōdai-ji 3.0 km
A Rinzai Zen temple in Higashiyama, founded by Nene in memory of her husband, Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Its gardens, designed by Kobori Enshū, are a Place of Scenic Beauty, and its precincts a National Historic Site.
More famous places to visit in Kyoto
Questions
Where is Philosopher's Walk?
Philosopher's Walk is in Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan. The nearest other LOQAH stamps are Ginkaku-ji (0.3 km), Nanzen-ji (1.6 km), Heian Shrine (1.6 km).
How do I get the Philosopher's Walk stamp?
Open LOQAH when you are at Philosopher's Walk and get its stamp. The app checks where you are once, at that moment, and the stamp goes into your Kyoto volume, confirmed on site, with the date.
I have been to Philosopher's Walk before. Can I still have the stamp?
Yes. Add it from Earlier trips in your Kyoto volume, with the date if you know it, or import your Google Timeline and LOQAH matches the places you were.
Collect your first stamp.
LOQAH is free on iPhone and Android, in India and 20 more countries, with more countries on the way. Stand at a place, collect its stamp, and keep every trip in a passport that grows.