The Philosopher's Walk (Tetsugaku-no-michi; Path of Philosophy) is a walking path in Kyoto, Japan. It runs along a canal lined with cherry trees between Ginkaku-ji and Nanzen-ji temples. The path was first built in 1890 and later expanded in 1912. It follows the route of a shallow water channel that carries water from the Lake Biwa Canal.

Etymology

The route is named after two 20th-century Japanese philosophers and professors at Kyoto University, Nishida Kitaro and Hajime Tanabe. It is believed that they used this path for daily exercise.

Layout

The path goes by several temples and shrines, including Hōnen-in, Ōtoyo Shrine, and Eikan-dō Zenrin-ji. The walk takes about 30 minutes to complete, but many people spend more time exploring the sights along the way. In the northern part of the path, there are clear views of the nearby Daimonji. The walk is a popular place for visitors and local people, especially during hanami.