Kyoto University is one of the most prestigious universities in Japan. It is known for its “liberal academic culture” ,which values the independence of its students and has a unique culture.
A friend of mine who is a Kyoto University graduate took me on a tour of the gourmet restaurants around the university that the students love and the classic dating spots where they often hang out.

12:00 p.m. Meeting at Kamogawa Delta

The designated meeting place was Kamogawa Delta in Demachiyanagi, Sakyo-ku.
Kamogawa Delta is a delta at the confluence of Takano River flowing from the east and Kamo River flowing from the west, and is a popular spot for students and families on holidays.
It is also a familiar place for Kyoto University students, whose campus is nearby, and it is said that it is a regular place to talk with friends and loved ones between or after classes.

On this sunny day, people enjoying a leisurely picnic could be seen here and there.

Kamogawa Delta is also famous for the stepping stones that connect the east and west banks of the river. In fact, if you look closely at these stepping stones, you will see that there are stones in the shapes of turtles and plovers mixed in.
Of course, I couldn’t help but hop too. I tried hopping, remembering the days when I was a student and hopped lightly (or so I thought).
When I actually tried hopping, it was nothing like I had imagined…. I think I can hop rhythmically only until I am a university student.

I eased up my fun and started to ride my bicycle in the direction of Kyoto University.

12:15 p.m. Tasty budget lunch! “Eating House hi-lite” Loved by Kyoto University Students

After a 10-minute drive, we arrived at our first destination. First, we were guided to a diner in front of Hyakumanben campus that is frequented by Kyoto University students.

“Eating House hi-lite” was established in 1960 in the hope that students coming from outlying areas would enjoy a full meal of food prepared with love at a reasonable price.
The catchphrase “Good taste, good quantity, good price” can be seen on the outside of the restaurant.

The jumbo chicken cutlet set meal recommended here is 660 yen. It is a big-sized chicken cutlet topped with homemade American sauce.
What arrived with the lady’s cheerful voice was a big, big chicken cutlet, about the size of two palms of my hand.
And although hidden by the chicken cutlet, the rice was as large as two regular servings!
I had given up on finishing the dish, thinking, “This is a bit too much…” But then I realized that there was only one piece of chicken cutlet left on the platter. The crispy and fluffy cutlet was lighter in texture than I had expected, and it aroused my appetite.

The sweet sauce also reduced the greasiness of the cutlet, so it did not feel as heavy as it looked, and I was able to enjoy it all the way through.

1:00 p.m. Sneak into Kyoto University Campus

After we had finished our meal, we greeted Kyoto University campus. Kyoto University has always had a strong bicycle culture, and the campus was lined with bicycles owned by students.

We also took a photo with the clock tower, which has been a symbol of Kyoto University for nearly 90 years.
Inside the clock tower, there is a hall for lectures, a restaurant, and a history exhibition room.

1:30 p.m. Visit Chionji Temple, nicknamed “Hyakumanben-san”

Energized by the lively atmosphere of the university, the tour of spots associated with Kyoto University students continues.
The next stop was Chionji Temple, located across the street from Kyoto University. Chionji Temple is one of the seven head temples of the Jodo shu, the Pure Land Sect of Buddhism and is known for its monthly handmade market on the 15th of every month.
The temple grounds are lined with about 400 stalls and crowded with shoppers.

We also found a “Hanachouzu” (Chouzu with flowers), which is common at shrines and temples in Kyoto in recent years.
“Chouzu” is a large water basin with the dippers used to purify oneself before prayer.

After praying for the safety of our upcoming bicycle trip, we headed to a coffee shop frequented by Kyoto University students.

2:00 p.m. “World Coffee Shop Shirakawa Honten”, a beloved local coffee shop

The next stop is “World Coffee Shop Shirakawa Honten”, located about 5 minutes from Chionji Temple.
“World Coffee” is Kyoto’s leading coffee chain. World Coffee Shop Shirakawa Honten is the head office of the chain. Through the large glass windows, one can see a chandelier shining brightly.

We entered the shop with our hearts filled with nostalgic menu items lined up in the showcase.

The shop is on the right, and the café is on the left. The shop is stocked with a wide variety of coffee-related items, including freshly roasted beans, tea cakes, and coffee utensils.

The café is packed with people, as it is snack time! There were many ladies enjoying conversation over a cup of coffee.

I ordered the raspberry millefeuille and café au lait from the menu.

The millefeuille was a perfect match between the sweet and sour taste of the raspberry jam and the sweetness of the cream, and had a nostalgic flavor. It was a perfect match with the café au lait.
At 740 yen for this set, it is easy on the wallet, which is one of the reasons why it is loved by Kyoto University students.

3:30 p.m. Walking along “Philosopher’s Path”, reflecting on the day

The last stop is “Tetsugaku No Michi” (Philosopher’s Path), a popular date spot among Kyoto University students.
The path is a 2-km walkway between Ginkakuji Temple and Nanzenji Temple.
It is named after the philosopher, Kitaro Nishida, a professor at Kyoto University as he used to walk along this path and lose himself in thought.

Cycling is also a good option, but you can also take a walk as if you were a student of Kyoto University.

There are benches along the way where you can take a break. It is so nice to talk about love while listening to the murmuring of the creek, isn’t it?

While thinking about our fun day of pottering, we reached the end of the Philosopher’s Path. We got on our bicycles again and headed west toward the setting sun.
On the way back, with Heian Shrine on the left, we continued straight down Marutamachi-dori toward Kamo River, ending the day’s pottering at Keihan Jingu-Marutamachi Station.

Course Introduction

Summary

On this afternoon of pottering around Kyoto University, we were able to visit spots loved by students beyond generations.
In addition to the spots introduced, there are many other spots in the area that are associated with Kyoto University, so be sure to look for them.