18. Street Treats: The Philosopher's Walk 哲学の道--Ken
Following our great lunch at JyunSei we took a long, slow walk up the Path of Philosophy (哲学の道 Tetsugaku no Michi) in northern Higashiyama. It's a beautiful walk, under arching trees, alongside a canal, past several of the important temples and shrines in that area. The walk itself was our afternoon goal, but I still wanted to make it to Ginkakuji (The Silver Pavilion) before the rain came, or the sun went down, whichever came first.Luckily there were no crowds at all, just a few other walkers along the way. We paused to take a lot of pictures, and poked around a dozen stores selling handmade silk, ceramics, paintings, or other chotchkes.
Kathryn learned the hard way that Aquarius (the vending machine beverage) is not water. (I drank that one.)
Near the nothern end of our walk, we found a sidewalk shop making making my favorite kind of cinnamon tile cookies (Yatuhashi, 八ツ橋 ?). I almost cannot not buy them when I see them. These were a little thicker than the ones at Kiyumizu-dera, and a little more irregular (in a good way). I watched the old couple going through the steps they must have done a million times: flattening the dough, cutting, shaping on the hot iron, cooling. I've eaten these on every trip to Kyoto, but seeing them working, well into retirement age, this is the first time I've wondered and hoped that there would be someone to take their place if they couldn't continue--an heir to the cinnamon tile cookie throne. I suppose all there is to do is buy some and enjoy them now.
Me with the Cinnamon Tile Cookie Man (Yatuhashi-ya?).
These chestnuts dot the food displays all around at this time of year.
There were some cinnamon cookies here.
We didn't try these but we saw them here and in Arashiyama.
Sweet potato treats on the Philosopher's Path, not far from Ginkakuji.