How to get to Philosophers Path walk (Tetsugaku no michi) 🍵 Where to start Philosophers Path 🍵 Kyoto Japan travel blog

Hi there!

 

The Philosopher’s Path is one of the famous things to do in Kyoto.

You may also hear this being called the tetsugaku no michi. (“philosopher’s street”)

This is basically a temple-to-temple walk, with many temples you can stop by along the way.

The “big 3” temples along the Philosopher’s Path are Ginkakuji Temple, Eikando Temple, and Nanzenji Temple.

But they are not the only temples!

So if you want to explore temples in Kyoto, then the Philosophers Path can be perfect!

Temples in Japan also are often a good place to see gardens with a walk around the temple grounds.

And that is the case with the Philosophers Path temples!

If you want to walk around Japanese gardens in Kyoto, then the Philosophers Path can also be perfect!

 

 

🗾

 

 

Now…

Where is the start of the Philosopher’s Path?

The Philosopher’s Path is a point-to-point walk, although of course you can make it an out-and-back if you want to. (Although there’s really no reason to do that.)

So you’ll first want to decide which direction you want to walk the Philosophers Path.

It really doesn’t matter too much, so you can decide based on where you’ll be before doing the Philosopher’s Path.

Below will show you how to get to the Philosopher’s Path on the Ginkakuji side.

 

And so…

Get off at the bus stop near Ginkakuji Temple

Being located right near Ginkakuji means that you’ll want to get on a bus that goes to Ginkakuji.

Depending on your timings and which bus you take, the bus route you end up on the bus stop might be a 5 minute walk from Ginkakuji or a 15-20 minute walk from Ginkakuji.

But the closest bus stop to Ginkakuji is a 5 minute walk or so.

Google Maps can be a reliable way to figure out which bus to take.

 

 

 

Start walking towards Ginkakuji Temple!

So once you get off the bus, you can head in the direction of the Philosopher’s Path!

That’s the direction that you see the mountain down the street.

If you get off at the bus stop closest to Ginkakuji, then it’s a short 5 minute or so walk up the street.

 

 

Oh, and right before you start walking on the part with all the shops lined up on the street, there’s a public bathroom.

There isn’t another one near the start of the trail (unless you pay for the Ginkakuji admission), so it could be a good idea to go to the bathroom one last time!

And then…

You’ll see signs for the start of the Philosopher’s Path!

You will be looking for a sign for Testsugaku no michi in English.

On the sign you’ll see that it’s the direction of temples and a shrine.

 

 

 

And off you go to start you Philosophers Path walk!

👆 Philosophers Path with fall colors in Kyoto. See pictures of the Philosopher’s Path in summer. (Green!)

 

Or, before starting your Philosopher’s Path walk, if you want to go to the Ginkakuji Temple, then you will keep walking straight ahead.

Also straight ahead are a bunch of shops if you want to check that out before you start your Philosopher’s Path walk.

 

👆 Matcha ice cream shop in Kyoto!

 

👆 Ginkakuji Temple entry ($) with fall colors. See pictures of Ginkakuji in summer! (Green!)

 

👆 Ginkakuji Temple in summer. See more pictures of Ginkakuji temple and gardens!

 

HAPPY STARTING THE PHILOSOPHERS PATH WALK!