Kyoto's Cherry Blossoms in 2024: Top 15 Spots and Viewing Tips

Kyoto's Cherry Blossoms in 2024

Cherry blossom viewing in Kyoto is an experience you can’t leave out when visiting Japan during the spring.

In 2024, Kyoto's cherry blossoms are expected to start blooming around March 27 and reach their blooming peak around April 3.

Source: Weathernews

15 Famous Cherry Blossom Viewing Locations in Kyoto

1. Hirano Shrine
2. Kyoto Botanical Gardens
3. Nijo Castle
4. Toji Temple
5. Maruyama Park
6. Heian Jingu Shrine
7. Arashiyama
8. Keage Incline
9. Kodaiji Temple
10. Kyoto Gyoen National Garden
11. Daigoji Temple
12. Takase River
13. Kamigamo Shrine
14. Philosopher’s Walk
15. Kamo River Area

What to Wear in Kyoto in Spring
Cherry Blossom Viewing Etiquette
Hotels for Cherry Blossom Viewing in Kyoto

1. Hirano Shrine

Picture courtesy of Hirano Shrine

Hirano Shrine has been renowned for its cherry blossoms since long ago. It was believed that the blooming of the sakigake-zakura, a cherry blossom variety that originated at the shrine, indicated the beginning of the hanami season in Kyoto.

The approximately 60 cherry blossom varieties planted on the grounds bloom at different times. As a result, the blossoms can be enjoyed for about a month and a half, with the first bloom usually occurring in early March. Visitors can also enjoy a sakura illumination between late March and mid-April.

Picture courtesy of Hirano Shrine
Additionally, an event called the Okasai Festival takes place annually on April 10. The historical procession at this event starting at 13:00 is a must-see. About 200 people carrying portable shrines and wearing Orihime outfits will walk in procession around the shrine.

Hirano Shrine

Time: 6:00 – 17:00. Illuminations are from March 25 – April 20 from sunset until 21:00
Address: Kyoto, Kyoto, Kita, Hirano Miyamotocho 1 Google Map
Access: Take Routes 50 or Route 205 on the city bus from the Kyoto Ekimae bus stop for 40 minutes, exit at Kinugasako-mae (230 yen), then walk for 3 minutes
Official Website: http://www.hiranojinja.com/ (Japanese)

2. Kyoto Botanical Gardens

Picture courtesy of Kyoto Botanical Gardens

Approximately 450 cherry blossom trees of 130 varieties are planted at the Kyoto Botanical Gardens. Visitors can enjoy them from mid-March until the end of April. A highlight of the garden is its forest of cherry blossom trees extending north of the conservatory.

Plant enthusiasts should definitely enter the conservatory. It is Japan’s largest conservatory, housing 4,500 plant species.

The illuminations of the night cherry blossoms are held until 21:00 from the end of March to the beginning of April, allowing visitors to admire the flowers at a later time than usual.

Kyoto Botanical Gardens

Time: 9:00 – 17:00 (Entry until 16:00). Illuminations are until 21:00 (Entry until 20:00)
Admission Fee: Adults 200 yen, high school students 150 yen (entry for the gardens). Entry for the conservatory costs 200 yen for adults and 150 yen for high school students.
Address: Kyoto, Kyoto, Sakyo, Shimogamo, Hangi Google Map
Access: Immediately outside Exit 3 of Kitayama Station (Kyoto Municipal Subway Karasuma Line)
Official Website: http://www.pref.kyoto.jp/en/02-02-10.html

3. Nijo Castle

Photo by Pixta

Nijo Castle, a World Heritage Site, was constructed by Tokugawa Ieyasu, a shogun (military general) during the Edo period (1603-1868). It is a popular spot for history buffs.

Approximately 300 cherry blossom trees in 50 varieties bloom in succession on the castle grounds between early March and late April. Here, you can enjoy cherry blossoms together with various sights including a tree-lined avenue, Japanese gardens, and historical structures.

