The nearby temples and shrines are also very green.
This giant orange gate leads the way to the Heian Jingu Shrine.
Heian Jingu Shrine
Ginkakuji
The rain started to pick up again, so I grabbed the bus and soon arrived at Ginkakuji. Notice this neat pack of bamboo serving as a sewer cover - ingenious.
By now, I have visited several temples and shrines that had this type of garden art.
A small hill rose behind the garden, with more moss-covered soil and neatly-manicured gardens.
There weren't as many shops here as over in Gion, and I wasn't on a shopping mission this afternoon.
The Path of Philosophy is a tree-lined promenade along a canal. The intellectuals of the old days came here to get inspiration. Given the serenity, it's not surprising to see why. I was a few months early though as cherry blossoms get quite pretty here in the spring.
There are a few small temples just a short walk further in from the canal.