Philosopher's Path Tour: Nature and Buddhism in Kyoto

Immerse yourself in Kyoto’s natural beauty and hidden temples with an expert guide
From US$274 privately
Book a Tour
Tour Details
Duration
3 hours
Product Type
Tour
Venues
  • Honen-in
  • Eikan-do
  • Philosopher's Path
  • Silver Pavillion
Photos & Highlights
  • Discover the importance of nature in Japanese culture as you uncover the principles of Pure Land Buddhism
  • Led by a local historian
Select a date
Tour Description
The centrality of nature has long been part of Japanese culture. Japanese traditional customs and Buddhist aesthetics suggest that there is no fundamental difference between nature and humankind; in fact, nature is what represents the core background of human existence. During this three-hour tour, you will join a local historian for a nature-inspired stroll along Philosopher’s Path, following the course of the canal while visiting some of Kyoto’s most important temples and exploring the Japanese’ philosophical commitment to nature. 

Philosopher’s Path Tour

Philosopher’s Path is a beautiful canal walkway located in northern Higashiyama. The path was named after Nishida Kitaro, a famous philosophy professor at Kyoto University who is said to have practiced meditation while walking this route on his daily commute. Thanks to the hundreds of cherry trees lining the canal, the Philosopher’s Path remains awash in color for much of the year, whether it’s spring's explosion of cherry blossom or fall's fiery red foliage. Your tour will take a scenic stroll through Philosopher’s Path and enjoy a quiet retreat surrounded by mountains and traditional houses away from the city. 

Pure Land Buddhism and Nature

Your first stop will be the Silver Pavillion, where you'll learn about the temple's history as a center of culture in the fifteenth century. Along the Path, we will make a stop at Honen-in Temple and learn about the principles of Pure Land Buddhism (Jodo-shu), observing the harmony between nature and the temple buildings. We will discuss the temple’s Zenki-sui water spring, which represents the Japanese adoration of water as part of the aesthetic element. We will then continue our walk to Eikan-do, another Pure Land Buddhism temple built on a hillside. We'll take a deep dive into the historical background of the temple, admiring the unusual Amitabha Buddha, with its head turned leftwards, the serene Hojo Pond, and the view from the Tagoto Pagoda.

Take Aways 

At the end of our time together, we will have set our mind at peace away from the city’s hustle and bustle and emerge with a better understanding of the concept of nature, as well as the ideological underpinnings of Buddhism and how they play a role in Japanese culture. 

Another excellent walk to pair with this one is our Kyoto Geisha Tour.

FAQ


Is it okay to tip my guide in Japan?
Yes. Context clients generally tip anywhere from 10-25% of the purchase price of a personal service such as this, depending on the quality of the experience and their tipping habits.
Where You'll Start
41 Reviews (4.88)

Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.

This tour was a wonderful way to be introduced to the magic of Kyoto. Tai was a fantastic guide who brought the temples to life with his knowledge of architecture and Buddhism. He helped us find a great place for lunch and was generally a warm and friendly guide.
Marcin was an absolutely phenomenal guide! His passion for Kyoto and Japanese more broadly religious/spiritual traditions really shone through and he was exceptionally informative. I would have loved to have Marvin show us more of Kyoto!
Very peaceful tour. Happy it was not crowded. Preston was incredibly knowledgable and gave us an impressive history on Japan and its cultures. We are so appreciative of all we learned. Thankful Preston was our guide!