The Nijo Castle Cherry Blossom Festival is held between late March to mid-April. During the festival, night cherry blossom illuminations take place from 18:00 to 21:30. The combination of traditional buildings and night blossoms is magical!

Picture courtesy of Klook

Moreover, in 2024, Nijo Castle is hosting a special cherry blossom art and projection mapping event created by the artistic unit NAKED, Inc. Enjoy dazzling light-ups and projection mapping along the moat and the buildings of Nijo Castle! The event is held until Apriil 7, 2024.

Nijo Castle

Time: 8:45 – 16:00. Illuminations are from 18:00 – 21:30
Admission Fee: Adults 620 yen, junior and high school students 350 yen, elementary school students 200 yen. Visiting during the daytime and at night requires a separate fee.
Address: Kyoto, Nakagyo, Nijo, Horikawa Nishiiru, Nijojo 541 Google Map
Access: Take the Nijo Castle-Kinkaku-ji Temple Express or Routes 9, 50, and 101 on the city bus from the Kyoto Ekimae bus stop for 20 minutes, exit at Nijojo-mae (230 yen), then walk for 2 minutes
Official Website: https://www2.city.kyoto.lg.jp/bunshi/nijojo/english/index.html

4. Toji Temple: Cherry Blossoms and the Five-Storied Pagoda

Photo by Pixta

Toji Temple is home to Japan’s tallest five-storied wooden pagoda. The temple’s official name is Kyo-o-gokokuji Temple. It is a registered World Heritage Site.

Around 200 beautiful cherry blossom trees bloom here. Be sure to take a photo with the five-storied pagoda in the background to capture a traditional Japanese essence.

The Fuji Zakura, the cherry tree Toji Temple is most known for, is a shidare-zakura (weeping cherry) tree that is over 130 years old. It towers 13 meters tall and has an artistic beauty that is especially wonderful during the nighttime light-ups held from late March to early April.

Toji Temple

Time: Visiting hours for Kondo Hall and Kodo Hall are 8:00 – 17:00. Illuminations are 18:30 – 21:30 (mid-March to mid-April)
Admission: Admission for Kondo Hall and Kodo Hall is 500 yen for adults, 400 yen for high school students, and 300 yen for junior high school students and younger. During the illuminations, admission is 500 yen for high school students and older while it is 300 yen for junior high school students and younger
Address: Tokyo, Minami, Kujo 1 Google Map
Access: 15-minute walk from JR Kyoto Station (Hachijo Entrance)
Official Website: https://toji.or.jp/en/

5. Maruyama Park

Photo by Pixta

Maruyama Park is utilized by numerous Kyoto locals for outings. Around 680 cherry blossom trees in the park are illuminated from mid-March to mid-April between sunset and 24:00. Additionally, food stalls are set up within the park, creating a bustling atmosphere with crowds of people at all hours.

The shidare-zakura (weeping cherry tree), renowned as the park’s symbol, is more than 80 years old and is affectionately known as the Nighttime Cherry Blossom Tree of Gion. This particular variety of cherry tree typically blooms in late March annually. Visitors can also appreciate other types of cherry blossoms in the park up until mid-April.

Maruyama Park

Address: Kyoto, Higashiyama, Maruyama Google Map
Access: Take Routes 100 or 206 on the city bus from the Kyoto Ekimae bus stop for 20 minutes, exit at Gion (230 yen), then walk for 1 minute
Official Website: https://kyoto.travel/en/thingstodo/entertainment/110

6. Heian Jingu Shrine

Picture courtesy of Heian Jingu Shrine

Approximately 300 cherry blossom trees are planted at Heian Jingu Shrine, established in 1895. The shrine's striking features include vermilion pillars and a green roof, which are beautifully complemented by the pink hues of the cherry blossoms, creating a truly magnificent sight.

Picture courtesy of Heian Jingu Shrine

There is also a Japanese-style garden within Heian Jingu Shrine where you can appreciate the cherry blossoms in a setting that contrasts with their vibrant display against the main shrine.

