A slow walk through the quiet side of eastern Kyoto, from morning moss to evening lanterns. We start at Honen-in, a small temple hidden in the trees, follow the Philosopher’s Path along the canal, step inside Eikando’s wooden corridors and gardens, stand under the red-brick arches of the Suirokaku aqueduct and walk the old rails of the Keage Incline. As the light fades we wander along the Shirakawa stream in Gion, through a retro shopping arcade, and end the day with shabu-shabu in a Pontocho alley. No narration — just the sounds of Kyoto, with subtitles explaining what you see.

📍 HONEN-IN TEMPLE (Shishigatani)
・Moss-covered thatched gate, twin white-sand mounds (Byakusadan) and a flower-filled water basin
・The grounds are free to enter; the inner halls open only during special spring and autumn openings (paid)
・Access: City Bus from Kyoto Station (about 40 min) to Jodoji, then about 10–15 min on foot

📍 PHILOSOPHER’S PATH
・A canal-side walking path of about 1.8 km, lined with small cafes, galleries and craft shops
・In the video: “Daimonji” kakigori (shaved ice) at cafe Mercredi, inside the Bogatei craft shop

📍 EIKANDO (ZENRIN-JI) TEMPLE
・Halls linked by wooden corridors that climb the hillside, including the curving Garyuro (Reclining Dragon Corridor)
・Open 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:00); shoes come off at the entrance
・Famous for autumn leaves — special autumn exhibition Nov 11–Dec 6, 2026, with evening illumination Nov 20–Dec 6

📍 SUIROKAKU AQUEDUCT & KEAGE INCLINE
・Suirokaku: a Meiji-era brick aqueduct in the Nanzen-ji temple grounds that still carries water from Lake Biwa
・Keage Incline: the old rail tracks once used to haul canal boats up the slope
・Access: Keage Station (Subway Tozai Line), a few minutes on foot

📍 GION SHIRAKAWA, FURUKAWACHO & PONTOCHO
・Shirakawa: willow-lined stream, Tatsumi Bridge and Tatsumi Daimyojin Shrine
・Furukawacho Shopping Street: Showa-era arcade next to Higashiyama Station (Subway Tozai Line)
・Pontocho: lantern-lit dining alley between Sanjo and Shijo, beside the Kamo River
・Dinner in the video: shabu-shabu of Kyoto pork and Kyoto vegetables at Pontocho Suishin

💴 PRICE
・Eikando: ¥1,000 adults (¥1,500 during the autumn exhibition)
・Honen-in grounds, Philosopher’s Path, Suirokaku, Keage Incline, Gion and Pontocho are free to walk

✅ GOOD TO KNOW
・Filmed in late September — green maples, red spider lilies and the last cicadas of summer
・The route runs north to south and can be walked in one day; allow about 30 minutes for the Philosopher’s Path alone
・Wild monkeys are sometimes seen on the canal path above the Suirokaku aqueduct
・Gion and Pontocho are at their best from dusk, when the lanterns come on

💬 Subtitles are available — turn on CC and choose your language.
🌍 日本語 / English / 简体中文 / 繁體中文 / 한국어 / ไทย / Tiếng Việt / Bahasa Indonesia / Español / Français / Deutsch / Português (Brasil)

⏱ CHAPTERS
0:00 Highlights
0:39 Honen-in Temple — thatched moss gate and sand mounds
8:59 Philosopher’s Path — canal-side walk
11:18 Kakigori stop — “Daimonji” shaved ice at cafe Mercredi
13:57 Eikando (Zenrin-ji) Temple — gardens and hillside corridors
22:55 Suirokaku Aqueduct — Meiji-era brick arches
27:44 Keage Incline — old canal railway tracks
30:10 Gion — walking along the Shirakawa stream
34:28 Furukawacho Shopping Street — retro arcade and matcha toast
36:32 Gion Shirakawa — Tatsumi Bridge and Tatsumi Daimyojin Shrine
39:50 Street shamisen performance
40:28 Pontocho — lantern-lit alley at night
41:03 Dinner — Kyoto pork and vegetable shabu-shabu
43:48 Outro

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