Cherry Blossom Forecast 2018
Kyoto Report - April 5, 2018Kyoto Report - April 3, 2018Kyoto Report - April 1, 2018Kyoto Report - March 30, 2018
Below is a list of some of Kyoto's most popular spots for cherry blossom viewing (hanami), including the typical timing for best viewing in the average year and japan-guide.com ratings. See also our nationwide list of famous cherry blossom spots.
What to do if you missed the cherry blossoms in Kyoto
Maruyama Park••
Maruyama Park next to
Yasaka Shrine is Kyoto's most popular public park for cherry blossom parties. Its centerpiece is a large weeping cherry tree that gets lit up in the evenings. Many food stands and temporarily constructed restaurants with tables under the trees are available.
Arashiyama••
Arashiyama is a pleasant and busy district in the outskirts of Kyoto. Many cherry trees can be found around the Togetsukyo Bridge at the foot of Arashiyama mountains, especially in the riverside Nakanoshima Park. Another nice hanami spot in the area is
Daikakuji Temple whose large pond is surrounded by cherry trees.
Heian Shrine••
Large numbers of weeping cherry trees (yaebeni shidare) stand in the garden of
Heian Shrine, behind the shrine's main buildings, making it one of the best spots to see weeping cherry trees in Kyoto. The trees reach full bloom a few days after the other cherry trees, making it an ideal spot for visitors who miss the main season by a few days.
Haradani-en Garden••
Haradani-en is another excellent spot to enjoy large numbers of later blooming weeping cherry trees. The pleasant garden is located in the northern outskirts of Kyoto in the hills above
Kinkakuji Temple. It is a little bit difficult to reach by public transportation by the infrequent city bus number M1 from Kitaoji Station, Kinkakuji-michi or Ritsumeikan University. Alternatively, many visitors access the garden by
taxi.
Okazaki Canal•
Located just outside of
Heian Shrine, Okazaki Canal connects the Lake Biwa Canal network with Kamo River. It is lined by many cherry trees, and popular boat tours are conducted during the hanami season every 15-30 minutes for 1000 yen per person.
Keage Incline•
Part of a canal and tunnel system that connects Kyoto with Lake Biwa on the other side of the mountains, the Keage Incline was used until the 1950s to transport boats between Okazaki Canal and the canals at a higher elevation. Today, the gentle slope is lined by about one hundred cherry trees.
Daigoji Temple•
Daigoji is a temple complex with many cherry trees southeast of central Kyoto, where
Hideyoshi held a famous hanami party in the 16th century. Some outstanding weeping cherry trees stand on the grounds of the Reihokan Museum and in front of the Sanboin.
Nijo Castle•
A wide range of cherry tree
varieties on
Nijo Castle's spacious grounds result in a long blooming season during most of March and April. Yet, because at any time there are always some trees out of bloom, the overall experience may not be as overwhelming as in hanami spots where all the trees bloom at the same time. There are special illuminations in the evenings.
Kyoto Botanical Garden•
Besides a lot of other flowers, bushes and trees, the Kyoto Botanical Garden contains a beautiful small forest of weeping cherry trees and
somei yoshino that is popular for picnics. Furthermore, there stands a majestic weeping cherry tree next to the large lawn area in the center of the garden.
Kiyomizudera
There are quite a few cherry trees planted around the large balcony of
Kiyomizudera, but the largest concentration of trees is located around the pond near the exit of the temple grounds.
Ninnaji
Ninnaji Temple is well known for its locally cultivated variety of
late blooming cherry trees known as Omuro Cherry. The Omuro cherry trees tend to bloom about a week after the mainstream
Somei Yoshino. There are several hundred trees of them located on the temple grounds.
Kamogawa
Kamogawa is the river, which runs through central
Kyoto. Cherry trees are planted in many places along the river. One of the most pleasant places for cherry blossom viewing and a picnic is in northern Kyoto, where Kitaoji Street crosses the river.
Hirano Shrine
One of
Kyoto's most famous hanami spots, Hirano Shrine is also known for the many
varieties of cherry trees found on its grounds. In the evenings, the trees are lit up.
Ratings:
best of the best
best of Japan
outstanding