Heian Jingu Shrine

Time: 6:00 – 18:00
Address: Kyoto, Kyoto, Sakyo, Okazaki, Nishi-Tenno Google Map
Access: Take Routes 5, 100, or 110 on the city bus from the Kyoto Ekimae bus stop for 30 minutes, exit at the Okazaki Park/Art Museum/Heian Jingu Shrine bus stop (230 yen), then walk for 5 minutes
Official Website: http://www.heianjingu.or.jp/ (Japanese)

7. Arashiyama

Picture by Pixta

Arashiyama is a picturesque location perfect for enjoying the beauty of nature. Renowned as a cherry blossom hotspot since ancient times, the entire mountain is bathed in a soft pink hue when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom.

What makes Arashiyama special is the opportunity for a hanami experience that deviates slightly from the usual, whether from trolley trains or boats gliding down the river. Close to Togetsu-kyo Bridge along the Katsura River, you'll find over 1,500 cherry blossom trees, beautifully illuminated at night.

Take pleasure in an evening stroll while admiring the cherry blossoms.

Arashiyama Togetsu-kyo Bridge

Address: Kyoto, Kyoto, Ukyo, Saganakanoshima Google Map
Access: 13-minute walk from Saga-Arashiyama Station (JR Sagano Line, San’in Main Line)
Official Website: http://www.kyoto-kankou.or.jp/info_search/?id=289&r=1549515705.7615 (Japanese)

8. Keage Incline: View Cherry Blossoms on the Train Tracks

Photo by Pixta

The Keage Incline is a location where you can stroll along abandoned railway tracks while enjoying the beauty of cherry blossoms. Approximately 90 cherry blossom trees line the entire 582-meter length of the tracks.

Formerly utilized to transport ships from Otsu, Shiga to Kyoto until 1948, Keage Incline features railway tracks situated on a sloping plane. Remarkably, the railway track once used for transportation still persists at the final stop to this day.

Keage Incline

Address: Kyoto, Kyoto, Higashiyama, Higashi-Komonoza 339 Google Map
Access: Take Route 5 on the city bus from the Kyoto Ekimae bus stop for 35 minutes, exit at Okazaki Hoshojicho (230 yen), then walk for 5 minutes
Official Website: http://www.kyoto-kankou.or.jp/info_search/?id=170&r=1549515790.9106 (Japanese)

9. Kodaiji Temple

Kodaiji Temple is a Zen temple affiliated with the Rinzai School Kennin-ji Sect. Founded in 1606 by Nene, the wife of Toyotomi Hideyoshi (*1), a prominent military commander during the Sengoku period, the temple serves as a place of mourning for his passing.

Noteworthy are the enchanting cherry blossoms found in Hashintei, a Japanese garden within the temple that embodies Zen principles. The delicate pink shidare-zakura trees blossoming in the karesansui garden, designed with stones and pebbles to symbolize nature, resemble exquisite works of art.

*1 Toyotomi Hideyoshi: a historical figure from the Sengoku period, spanning the late fifteenth to late sixteenth centuries, known for unifying Japan. He commissioned the construction of Osaka Castle, recognized as one of Japan's top 100 castles.

Kodaiji Temple is hosting a special spring light-up of the temple grounds from March 15 until May 6, 2024. Every day from 17:00, visitors can enjoy illuminations and projection mapping shows. The last entry for the nighttime admission is at 21:30 and the light-up can be enjoyed until 22:00.

Kodaiji Temple

Admission: Adults 600 yen, junior high and high school students 250 yen
Address: Kyoto, Kyoto, Higashiyama, Shimokawara 526 Google Map
Access: Take Route 206 on the city bus from the Kyoto Ekimae bus stop for 20 minutes, exit at Higashiyama Yasui (230 yen), then walk for 5 minutes
Official Website: https://www.kodaiji.com/e_index.html

10. Kyoto Gyoen National Garden

Picture courtesy of Ministry of the Environment, Kyoto Gyoen Management Office

Kyoto Gyoen National Garden is known as the "Central Park of Kyoto." It was once where the homes of the imperial family and nobility stood during the Edo period, but has since been developed into a garden and opened to the public following the Meiji period.

