Next stop on our Kyoto tour is the Path of Philosophy, so named for a famous philosophy professor who used to take a daily walk along this path. Today, the philosophers come in many shapes and sizes, including cub scout packs selling candy to the hordes of tourists. (As will be apparent from the photos, when I said in the introduction that Japan gets few tourists, I meant foreigners, as the Japanese have a huge enthusiasm for touring their country, and you're never alone on your travels.) The area is particularly popular because it's lined with cherry blossoms, which by coincidence were blooming during our visit. This two to three weeks of blossoming marks a highlight in Japan, the Cherry Blossom Festival. The Japanese love their cherry blossoms even more than pachenko, and the whole country takes on a carnival atmosphere. Crowds of well dressed people walk slowly through the gardens, examining each blossom very carefully, and many people have what look to be professional film crews on hand to expertly film each blossom. By lunchtime the festival takes on a more festive air, as the whole country picnics under their favorite tree, gradually getting drunk until night time. And it's very important to get the right tree, as you'll see young office workers setting up picnic areas under the best trees early in the morning, reserving them for their bosses parties later on. The flowers are beautiful, but the real reason to come to Japan during this time if at all possible is to marvel at the obsessiveness the Japanese show toward them.