From Kyoto Station to Philosopher’s Walk

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1. Overview

Philosopher’s Walk (Path) is called Tetsugakuno-michi in Japanese.

The Path leads along a beautiful stream and a lot of  cherry blossom trees.
The distance is about 1 mile (1.5 km). It takes about 20 minutes to walk all the path.

Within walking distance, you can also visit Ginkakuji temple (silver pavilion), Eikando temple or Nanzenji temple.

So, let’s visit !

You can visit Philosopher’s Walk by Subway or by Bus from Kyoto station.

The chart below is the overview of the location, transportation, time and fare.

Location & Distance

Philosopher’s Walk is located in the east of Kyoto city.

The distance from Kyoto Station is 4.4 mile.

Transportation & Time

It takes about…

 City Subway 17 min plus 15 min walk
 Local Bus more than 37 min plus 6 min walk
 Limited Express Bus  : more than 24 min plus 2 min walk
 Taxi  : 25 min
 Bicycle  : about 40 min

You need more time and taxi fare on peak season because of heavy traffic jam.

 Near Bus Stops & Time to the Philosopher’s Walk

(1)  walk 9 min from Nanzenji Eikando michi bus stop

(2)  walk 6 min from Ginkakuji-michi bus stop

(3)  walk 2 min from Ginkakuji-mae bus stop (only weekendes & holidays)

(4)  walk 3 min from Miyanomaecho bus stop (only weekends & holidays)

 Near Stations & Time to the Walk 

(1)  walk 15 min from Keage Station (Kyoto City Subway)

2. By Kyoto City Subway

If you take Kyoto City Subway for Philosopher’s Walk, it will save time to move and beat the traffic jam.

It takes 17 minutes from Kyoto station to the nearest station, Keage.

From Keage station, it takes about 15 minutes’ walk to the south end of the walk (near Kumano-Nyakuoji shrine).

The fare is ¥260.

The followings are the detail.

2-1 From Kyoto Station to Keage Station via Karasuma-Oike

At Kyoto station, take Subway Karasuma line train (departing from track 2) bound for Kokusai-kaikan.

And then, transfer at Karasuma-Oike station to Subway Tozai line train.

All trains departing from track 2 go to Keage station.

2-2 The Way to the South End of the Philosopher’s Walk from Keage Station

From Keage station, it takes about 15 minutes’ walk to the south end of the Philosopher’s Walk.

I’ll show you one of the shorter ways from Keage station.

1. Get out of the Exit 1 at Keage Station

2. Walk down along the Street

3. Walk through the tunnel on your right.

4. Before the gate, turn right. Then, Nanzenji Temple.

5. Walk along the Nanzenji temple, turn right.

6. Go past the Eikando Temple, and turn right.

7. Walk in 3 minutes, finally the south end of the Philosopher’s Walk.

2-3 Route Map for Philosopher’s Walk by Subway

The map below is the route map from Kyoto station to Philosopher’s Walk by Kyoto City Subway plus walk.

Please check, if necessary.

3. By Bus

Although, Rakuraku-Line buses ( Limited Express No.100 No.105 ) are convenient for philosopher’s walk, they are crrently operated only on weekends & holidays. So, if you must take a bus from Kyoto Station on weekdays,      take bus  No. 7  or  No. 5  instead. And also, if you plan to visit Ginkakuji temple (silver pavilion), refer this page, “how to go to Ginkakuji temple”, too. Philosopher’s walk is also available near Ginkakuji temple!

The fare is ¥230. It takes about at lea st 37 minutes. (It may take more than 1 hour during the tourist season such as cherry blossoms and autumn leaves! Subway is better!) Only if you take  Limited Express No.100 , the fare is ¥500 (about 24 minutes’ ride).

For bus  No. 7 , please get off at Ginkauji-michi bus stop. For bus  No. 5 , get off at Nanzenji-Eikando-michi, Higashi Tennoucho or Ginkakuji-michi bus stop as your plan.
From each bus stop, it takes less than 10 minutes to reach the philosopher’s Walk.

If weekends & Holidays, take  EXNo.100  or  No.105 , and please get off at Ginkakuji-mae bus stop. For  No.105 , you can also get off at Miyanomaecho or Honenincho.

All the bus EXNo.100 route including Philosopher’s Walk is covered by Subway & Bus One-Day Pass (¥1100).

Please note that…

it takes much more time on peak season because of heavy traffic jam.

∗ Peak season : cherry blossam (the end of March to the beginning of April), autumn leaves (November) and consecutive holidays in Japan (the end of April to the beginning of May)

3-1 Bus Stops Information at Kyoto Station

There ara many bus stops in Kyoto Station.

When you ride, which bus stop in Kyoto Station can you ride the bus for Philosofer’s Walk ?

Please find out the bus stop displayed  A1 A2  for Kyoto City Bus  No.5  or  No.7 .

If weekends & holidays,  D1  for  EXNo.100 A1  for  No.105 .

Actually the bus often tends to be crowded, especially on the tourist season.

3-2 Bus Stops Information near Philosopher’s Walk

The picture below is Nanzenji Eikando-michi bus stop, one of near bus stops to the Walk, if take bus  No. 5 . After getting off the bus, proceed forward as shown in the picture, and head for Eikando temple.

At Eikando temple, please turn left.

At the next corner, please turn right, and in a few minutes’ walk, you come to the Philosopher’s Walk!

As the path leads from near Kumano-Nyakuoji shrine (the south end) to near Ginkakuji temple (the north end), you can also get off at Higashi-tennoucho (bus  No. 5  only) or Ginkakuji-michi bus stop (Both  No. 5  No. 7  O.K.) to visit the Walk.

If weekends & holidays, Ginkakuji-mae bus stop ( EXNo.100  No.105 ), Miyanomaecho or Hounenincho bus stop ( No.105  only) are also available.

The map below shows the location of those stops with the walk route.
Please check!

3-3 Bus Route Maps

If you want to know the route or ride time of the Kyoto CIty Bus No.5, No.7, No.EX100 & No.105, please check the map below.

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4. Information on Philosopher’s Walk

 Recommendation 

If you have time, visit Ginkakuji Temple, Eikando Tmple or Nanzenji Temple, too.

 Opening Hours & Admission Fee (Adult) of Near Temples or Shrines 

Nanzenji Temple

(8 min walk from the south end of the Walk) :
Garden (¥500), Gate (¥500), Nanzenin Temple (¥300) is…
8:40 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Mar. 1 – Nov. 30)
8:40 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Dec. 1 – Feb. 28)
∗need to enter at least 20 minutes before the closing time
Other spots inside the temple grounds open anytime for free

Eikando (Zenrinji) Temple / ¥600

(3 min walk from the south end of the Walk) :
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
∗need to enter at least 1 hour before the closing time

Ginkakuji Temple / ¥500

 (silver pavilion, 3 min walk from the north end of the Walk) :
8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Mar. 1 – Nov. 30)
9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Dec. 1 – Feb. 28)
∗need to enter at least 30 minutes before the closing time

Kumano-nyakuoji shrine:

Open anytime for free

Best time to visit  :

In spring (cerry blossom) and fall (autumn leaves), a lot of tourists visit there.

But, it is at anytime you want to visit !