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I highly recommend aiming to arrive at Ryoan-ji for it’s opening at 8:00am, and like-wise Kinkaku-ji at it’s opening for 9:00am, they are both quite popular, and can start to get quite crowded from 9:30am~10:00am onwards. I also recommend this as it will allow you to enter the Philosophers path early, offering the same benefit (less crowds), but will also allow you a more generous time-frame to see/experience things in-between experiences which have set times and ensure you aren’t too rushed.
Ryoan-ji - UNESCO World Heritage Site & Zen Garden
46 minutes by bus Kyoto Station - ¥460 - directions
1.5km / 20 minutes on foot from Kinkaku-ji
Open: 8:00am ~ 5:00pm
Closed: No Closures
Ryoanji Temple is a renowned Zen temple famous for its stunning rock garden, a masterpiece of Japanese dry landscape design. The garden features 15 carefully placed rocks amidst meticulously raked white gravel, inspiring meditation and contemplation. Established in 1450, Ryoanji is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and part of Kyoto's Historic Monuments.
Cost: Adult ¥600
Kinkaku-ji - Explore the Golden Temple
10 minutes by bus from Ryoan-ji - ¥230 - directions
Open: 9:00am ~ 5:00pm
Closed: No Closures
Kinkaku-ji is one of Japan's most iconic and visually stunning Zen Buddhist temples, with a history dating back to the 14th century. Originally constructed as a shogun's retirement villa, the temple was later converted into a Zen temple upon his death. It stands out for its brilliant gold leaf exterior and its harmonious fusion of Shinden, Zen, and samurai architectural styles.
Cost: Adult ¥500
Start along the Philosophers Path
The Philosopher’s Path in Kyoto is a serene 1.8–2 km stone walkway built beside a canal—part of the Meiji-era Lake Biwa Canal system—connecting Ginkaku‑ji (the Silver Pavilion) to the Nanzen‑ji/Eikan‑dō area. Opened in 1890 and extended around 1912, it was named for the renowned Kyoto University philosopher Nishida Kitarō (alongside others like Hajime Tanabe), who used the route for daily meditative walks
Ginkaku-ji
50 minutes by bus from Ryoan-ji - ¥230 - directions
Open: 8:30am ~ 5:00pm
Closed: No ClosuresGinkaku-ji, also known as the Silver Pavilion, is a Zen temple in Kyoto originally built in 1482 as the retirement villa of shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa. Inspired by his grandfather’s Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Pavilion), Yoshimasa intended to cover Ginkaku-ji in silver foil, though this was never completed. Today, the temple is admired for its understated wabi-sabi aesthetic, featuring the elegant Kannon Hall, a meticulously raked sand garden, and a peaceful moss garden.
Tea Ceremony Experience Gen-An
280m / 3 minutes on foot from Ginkaku-ji - directions
Session Time 11:15am-12:00pm
Duration: 45 minutes
Cost: Private ¥7,210 per 2 people
🚩 Prior Reservation is Required - To be booked by Japan Junket
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■Location
Right next to Ginkakuji Temple. It's located between Ginkakuji Temple and Honen-in Temple.
- Approximately a 2-minute walk south from the road in front of the Ginkakuji Temple main gate.
- Address: 143 Minamida-cho, Jodo-ji, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City
https://maps.app.goo.gl/FW8syjK8DBoTWek4A
- Phone: 075-205-4005 (No access during the session)
■Time
Please arrive 5 minutes before the start of the session. Your guide will greet you at the entrance and check you in. If you arrive early, you can wait inside the gate, but it's outdoors and it will be hot, so it's best to arrive 5 minutes early.
■ What to bring and what to wear
- You don't have to bring anything.
- Casual attire is fine. Since you'll be sitting on tatami mats, miniskirts are recommended.
- Also, barefooting is strictly prohibited in the tea room. Please be sure to wear socks or tabi socks. If you don't have them, you can purchase them at the reception desk.
■ Not comfortable sitting in seiza
You can participate even if you sit cross-legged or with your legs folded. Seiza chairs are also available, so please ask for one once you enter the tea room.
■ Restrooms
Restrooms are generally not available, so please use them beforehand.
■ Cancellation policy
If you need to cancel for any reason, please contact us as soon as possible. Please note that a 100% cancellation fee will be charged if you cancel after 5:00 PM the day before.
Return to the Philosophers Path to walk along the river
240m / 3 minutes on foot from Gen-An - directions
Go via Nanuka Life - Art Gallery
directions
Open: Irregular hours and daysNunuka Life (also styled Nunuka life) is a contemporary craft gallery near Philosopher’s Path and Ginkaku-ji, housed in a charmingly renovated ~70–80‑year‑old Kyoto machiya (traditional wooden townhouse). It showcases hand‑crafted works by Kyoto‑connected artisans—ceramics, lacquerware, glass, textiles—emphasising the beauty of repairing, continuing traditions, and passing treasures to future generations
Check their Instagram for opening days and hours - some exhibits may require a reservation
🍴Omen Ginkaku-ji - Udon Restaurant
110m / 2 minutes on foot from Philosphers Path re-entry - directions
Open: Weekdays 10:30am ~ 6:00pm / Weekends Lunch 10:30am ~ 4:00pm / Dinner 5:00pm ~ 8:30pm
Closed: ThursdaysOmen Ginkaku-ji is a beloved udon restaurant founded in 1967, situated just a few steps from Ginkaku-ji (the Silver Pavilion) and the Philosopher’s Path. It specializes in tsukemen-style udon: thick, chewy noodles served with a robust dashi-based dipping broth and a generous assortment of seasonal vegetables, sesame, and condiments
MemoryMIST KYOTO
230m / 3 minutes on foot from Omen Ginkaku-ji - directions
Open: 11:00am ~ 5:00pm
Closed: No ClosuresMemoryMist KYOTO is a boutique fragrance-mist shop located along Kyoto’s Philosopher’s Path. Visitors choose from hundreds of bottles adorned with original photographs of Kyoto scenery—many taken around Philosopher’s Path and nearby temples . After selecting a bottle, one of seven high-quality Japanese scents is filled on-site in a “semi‑order” experience, creating a personalized keepsake that evokes travel memories with each spritz
Hōnenin Temple
230m / 4 minutes on foot from MemoryMIST KYOTO - directions
Open: 6:00am ~ 4:00pm
Closed: No ClosuresHōnen-in is a serene Buddhist temple near the Philosopher’s Path. It is dedicated to Hōnen, the founder of the Jōdo (Pure Land) sect of Buddhism. Known for its tranquil atmosphere, the temple features a moss-covered gate, meticulously raked sand gardens with symbolic patterns, and a simple yet elegant thatched-roof main hall.
