This is an authorized translation in English of a post in French by 
: Méditer sur le chemin de la philosophie
As my primary language is not English, there are probably some mistakes in my translation.
Remember that the person that speaks here is NOT me, Vincent Celier (
), but , a French guy.
After the beautiful discovery of the silver pavilion, I continue my visit of the Higashiyama district to the Nanzen-ji temple, which is about 2 kilometers away. To go there, I take a small path emblematic of the city of Kyoto: the path of philosophy.
It is a walk along the Biwa Canal, very popular during the Hanami period (the blossoming sakura cherry trees in the spring). The hundreds of cherry trees offer an impressive show, but I do not appreciate it because I was there in October.
It is one of the greatest philosophers of Japan who inspired this name on this small path. Nishida Kitaro used to come to meditate there every day when he went to Kyoto University. He founded a school of philosophy. His pupils and the philosophers he inspired also meditated on this same place of walk. With time, it became the "path of philosophy".
In October, the landscape is less enchanting than in spring, but it remains a nice and quiet ride. The cherry trees begin to lose their leaves, lose their beauty and invite to discover another face of the place.
The Biwa Canal is bordered by many small shrines. There is just a small torii, a fountain, these are very intimate places. There are sometimes amazing things, like those stones that seem dressed with an apron. Could it be to pay homage to children?
I pass some restaurants, for some you have to go over a bridge that spans the canal to access them.
The weather is gray and a few drops of rain start to fall . I think I see a temple and its beautiful garden. I enter and discover a beautiful place. But it's not a temple, it's a tea house.
I go around the garden, carefully designed and maintained, and decide to enter to get some tea. Inside, there is a large room covered with tatami mats, and large windows offering superb views of the garden. I order macha green tea with mochi.
There was another tourist, but we do not speak. These moments do not need words. The rain was falling, we could only hear the clatter of drops falling in a basin. This almost monastic silence and melancholy atmosphere invite you to enjoy the moment.
I'm glad I came here outside the peak tourist season. When there are a lot of people, the atmosphere must be very different. The canal is certainly much more beautiful, but what I was looking for here are these moments of "zenitude", of tranquility.
The rain stops, and I continue my journey, remembering that almost a century ago, this little stone path inspired many philosophers. And that day I found a little of what I had come looking for in Japan.
01: Travel diary in Japan, by @japon
02: Tokyo, overcrowded city? Really? by @japon
03: Are the Japanese too disciplined? by @japon
04: Going to Japan without speaking Japanese? by @japon
05: Ueno, more than just a big park in Tokyo, by @japon
06: Asakusa, diving in the heart of Tokyo's historic district, by @japon
07: Ameyoko, Ueno's colorful market, by @japon
08: Tsukiji, the largest fish market in the world, by @japon
09: Climb the steps of Atago Jinja Shrine in Tokyo, by @japon
10: Hama Rikyu, an exceptional park in the heart of Tokyo, by @japon
11: Jimbocho, old books and tempura, by @japon
12: Shinjuku Gyoen Park and the best burger in the world!, by @japon
13: One night in Shibuya, by @japon
14: Takeshita dori : this little street dedicated to fashion (and good crepes), by @japon
15: They lie to you about Kyoto, by @japon
16: The temples and secret garden of Higashi in Kyoto, by @japon
17: Kinkaku-ji, the temple of the Golden Pavilion in Kyoto, by @japon
18: Ryoan-ji, the amazing stone garden in Kyoto, by @japon
19: The Ninna-ji Temple and its extraordinary gardens, by @japon
20: Kyoto Gyoen, the Imperial Palace Park, by @japon
21: Nishiki Market: A Must in Kyoto, by @japon
22: Ginkaku-ji, the temple of the silver pavilion in Kyoto, by @japon