Circular hike around Eastern Kyoto
The walk starts from Ginkaku-ji. Take a left at the temple entrance and then a right and find the path that climbs up through the forest to Diamonjiyama. This is the clearing on the mountainside where a one of the five okuribi bonfires is lit during the mid August fire festival. From here, there are excellent views across Kyoto and a small rustic shrine if you want to say a prayer. Climbing up from the bonfire site you reach the forested ridge and can follow a signposted path towards Nanzen-ji. This is a relaxing trail and leaves you feeling immersed in nature even through you are on the outskirts of Kyoto city. On the way, you will pass Shichifuku-shiandokoro described by the Lonely planet Hiking Japan as the seven fortunes thinking spot and the Nanzen Oku-no-in a shrine where pilgrims pray naked beneath the waterfall.
