Today we will visit Higashiyama district of Kyoto, one of the areas that is loved not only loved by visitors who want something more peaceful and stunningly beautiful with authentic atmosphere, but also by the locals as well. The trick with this day is to visit the most famous location right away at the morning (which is Silver Temple). Because of its location, the majority of people tend visit it in the afternoon which is a huge mistake, because it get super crowded by that time (partly because the walking space there is pretty narrow). Suffice to say, I highly recommend to start this day and visit Silver Temple as soon as it is opened.

Recommended arrival time at the first location: 8:30 AM

Quick summary of the day:

• Beautiful Temples and Gardens (with some of the most beautiful carps I've ever seen in Japan) in a quite and peaceful area beloved by locals as well

• Walk around a beautiful area surrounded by nature

• Recommended restaurants

Notes about restaurants: Everyone will be going through this route with their own pace, so to make things convenient, I've set up all of the recommended restaurants all along the path, so that you could choose one whenever you feel hungry.

🗾 Travel route from Kyoto Station to Higashiyama Jisho-ji (Silver Temple)

📍 Higashiyama Jisho-ji (Silver Temple) location *Be sure to double check that the "taxi service" option is turned off when you are searching for a route in google maps

Higashiyama Jisho-ji, also known as Ginkaku-ji, is a Zen Buddhist temple that was originally built as a retirement villa for Ashikaga Yoshimasa, the eighth shogun of the Ashikaga shogunate. The temple is renowned for its beautiful gardens, which were designed in the wabi-sabi aesthetic.

It tends to become quite crowded by midday, so it's advisable to arrive as early as possible. If you're planning to explore the surrounding area on foot, I highly recommend beginning your day at this temple as soon as it opens. Afterward, you can continue your day trip by following the Philosopher's Path and exploring any other locations along the path that might pique your interest.

*I also ended up buying those cute sweets in a beautiful package that you can only get here.

Absolutely delicious and irresistible cream puffs. Do I have to note that I always get the matcha flavored one? 😅

Miyoneshi Fumiya is a charming restaurant located close to the Silver Temple. Perfectly cozy spot where you can enjoy traditional Japanese cuisine or grab a snack to-go in a form of fresh and delicious onigiri.

Hōnen-in Temple was very quiet and tranquil during my morning visit (around 9 am), and I literally was alone there at that time. I was not able to enter any of the buildings, but the Temple's grounds are still so beautiful that in my opinion, it is definitely worth a 5-minute detour from the Philosopher's Path (especially considering that there is no entrance fee). There are lots of maple trees over there, which also makes it an absolute must-visit spot during autumn for those red Momiji views. There are two ways to approach its entrance, and I recommend coming through this one: Google maps link

The beautiful stone path in northern Kyoto’s Higashiyama district connects two areas around the Silver Temple and Eikan-do (Zenrin-ji) Temple. It lines a pleasant canal, with hundreds of cherry trees, and is 2 kilometers long, making it a popular destination for a relaxing and peaceful walk that becomes especially beautiful during cherry blossom Hanami or autumn with its red maple leaves. The path is said to be named after the philosopher Nishida Kitaro, who meditated along the route daily on his commute to Kyoto University. Along the path, you can find restaurants, cafes, small temples, and shrines.

Basically, Philosopher's Path stretches between points A and B:

• A - Google maps location

• B - Google maps location

A hidden gem tucked away in the middle of Philosopher's Path. Built in the 9th century, Ōtoyo Shrine is truly unique since it is the home to two guardian mice that are so cute! Associated with a god of Marriage, it is believed that praying to those mice should bring you fertility and good luck. There are also statues of a monkey, a kite (hawk), and a snake.

Together, these animals represent the different aspects of protection and good luck that the shrine is said to offer its visitors.

I especially recommend coming here during cherry blossom season because it is absolutely stunning. There is even a spot where a plum tree and a cherry tree bloom right next to each other at the same time, which is a pretty rare occurrence (plum trees always bloom earlier than sakura).

One of my personal favorite shrines to visit.

