Kyoto Est Zen Walking tour

A walking route through eastern Kyoto

This half-day itinerary with Kimasu covers four kilometers of walking through the quiet streets and temple grounds of northeast Kyoto. We walk from north to south, starting at the Silver Pavilion and ending at the Nanzen-ji complex. The path is flat and follows a historic canal, which makes it an easy walk. The journey takes four hours and focuses on the quiet, minimalist side of local history.

The Silver Pavilion and wabi-sabi

We meet at 09:00 AM at the entrance of Ginkaku-ji. This temple is famous for its raw, weathered wood structure, which represents the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi, the appreciation of simple and imperfect things. We walk past the tall bamboo entrance to view the main pavilion. In the courtyard, the monks maintain the Ginshadan, a large field of raked sand, and the Kogetsudai, a sand cone shaped like Mount Fuji. A short climb up the hillside path provides a view of the temple grounds against the modern city skyline.

The quiet forest temple of Honen-in

After leaving Ginkaku-ji, we join the Philosopher's Path (Tetsugaku-no-Michi) and walk south beside the canal. We turn up a small side street to reach Honen-in, a smaller temple in the woods. You enter through a moss-covered thatch gate and walk between two large sand mounds called byakusandai. The monks rake these mounds daily with seasonal patterns like maple leaves or water waves. We can sit on the wooden steps of the courtyard to experience the quiet moss garden.

Life along the canal path

We return to the main path for a thirty-minute walk. This trail gets its name from Nishida Kitaro, a philosopher from Kyoto University who walked here daily for quiet contemplation. Today, the path offers views of local residential houses and small shops. Large carp swim in the clean water of the canal.

The grand complex of Nanzen-ji

At the southern end of the path, we enter the grounds of Nanzen-ji, a major Zen temple. We stand under the massive wooden Sanmon Gate, which has deep ties to the samurai class. Behind the main hall, we visit the Suirokaku Aqueduct, a red-brick structure built in 1890 to carry water from Lake Biwa. Its Western industrial style contrasts with the surrounding cedar forest. Inside the Abbot's Quarters, known as the Hojo, we remove our shoes to view the dry landscape garden designed by Kobori Enshu. The tour ends here at 01:00 PM, and your guide can direct you to local restaurants specializing in hot tofu (yudofu).

Practical information for your journey

To reach the start, take Kyoto City Bus 5 or 17 from Kyoto Station to the Ginkakuji-michi stop, then walk eight minutes. The tour ends near Keage Station on the Tozai subway line, which connects to central Kyoto. Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring clean socks, as you must remove your shoes at the Hojo. Carry cash for temple fees, which are 500 yen at Ginkaku-ji and 600 yen at Nanzen-ji. This walk is suitable for adults and families with children aged eight and older.