Kyoto is home to many elegant cherry blossom viewing spots. If you go to the trouble of viewing cherry blossoms, you may want to visit multiple locations to enjoy the once-a-year spring scenery.
You can never miss the famous spots! I want to go to a hole in the ground with as few people as possible! Here are some cherry blossom spots in Kyoto that can satisfy both of your needs.
-INDEX-
＜Famous Cherry Blossom Spots＞
【Arashiyama】
Togetsukyo Bridge
Randen cherry blossom tunnel
Tenryu-ji Temple
Daikaku-ji Temple
【Higashiyama】
Philosopher’s Walk
Heian Jingu Shrine
Keage Incline
Kodai-ji Temple
＜Cherry Blossom Hole Spots＞
Shobo-ji Temple
Oharano Shrine
Shouji-ji Temple
Yoshimine Temple
＜Famous Cherry Blossom Spots＞
【Arashiyama】
Arashiyama is rich in seasonal changes. The clear Oigawa River and the graceful appearance of the Togetsu Bridge over it attract people’s hearts no matter what time of year they visit.
In spring, the view of cherry blossoms, mountains, river, and bridge together is magnificent.
Togetsukyo Bridge
Wataritsukibashi Bridge over the overflowing cherry blossoms and the view of Arashiyama beyond are as beautiful as a picture scroll.
LOCATION INFORMATION
Address
Saga Tenryuji Susukinobaba-cho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto [MAP]
Access
8-minute walk from Hankyu Arashiyama Line Arashiyama Station
Randen cherry blossom tunnel
A tunnel of cherry blossoms appears between Narutaki and Utano Stations on the Randen Kitano Line. Someiyoshino cherry trees line both sides of the line for about 200 meters. The retro trains that run through the cherry blossoms are also attractive.
LOCATION INFORMATION
Address
4, Utanohoanjicho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto [MAP]
Access
From Hankyu Kyoto Line Saiin Station,
transfer over to the Randen and go to Keage Line.
Tenryu-ji Temple
Tenryuji Temple was built by Ashikaga Takauji. It is a beautiful spot with cherry blossoms in the distance, such as weeping cherry trees blooming against the backdrop of Dahouden Hall and Mochikyo-no-oka overlooking Arashiyama in spring.
LOCATION INFORMATION
Address
68, Saga Tenryuji Susukinobaba-cho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto [MAP]
Access
15-minute walk from Hankyu Arashiyama Line Arashiyama Station
Daikaku-ji Temple
Cherry trees are planted around Osawa Pond, the oldest man-made garden pond in Japan, and visitors can enjoy a 1-kilometer walk around the pond. The cherry blossoms reflected in the water mirror are also beautiful.
LOCATION INFORMATION
Address
4, Saga Osawa-cho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto [MAP]
Access
30-minute walk from Hankyu Arashiyama Line Arashiyama Station
【Higashiyama】
Higashiyama is home to a concentration of Kyoto’s most famous sights. The area, which is easily accessible from downtown Kawaramachi, Kyoto, is dotted with cherry blossom viewing spots.
Please enjoy the town of Higashiyama dyed in pink.
Philosopher’s Walk
Wherever you go along the Philosopher’s Walk, there are cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms! The side trips to shrines and temples scattered along the way are also enjoyable and make you lose track of time.
LOCATION INFORMATION
Address
Sakyo-ku, Kyoto [MAP]
Access
Take the Kyoto city bus from Hankyu Kyoto Line
Kyoto-kawaramachi Station and alight at Ginkakuji-michi.
It's a short walk away.
Heian Jingu Shrine
Most of the cherry trees that adorn Heian Shrine are red weeping cherry trees. As the name suggests, these cherry trees are bright red in color. The contrast with the vermilion shrine pavilions is magnificent.
LOCATION INFORMATION
Address
97, Okazaki Nishitennocho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto [MAP]
Access
Take the Kyoto city bus from Hankyu Kyoto Line
Kyoto-kawaramachi Station and alight
at OkazakikoenBijutsukan/Heianjingu-mae.
It's a 5-minute walk from there.
Keage Incline
A total of 582 meters of inclined railroad near Nanzenji Temple, and now visitors can freely walk on the rails. In spring, you can enjoy the romantic scenery amidst the rows of cherry trees that fill the area.
LOCATION INFORMATION
Address
Nanzenji Fukuchi-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto [MAP]
Access
From Hankyu Kyoto Line Karasuma Station,
transfer over to the Kyoto Municipal Subway and go to Keage Station.
It's a 10-minute walk from there.
Kodai-ji Temple
This Zen temple was built by Nene to mourn the loss of Hideyoshi. In spring, weeping cherry trees in the Hojo Garden bloom beautifully, their bright pink color shining on the white sand of the garden.
LOCATION INFORMATION
Address
526, Shimokawara-cho Kodaiji, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto [MAP]
Access
15-minute walk from Hankyu Kyoto Line Kyoto-kawaramachi Station
＜Cherry Blossom Hole Spots＞
【Mukou City】
There’s even a spot away from the city center of Kyoto where you can enjoy the cherry blossoms!
Enjoy the cherry blossoms in a relaxing atmosphere at this ancient shrine nestled in the nature of Nishiyama.
Shobo-ji Temple
The “Garden of Birds and Animals,” lined with stones that resemble animals and birds, is a beautiful spot where weeping cherry trees stand dignifiedly.
LOCATION INFORMATION
Address
1102, Ōharano Minamikasugacho, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto [MAP]
Access
Take the Hankyu bus from Hankyu Kyoto Line
Higashi-muko Station and alight at Minami kasugacho.
It's a 8-minute walk from there.
Oharano Shrine
The most notable cherry blossom on the grounds of Oharano Shrine is the “Sengan-zakura” (cherry blossom with a thousand eyes). It is said to be a phantom cherry blossom that blooms for only two or three days, and if you are lucky enough to see it, your wish will come true.
LOCATION INFORMATION
Address
1152, Ōharano Minamikasugacho, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto [MAP]
Access
Take the Hankyu bus from Hankyu Kyoto Line
Higashi-muko Station and alight at Minami kasugacho.
It's a 7-minute walk from there.
Shouji-ji Temple
At Shoujiji Temple, commonly known as “Flower Temple,” about 100 cherry trees spread their branches spontaneously. The temple is famous for the “Saigyo Cherry Blossoms,” which are said to have been planted and loved by the monk Saigyo.
LOCATION INFORMATION
Address
1194, Ōharano Minamikasugacho, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto [MAP]
Access
Take the Hankyu bus from Hankyu Kyoto Line
Higashi-muko Station and alight at Minami kasugacho.
It's a 20-minute walk from there.
Yoshimine Temple
Various varieties of cherry trees, including higanzakura (higan cherry), shidarezakura (weeping cherry), yamazakura (mountain cherry), and botanzakura (botan cherry), color the spring scenery in the precincts.
The temple is also famous for its dynamic view. You can enjoy a panoramic view of the city of Kyoto.
LOCATION INFORMATION
Address
1372, Oharano-koshio-machi, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto [MAP]
Access
Take the Hankyu bus from Hankyu Kyoto Line
Higashi-muko Station and alight at Yoshiminedera.
It's a 8-minute walk from there.
Kyoto has many cherry blossom viewing spots. By narrowing down the area, you can efficiently visit several spots with different scenery. Try touring both the famous and the obscure!