A popular and really good creperie with a modern interior and cozy atmosphere. Delicious food and coffee might come especially in handy if you are tired from Japanese cuisine and would like something more European for a change.

Eikan-dō (Zenrin-ji) temple is absolutely stunning in my opinion. I enjoyed it so much that I might dare say I liked it more than Kiyomizu-dera, especially now that the borders are opened and it is so crowded, while Eikan-dō was absolutely empty. It is a pretty huge complex with a large main hall and smaller temples, and the whole route experience felt like I was in a maze of lots of traditional Japanese buildings (which it literally was), narrow corridors, ponds with koi (beautiful carps), and so on (though a bit ruined by lots of "no photo" signs). Also, there were a lot of really interesting exhibits of different Buddha statues, beautiful art on those sliding doors covered in gold, and all of that had English descriptions which were actually quite interesting to read. There was one hall that stunned me the most because I have never seen anything like this before - Shaka-do Hall with a huge painting of a Raging River on the left side and a painting of the River of Fire.

You can also check out a city view from the Pagoda. Check the attached video to see if the view is worth the 5-minute detour from the main route for you or not. I would not say that it is something special, but if you are not in a hurry, I would go up there and chill for just 5 minutes (there is a rest area on top, right next to the Pagoda).

There are two gates that lead into the temple's grounds (Main gate and South gate), but you can enter only through the MAIN gate (check one of the attached photos for the map). And don't forget to check out the souvenir shop on your way out (to the left of the main gate). For example, I was able to buy a wooden rosary that was made from a 350-year-old pine tree, which was growing inside the temple's grounds but unfortunately fell down during one of the recent typhoons. I am not sure if it will still be available during your visit (I bought mine in August 2023).

Highly recommend visiting this restaurant. It's located in an old-style traditional Japanese building with its own garden and an amazing view. The food is simply amazing with pretty affordable prices for what they have to offer. There are budget-friendly options like niku udon (starting from around 1,500 JPY) and some more exquisite choices like A5 wagyu don and sukiyaki (around 2,000 - 2,500 JPY), both of which I highly recommend trying (please note that both of those come with a raw egg, so if you don't eat it, be sure to ask to have your dish served without a raw egg).

There might be a pretty long line inside the waiting room, but they have so many tables that it moves pretty quickly. There were 10 people in front of me, and I had to wait for 25 minutes, which was totally worth it in the end.

*Reservations can be made, but they are only available for the course set meal that starts from 10,000 JPY (I haven't tried it yet, but will definitely test it out later and add my review here) *English menu available

The Giant Sanmon Gate (22 meters high), often seen in movies such as Lost in Translation, stands at the entryway to the Nanzen-ji Temple complex. Built-in 1628, the gate holds importance within Japanese Buddhism and also offers a beautiful view of Kyoto upon climbing the stairs (with an admission fee). I think it is totally worth it, not only for the view but also because the hall on the inside of the gate is really beautiful.

Nanzen-ji Hatto is a specific building at the Nanzen-ji Temple complex, a prominent Zen Buddhist temple. "Hatto" is a term used in Japanese Buddhism to denote the Dharma Hall or Lecture Hall, where teachings and lectures on Buddhist scriptures and principles are given. *You cannot enter this building, but it is still worth checking its interior through the doorways, especially for the beautiful dragon painting on the ceiling.

Nanzen-ji is a Zen Buddhist temple built in 1291. It's a huge complex with lots of different buildings and gardens to explore. The most famous part of the temple is the Sanmon Gate, which is one of the largest wooden gates in Japan. However, not many people know that you can actually go inside the temple, probably because the entrance for visitors is all the way at the back of the complex.

After you enter the building and pay the admission fee, the main route goes to the left. However, there is a room to the right with a view of a small waterfall where you can drink matcha tea with a traditional Japanese dessert. I highly recommend it, especially if you like matcha tea (or would like to try it for the first time).

For some reason, the entrance to the matcha room was closed (as were all of its signs) when I was there last time. However, I simply asked if I could go inside and order the matcha set, and the lady at the ticket booth guided me inside. So, if it looks like the room is closed during your visit, definitely ask if it is available.

