Japan Photo Guide

A smaller less known temple off the Tetsugaku no michi (Philosopher’s Path). During the fall season Honen-in is particuarly beautiful. The temple is fairly small and the whole place can easily be seen in about 20 minutes. I reccomend checking it out.

Nanzenji is my favorite temple in Kyoto. It is beautiful in every season and has nice a variety of places to photograph, including, gardens, a huge gate that you can go to the top and have a very nice view, aqueducts, and a tea room in front of a small waterfall. Nanzenji is famous but will have smaller crowds than the more popular tourist spots of Kiyomizudera and Kinkakuji. Don’t miss this jewel that is on the east side of Kyoto at the southern end of Tetsugaku no michi (Path of Philosophy).

For more information take a look at the official homepage of Nanzenji.

Tetsugaku no michi, or the Philospher’s Path, is on the east side of Kyoto. It is a path that runs from about Nanzenji all the way up to (and kind of passed) Ginkakujin. Along the way are various smaller temples, but the ones that you should make a point in going to are Nanzenji, Honen-in, and Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion).

To be honest, I went there in every season and I was never really impressed until I went in cherry blossom season. During the other seasons it is a nice walk, but when the sakura are in bloom, Tetsugaku no michi really comes to life and makes for a wonderful place to take photos or just go for a stroll. From end to end, without stopping in any of the temples or taking any photographs it takes about 30 minutes.