Kyoto in Bloom: A Walk along Lake Biwa Canal, Heian Shrine, The Incline, and Nanzen-ji

A couple of weeks ago I met my friend Kaori-san for a delicious lunch and hanami walk. It was the peak of the cherry blossom blooming, and it was so gorgeous. We walked and talked for hours enjoying the beautiful weather and views.

We met for lunch at Cafe Mement Mori. For lunch they offer a delicious daily "rice plate."

Taking a picture of your food, it is the proper Japanese thing to do! :)

After lunch we began our hanami walk by Lake Biwa Canal.

Lake Biwa Canal - Beautiful picture taken by Kaori-san! "Jikkoku pleasure boat" rides are offered during hanami season.

First Stop: Heian Shrine

Main Gate of Heian Shrine

This picture is taken standing at the main gate looking in. There is a large garden behind the buildings pictured - it was so crowded and you have to pay to enter, so we decided not to visit the gardens that day.

Chozubachi - a place to "purify" yourself before entering the Shinto shrine. You scoop water with the wooden ladle and wash in a specific order - left hand, right hand, mouth, and then handle of the ladle.

Byakko-ro tower

Huge Otorii of Heian Shrine - It is actually a block south of the main gate and it stretches over the entire road.

We followed Lake Biwa Canal to the Incline which is an abandoned railroad that is now a civil engineering heritage protected by Kyoto. The incline was constructed to carry boats over and through the mountains from Lake Biwa to Lake Biwa Canal for transportation of goods into Kyoto.

Beauty of the abandoned rails. 

There were so many people out enjoying the weather and gorgeous views, and it was a work day!

At the top of the incline we continued East toward the mountains and followed a shaded path along an aqueduct to Nanzen Temple. The aqueduct re-routes the water from Lake Biwa into Lake Biwa Canal. 

Heian Otorii in the distance.

The aqueduct goes through Nanzen-ji and then through the mountain. This bridge-looking structure is the aquaduct as we approach Nanzen-ji.

Sanmon Gate - Entrance Gate of Nanzen-ji

 We concluded our hanami walk on Tetsugaku-no Michi (Philosopher's Walk). From here we turned around and walked back to our bikes the same way we came! 

A View of Tetsugaku-no Michi

Here is a map of our walk. Google maps wouldn't let me go "off-road" - but from Point "D" you can see the start of the aqueduct we walked along to Point "E" (Nanzen-ji).

Thanks for guiding me to some of Kyoto's
amazing cherry blossom views, Kaori-san!

Looking the part... total tourist. :)