Sen-Oku Hakukokan Museum
600m / 10 minutes on foot from Honenin Temple - directions
Open: 10:00am ~ 5:00pm
Closed: No ClosuresThe Sen‑oku Hakukokan Museum, established in 1960 in Kyoto, was founded to house the Sumitomo family’s extraordinary art collection—particularly renowned for its over 500 Chinese bronze vessels, mirrors, and Buddhist artifacts amassed by Sumitomo Kichizaemon VII. Today, the museum preserves approximately 3,500 cultural treasures, including 2 National Treasures and numerous Important Cultural Properties, spanning ancient Chinese bronzes, Japanese and Chinese paintings, calligraphy, tea ceremony implements, Noh masks, modern ceramics, and Western art
Cost: Adults ¥1,000
Eikandō Temple
300m / 4 minutes on foot from Sen-Oku Kakukokan Museum - directions
Open: 9:00am ~ 4:00pm
Closed: No ClosuresEikandō (also Zenrin‑ji Temple) is a historic Pure Land Buddhist temple that was originally, in 853 was founded as a noble’s villa by the Shingon monk Shinshō and converted into a temple with imperial approval in 863. In the late 11th century, the revered priest Eikan revitalized the site, giving rise to the iconic “Eikandō” name and the unique Mikaeri Amida Buddha statue—famed for looking over its shoulder
Cost: Adult ¥600
Nanzen-ji - Marking the Philosophers Paths end
300m / 4 minutes on foot from Eikando Temple - directions
Open: 8:40am ~ 5:00pm
Closed: No ClosuresNanzen-ji is a prominent Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, originally established in 1291 at the foot of the Higashiyama mountains. Once an imperial villa, it became the head temple of the Nanzen-ji school of Rinzai Zen. The complex is known for its grand Sanmon gate, offering panoramic views, and its serene rock and moss gardens. Nanzen
Cost: Adult ¥500
Tenjuan Temple
directions
Open: 9:00am ~ 4:30pm
Closed: No Closures
GION
Originating as an entertainment district in the Sengoku period, in front of Yasaka Shrine (Gion Shrine). The district was built to accommodate the needs of travellers and visitors to the shrine. It eventually evolved to become one of the most exclusive and well-known geisha districts in all of Japan.
Note: As of April 2024 there are new laws banning tourists from the residential streets of the Gion district due to continued harassment of Maiko and Geisha. Streets banned to non-residents will be clearly signed in both English and Japanese.
Gion Kobu Kaburenjo Theater - Gion Corner
29 minutes by train (direct on the Tozai Line - ) from Nanzenji Temple - ¥220 - directions
Open: Performances at 6:00pm and at 7:00pm
Closed: No closures
Gion corner offers the most accessible Geisha and Maiko experience. A cultural show is held there daily, aims at introducing foreign tourists to Japanese arts such as tea ceremony, ikebana flower arranging, bunraku puppet theater, and dances performed by real maiko.
Duration: Roughly 50 minutes
Costs:
Premium Seat: ¥6,600
Seat with Japanese tea and sweets: ¥6,050
Adults: ¥5,500
You can book ahead of time - booking link
🍴 Rutubo - Quirky Izakaya (Japanese pub)
300m / 5 minutes on foot from Gion Corner - directions
Open: 12:00pm ~ 12:00am
Closed: Wednesdays
You can enjoy home-smoked dishes made with a large smoker in the kitchen, international dishes, and a wide variety of scotch, as well as coffee and sweets, making this a cafe with a nostalgic feel.
Rutubo Izakaya is a charming Japanese pub in Tokyo, known for its cozy atmosphere and a special Shiba Inu dog that often sits by the window, capturing hearts of patrons. Here, you can savor authentic dishes and enjoy the authentic pub-like atmosphere of a traditional Japanese Izakaya in the heart of the Gion District.
✦ Yasaka Shrine - dating back to 656 (Asuka Era)
650m / 9 minutes on foot from Rutubo - directions
The shrine is the home of July's Gion Matsuri , one of Japan's most famous festivals, Susano’o no Mikoto, a great god of storms and sea in Japanese mythology is worshiped there alongside his wife Kushiinada-hime and the Yahashira no Mikogami, their eight children. Once inside the gate you can access several subsidiary shrines, some of which are famous for things such as helping you become beautiful or find love in a relationship.
Yasaka Shrine transforms into a mesmerizing spectacle at night. Thousands of lanterns, illuminated with soft, warm light, line the pathways and create an enchanting ambiance. The shrine's serene atmosphere, combined with the ethereal glow of lanterns, makes for a captivating and tranquil evening experience in the heart of Kyoto.