Philosopher's Walk, Stone walking path in Sakyō-ku, Japan.
The Philosopher's Walk is a roughly 1.5-kilometre stone-paved pedestrian path in Sakyō-ku, Kyoto, following the west bank of the Lake Biwa Canal's branch between Nyakuōji Bridge and Ginkakuji Bridge. A low stone parapet runs along the canal side, with a narrow channel of water beside it and cherry trees on the opposite bank. About 420 cherry trees flower along the route in spring.
The waterway opened in 1890 as part of a system bringing water from Lake Biwa to Kyoto and powering the first hydroelectric plant in Japan. The route later became known for morning walks taken by a Kyoto University professor between 1910 and 1940.
The path takes its name from a professor who walked here each morning to think through questions that occupied his mind. Today locals use the route for their daily stroll, while visitors come especially in spring when the cherry trees flower.
Buses on line 204 or 93 take visitors from Marutamachi Station to the northern end of the path near Ginkakuji Temple. Walking the route takes about 30 minutes, though this extends if you pause at smaller temples or cafés along the waterway.
The path was chosen as one of the 100 Best Roads in Japan in 1987. Near Honen-in, a stone monument carved with a waka poem by philosopher Nishida Kitaro stands beside the route. The poem reads: "People are people, I am I; in any case, I walk the path I walk."
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