Kyoto Gyoen is very large, with a maximum circumference of four kilometers. Here you can leisurely admire 1,000 beautiful cherry blossom trees. The photo above was taken near Demizu Stream in the southwest area of the garden. The pink and white of the cherry blossoms together with the stream makes a great picture, doesn’t it?

The cherry blossoms can be seen from early to mid-April. The best time to see the blossoms will differ depending on the weather but is usually around mid-April.

Kyoto Gyoen National Garden

Time: All day
Address: Kyoto, Kyoto, Kamigyo, Kyoto Gyoen 3 Google Map
Access: 5-minute walk from Exit 1 at Marutamachi Station (Municipal Subway Karasuma Line)
Official Website: http://www.env.go.jp/garden/kyotogyoen/english/index.html

11. Daigoji Temple

Picture by Pixta

Daigoji Temple was registered as a World Cultural Heritage in 1994. This has been a famous cherry blossom spot since the Heian period. It is also known to be where Toyotomi Hideyoshi hosted a splendid hanami celebration half a year before his passing.

In 1598, Hideyoshi hosted the Daigo Hanami while accompanied by over 1,000 retainers. He is said to have planted 700 cherry blossom trees around Kyoto. Even now, over 400 years later, the cherry blossoms of Daigoji Temple continue to mesmerize countless visitors each year.

Photo by Pixta

We suggest taking a walk under the cherry blossom trees while enjoying the variety of scenery. You will find the five-storied pagoda, a National Treasure towering over the grounds, the red Bentendo Hall beautifully reflected in the pond, and the garden of Sanbo-in Temple, where the monk managing Daigoji Temple resided.

Daigoji Temple

Time: 9:00 – 17:00 (Reception ends at 16:00) *Changes may occur depending on the season.
Admission: Adults 1,500 yen, junior and high school students 1,000 yen (combined ticket for Sanbo-in Temple, Garan, and Reihokan) *Changes may occur depending on the season.
Address: Kyoto, Kyoto, Fushimi, Daigo, Higashioji 22 Google Map
Access: Take the Keihan Bus Yamashina Express Line from Platform H4 at the Kyoto Station Hachijo Entrance bound for Daigoji Temple for 30 minutes and exit at Daigoji Temple (300 yen). The entrance will be immediately outside upon arrival.
Official Website: http://www.daigoji.or.jp/index_e.html

12. Takase River: Enjoy Food with Flowers

Along the Takase River, which flows through the entire 2.8 kilometers of Kiyamachi Street, you can enjoy the atmospheric Kyoto townscape with beautiful cherry blossoms. 200 cherry blossom trees are planted over a stretch of one kilometer.

The surrounding area is a restaurant district, so how about admiring the cherry blossoms while enjoying a meal and drinks? The Kiyamachi Street Night Cherry Blossom illuminations will take place from 18:00 – 23:00 between late March to early April. We also recommend taking a walk at night.

Takase River

Address: Kyoto, Kyoto, Nakagyo, Ichinofunairi, Ichinofunairicho-Kawaramachidori Oike Agaru Google Map
Access: Take Routes 4, 5, or 205 on the city bus from the Kyoto Ekimae bus stop for 15 minutes, exit at Shijo Kawaramachi (230 yen), then walk for 8 minutes
Official Website: https://kanko.city.kyoto.lg.jp/detail.php?InforKindCode=4&ManageCode=7000044 (Japanese)

13. Kamigamo Shrine: Two Impressive Weeping Cherry Trees

The Saio Zakura (Picture courtesy of Kamigamo Shrine)

The Gosho Zakura (Picture courtesy of Kamigamo Shrine)

Kamigamo Shrine is known as the oldest shrine in Kyoto. Its officially name is Kamo Wake-Ikazuchi Shrine and it is a registered World Heritage Site.

Kamigamo Shrine is famous for its beautiful shidare-zakura (weeping cherry) trees called the Saio Zakura and Gosho Zakura.

