@ tt7: Thank you for taking the time to share your suggestions! They are most welcome … really!

Philosopher's Path is already on my list. So now I have something to add to the start & the end of the walk. Brilliant!

Now I just have to figure out how to copy & print your last reply. That will save me from having to write it out long-hand - hehe!

You have many wonderful options at each end!

We've walked the Philosopher's Path several times but I must admit I've never noticed a 'slope' in either direction. Given that it runs alongside a small canal, in my experience, canals don't do slopes ....

From a practical point of view, I think it's much easier to do it south-to-north by taking the subway to Keage, walking past Nanzen-ji, Eikan-do etc. and then up the Path to Ginkaku-ji. If you start at Ginkaku-ji, you have to get there - which either means taking a bus from Kyoto Station (which we've never done - the lines at the bus stops outside Kyoto Station have always been enough to put us off, so we take a train or the subway to somewhere closer to where we're going and then get a bus (if necessary) from there) or you take a taxi -- which we never, ever do as we'd much rather take public transport or walk.

I'm glad I walked the Philosopher's Path from north to south, but that choice was based on my other plans for the day, and I wasn't starting from Kyoto Station. That's the problem with recommendations for specific routes -- it depends on where on wants to start and end and what, exactly, one hopes to see as part of a plan that probably includes much more than any one walk. Or at least, that's how I see it.

IIRC (no guarantees on that!), there was a slight slope, and I would think canals would have to have a bit of a slope or the water wouldn't move.

We will consider both routes ... though our starting point will likely be determined by our plans for the day. Regardless, it will be a lovely walk along the canal lined with cherry blossom trees!

Silly me! Since posting this comment, I have thought of MANY ways in which water can be made to move through flat canals.

And yes, 2010, it is a lovely, lovely walk.

kja, there is a definite downward slope on parts of the path so your memory does serve you well lol. But as I said the walk in either direction isn't difficult. There were ducks swimming in one part of the canal last time we were there which was nice. Love the sound of the water flowing, adds to the overall ambiance of serenity.

I thought I remembered things like that! Thanks for the reassurance, curiousgeo.