Kyoto’s Best Walking Route in Autumn to Discover Hidden Charms through art, history and nature

Do you know “Philosopher’s Path (Tetsugaku-no-michi, 哲学の道)”? It’s an approximately 2 km walking path that connects Ginkakuji Temple and Nanzenji Temple. The trees showing different scenery in each season, the sounds of leaves blown by the breeze and the murmuring of the water flowing through the waterways drawn from Lake Biwa make you feel refreshed. Maples change their color into crimson around mid-November and create elegant autumn scenery. This time, we’re going to introduce 4 spots that we recommend you stop by at while enjoying autumn leaves on Philosopher’s Path.

It takes about 20 minutes by bus from Kyotoshiyakushomae Station, the nearest station of Hotel Gracery Kyoto Sanjo, to Philosopher’s Path. It’s close to Ginkakuji-michi Bus Stop.

European Needle Work Museum “YUKI PALLIS COLLECTION” with lace and embroidery works collected over 40 years

Reference from Blog “ゆるゆると・・・“

“YUKI PALLIS COLLECTION” is Japan’s only European Needle Work Museum. Lace and embroidery works made between 16th and 20th centuries in Europe are displayed with needle tools and reference materials. The building, which was made from a renovated old Japanese-style house with over 100 years of history, has an atmosphere making it feel as if time stopped. The exhibition space is on the 2nd floor, and there are a lot of works collected by the owner Yuki Pallis, who plans and supervises exhibitions in Scandinavia, for over 40 years. Lace and embroidery works such as cufflinks and pleated collars, hats, bags, handkerchiefs and tapestries are elegant and elaborate. You can learn the polite lifestyle of creators and people who wore them at that time and should be moved. The 1st floor is an antique shop. Including original necklaces that mix vintage parts and natural stones, artworks from all over Asia and Europe are on sale.

Opening Hours	11:00AM – 6:00PM　Closed on Wednesday, Thursday, New Year’s Holidays and in August
Address	14 Jodoji Minamida-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
Access	A 7-minute walk from Ginkakuji-michi Bus Stop
URL	https://yuki-pallis.com/

“Mirokuin Temple” with 400 years of history bringing visitors happiness and the power to overcome difficulties

Why not visit a little-known temple in Kyoto with more than 2,000 temples and shrines? “Mirokuin Temple (弥勒院)” built in the late 1600s is one of them. Red flags rise beside the building, so you should be able to find it immediately. Here, 2 gods are enshrined: ‘Happiness Jizo(幸せ地蔵)’ and ‘Fudoson(不動尊).’ The former has a gentle face expression and gives us warm and sacred power. On the other hand, the latter is believed to give visitors the power to overcome difficulties. When it gets dark, it shows up while being draped in light.

Opening Hours	24 Hours　*Mirokuin Temple opens from 8:30AM to 5:30PM
Address	29 Jodoji Minamida-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
Access	A 8-minute walk from Ginkakuji-michi Bus Stop
URL	http://www7b.biglobe.ne.jp/~mirokuin/index.html

All furniture is original. “KISOARTEC GINISHO” whose the scent and warmth of wood allowing visitors to feel as if they’re in a forest

Reference from HEISEI DESIGN STUDIO “ARCHITECT BLOG“

To have a relaxing cafe time, let’s head to “KISOARTEC GINISHO”! Pure white walls and wood produce a very modern Japanese ambiance. The 2nd floor is a cafe, and the natural scent and warmth of wood that drifts from the interior gently envelop you. Outside windows, autumn scenery of Philosopher’s Path spreads out. They offer drinks including coffee and sweets such as ice cream and Japanese confection. Our recommendation is a set of Japanese confection and Matcha. The sweetness of Japanese sweets harmonizes with the aroma and bitterness of matcha, and the mouth is filled with an enchantingly rich flavor. By the way, this building is a showroom of “KISOARTECH” headquartered in Nagano prefecture. The chairs and tables in the cafe are their original because they sell furniture and building materials that make use of wood from Kiso and traditional technology ‘lacquer.’ On the 1st floor, you can buy tableware such as lacquer placemats and wooden sake cup, small items that fit in your hand and something like that.

Opening Hours	9:30AM – 5:30PM　Irregular Holidays
Address	43 Shishigatani Honenin-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
Access	A 11-minute walk from Ginkakuji-michi Bus Stop
URL	http://www.kiso-artech.co.jp/english/index.html

“Bougatei” with a variety of adorable modern Japanese miscellaneous goods made in Kyoto from accessories to clothes

After exploring Philosopher’s Path, you will want to get souvenirs. At “Bougatei (忘我亭)” whose sky blue wall stands out, there are over 300 knick-knacks made in Kyoto such as bags and purses. Apparently, glass accessories that are easy to use are the most popular among them. Necklaces, earrings, hair elastics and so on add gorgeousness to your daily coordination. By the way, they started to produce Hawaiian shirts and bags using antique kimonos, so pay attention to new products!

Opening Hours	10:00AM – 5:00PM　Irregular Holidays
Address	86 Jodoji Minamida-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
Access	A 9-minute walk from Ginkakuji-michi Bus Stop
URL	https://bougatei.com/