The word “saio” refers to an unmarried daughter of the Emperor (imperial princess) sent from the kyuchu (*3) to serve the deities of the shrine. “Gosho” refers to the Emperor. Both magnificently shaped trees have a beauty that fascinates those that see them.

*3 Kyuchu: the imperial court located inside the residence of the Emperor.

Kamigamo Shrine

Time: 5:00 – 17:00
Address: Kyoto, Kita, Kamigamo Motoyama 339 Google Map
Access: Take Route 4 on the city bus from the Kyoto Ekimae bus stop for one hour, exit at Kamigamo Shrine (230 yen), then walk for 5 minutes
Official Website: https://www.kamigamojinja.jp/english/index.html

14. Philosopher’s Walk: Stroll Down an Avenue of Cherry Trees

Photo by Pixta

The Philosopher’s Walk is listed as one of the Top 100 Paths of Japan. Its name originates from the fact that many literary scholars have walked down this path.

A canal runs along the road and continues for about two kilometers. The sight of its 500 Yoshino cherry trees is phenomenal. As cherry blossom trees are planted on both sides of the path, you can enjoy the beautiful cherry blossom tunnel come to their full bloom.

Nearby the path, you’ll also find Heian Jingu Shrine and, if you walk a little further, Keage Incline. How about including the Philosopher’s Walk into your cherry blossom spot tour?

Philosopher’s Walk

Address: Kyoto, Kyoto, Sakyo, Jodoji Ishibashi Google Map
Access: Take Route 100 on the city bus from the Kyoto Ekimae bus stop for 40 minutes, exit at Ginkakuji Temple (230 yen), then walk for 2 minutes

15. Kamo River Area: Enjoy Both Shops and Nature

Photo by Pixta

The Kamo River is a favored destination for leisurely walks in Kyoto. It's common to see individuals leisurely strolling or sitting by the river, peacefully passing the time. As spring approaches, the riverside becomes alive with visitors who come to relish walks beneath the canopy of 1,000 cherry blossom trees.

Numerous restaurants flank the riverbank, making it an ideal suggestion to indulge in a meal while basking in the beauty of the cherry blossoms..

Kamo River Area

Address: Kyoto, Kyoto, Nakagyo, Wakamatsu Google Map
Access: Take Routes 5 or 104 on the city bus from the Kyoto Ekimae bus stop for 20 minutes, exit at Sanjo Keihan (230 yen), and it will be immediately outside
Official Website: https://www.pref.kyoto.jp/kamogawa/1205475129577.html (Japanese)

What to Wear in Kyoto in Spring

During the prime cherry blossom viewing period from late March to mid-April, the average temperature typically hovers between ten to twelve degrees Celsius.

Significant temperature fluctuations occur between day and night. While a jacket or light coat suffices during the day, temperatures may plummet to around five degrees after sunset.

If you plan to admire the night blossoms, it's advisable to dress warmly with a sweater or scarf to combat the chill. Consider buying hand warmers from a convenience store or supermarket to stay cozy during your outing.

Manners during Cherry Blossom Viewing

Picture from This Is What You’ll Need! A Guide To Hanami Essentials

When visiting parks open to the public for free, seating choice is generally flexible. However, some parks may have designated areas that are off-limits, so it's important to verify this information beforehand.

Additionally, it is crucial that all participants either take their trash home or dispose of it in designated bins after hanami. Embrace your hanami experience while adhering to these guidelines.

Kyoto Hotels during Cherry Blossom Season

Picture from Relax At The Millennials Kyoto – World’s First Spacious Capsule Hotel

Visitors from all over the world come to Kyoto during the hanami season to see the cherry blossoms. Hotels become full quickly with reservations during this time period.

If you plan to visit Kyoto at any time between late March to April, be sure to book a hotel as soon as possible.

We also suggest considering making reservations in neighboring cities such as Osaka, Kobe, or Nara, where it may be easier to find lodging. You can commute to Kyoto from these areas.

Main image by Pixta