Visiting Nanzen-ji is especially memorable in the fall when the leaves change color, but it is a great place to visit year-round as well.

The Kyoto Aqueduct, or Suirokaku Aqueduct, is a unique structure dating back to the Meiji era (1889) when Japan began rapidly modernizing and Westernizing. The aqueduct carries water from Lake Biwa to supply Kyoto with water and electricity, and its design stands out among the ancient temples and shrines of the city. Although it initially met resistance from locals, they eventually grew fond of it, acknowledging the influence of foreign cultures on Japanese architecture.

Tenju-an is a breathtaking lateral garden nestled within the Nanzen-ji temple complex. Walkways and paths guide you into the garden's heart, enveloped by maple trees, rendering it particularly captivating to explore during autumn (though it remained stunning even during the summer when I captured those photos). Tenju-an's gardens recreate expansive natural landscapes on a more intimate scale. Personally, my favorite aspect was undoubtedly the dual ponds harboring an array of distinct koi carp breeds, including three ethereal white 'soragoi' [空鯉 – 'sky koi'] and 'tancho kohaku', renowned for their "red crown". I dare say, I've seldom encountered such exquisite carps in Japan.

Delicious coffee spot with a nice interior and a cozy atmosphere, located inside an old traditional Japanese building with a modern twist.

Keage Incline is a former railway turned pedestrian trail. The trail offers stunning views of cherry blossom trees lining the track for an absolutely fairytale-like experience, but be sure to get there early or during sunset because this place gets really crowded.

These notes mark an end of this itinerary.

If you are still full of energy and would like to continue your adventures in Kyoto, I highly recommend visiting the next 3 locations listed in this itinerary.

First one will be 📍Pontocho street. I recommend entering the street from 📍HERE where you can just walk around or have a dinner in one of the restaurants. Once you reach the other end of this street, you should turn towards the Kamogawa riverside 📍HERE. Once there, follow the path along the river towards our last location which is so beautiful in the evening - Yasaka Shrine

Pontocho (先斗町) is a historic and incredibly charming street, renowned for its atmospheric narrow alleyways, traditional wooden buildings, and abundance of bars and restaurants. It's the perfect place to discover a unique dining experience. During the summer, many restaurants in the area construct special platforms over the river, creating a cozy and unforgettable dining atmosphere. It's advisable to make reservations in advance, as these platforms are popular among both locals and tourists.

Be sure to visit this street in the evening when it is at its most enchanting, with all the lights aglow.

Perfect location for peaceful and relaxing escape. The riverbank has a path for walking, with benches to relax and enjoy the view. People come here to unwind, have picnics, and enjoy nature. It's a calm spot in the city where you can listen to the water and take a break from the busyness around you.

Yasaka Shrine, situated in the heart of Kyoto, holds great historical and cultural significance. Its origins trace back over 1350 years, rendering it one of Japan's oldest shrines. Renowned for its lively Gion festival during the summer and as a favored cherry blossom viewing locale.

The main hall is a powerful fusion of a honden (inner sanctuary) and haiden (offering hall). Before it, an exquisite dance stage graces the scene, adorned with hundreds of colorful lanterns that glow come evening. This is precisely why I strongly recommend visiting after sunset! In the evening, you won't be able to purchase souvenirs such as lucky charms and so on, but the experience promises fewer crowds and an enchanting atmosphere unique to the evening hours, which I believe everyone should encounter.

There are two options - lunch and dinner. I highly recommend this place for lunch; it is twice cheaper than dinner, but the sushi selection is just incredible.

**Reservations are required

A hotel that provides everything you need for a comfortable stay, from a delightful breakfast to a relaxing soak in a spacious public bath, all while being conveniently situated for exploring Kyoto. Located just a minute's walk from Hankyu Kyoto Kawaramachi station and seven minutes from Gion-Shijo station, it offers one of the most convenient locations, with numerous restaurants and activities in the vicinity.