Kyoto, Japan is one of the most brilliant locations for viewing beautiful cherry blossom scenes in spring. The ancient shrines, temples, and rivers of this prefecture provide scenic backdrops to your cherry blossom experience. Locals come from all over Japan to see Kyoto’s stunning sakura trees, and it’s a top bucket list item for travelers from all over the world.
During the Heian period, court royalty gathered under the flowering trees for picnics called hanami, a tradition that has carried on to the modern era. In the spring, you’ll find everyone from children to the elderly walking outside and enjoying the delicate blossoms. The most famous variety is the somei yoshino, a 5-petaled white-pink bloom that is the classic image that springs to mind when “cherry blossom” is mentioned.
With all of Kyoto at your fingertips, it’s hard to decide where to go. I’ll be the first to admit that you don’t need a guide to see gorgeous cherry blossoms while in the Kansai region—in fact, they are everywhere in the spring! However, if you would like to narrow your choices down a bit, here are some of the best cherry blossom viewing spots in Kyoto.
Also, in case you didn’t already know, hanami season or cherry blossom viewing season in Kyoto is extremely popular. When we visited, the most popular viewing sites were practically impossible to see without waking up around sunrise! I have included a suggested “best time to visit” with each location if you’re truly dedicated to seeing the magic of Japan’s sakura trees without fighting the crowds.
Not visiting Kyoto during sakura season, or are you maybe a little early or late to see cherry blossoms? Don’t worry; here are all the must-visit sights for a trip to Kyoto regardless of what time of year you’re visiting!
Takenaka Inari Jinja
The beautiful Takenaka Inari Jinja is a traditional Japanese shrine. The path to the shrine is lined with beautiful red torii gates that embody the sacred spiritual nature of the grounds, and in the spring beautiful sakura trees bloom in arches over the gates. The combination of red torii and delicate pinkish-white cherry blossom makes this spot quintessentially Japanese. The uniqueness of this spot makes it popular with photographers, and the small path can get very crowded during the day.
Best time to visit: 6:30 AM
Hokan-ji Temple
Hokan-ji Temple, also known as Yasaka Pagoda, is the most famous landmark in Kyoto located on the most famous street in Kyoto. It gets insanely crowded here during the day, but the beautiful pagoda rising in the background, the traditional-style wooden shops, and the weeping cherry tree arching delicately over the street make this an iconic spot.
Best time to visit: 6 AM or earlier
Tip: Hokan-ji Temple is a must-visit in Kyoto, even if you’re visiting Kyoto outside cherry blossom season. Check out this article to see all the best things to do in Kyoto — no springtime visit required!
Sannenzaka
Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka are also popular streets located in Gion, just a minute or two’s walk away from Hokan-ji Temple. While Ninenzaka is the more popular of the two due to its elegant collection of traditional shops, Sannenzaka boasts a huge weeping cherry tree.
Best time to visit: 6 AM, as soon as possible after Hokan-ji Temple
Kyoto Botanical Gardens
The Kyoto Botanical Gardens has beautiful flowers all year round, but the springtime is truly wonderful. The entry fee is only 200 yen and you can find 450 cherry blossom trees, with a forest extending north of the conservatory. Plus, you can find all kinds of other blossoms if you’re a bit early or late for the classic yoshino bloom.
Best time to visit: 9 AM at opening or 4 PM before closing
Takase River
The elegant Takase River is more like a stream, but is winding, gentle, and beautiful. The river extends 2.8 kilometers along Kiyamachi street and has 200 cherry blossom trees lining both sides. It’s a really beautiful and tranquil spot, with the added bonus that you can pop into one of the many coffee shops or stores on the river path. I recommend Murmur Coffee Kyoto—you can sit and have your drink and dessert on the shop steps, right in front of the cherry blossoms.
Best time to visit: anytime
Philosopher’s Path
The Philosopher’s Path is a gorgeous 2 kilometer-long elevated path alongside a river, lined with beautiful sakura. It is one of the most popular places to view sakura in Kyoto in the spring due to its length and charming ambiance. Both young and old come to slowly amble underneath the canopy of blossoms and watch the petals trickle down the stream. The best part is, it’s plenty long enough to share with everyone.
Best time to visit: before 10 AM
Keage Incline
Keage Incline is also one of the most popular spots to view the delicate yoshino sakura blossoms. It looks particularly unique because of the train tracks overgrown with grass and the white and pink flowers overhead. In fact, this spot used to be a real railroad track that has now been converted into a peaceful pedestrian walkway. However, this is by far one of the hardest spots to see by yourself because so many people flock to this location early in the morning.
Best time to visit: before 6 AM, 5:45 if possible
Gion Tatsumi Bridge
I have a special place in my heart for this little bridge in Gion, the famous historical geisha district of Kyoto. The traditional red-wood fence panels and charming little stone bridge feel as if you’ve stepped back in time, and the bridge is elegantly swathed in cherry blossoms both overhead and all around. It becomes quite busy with foot traffic during the day, but luckily many people are simply taking a quick photo and passing through. However, if you come very early in the morning, you’ll be treated to complete silence and small groups of Japanese photographers eagerly taking pictures of this quaint sight.
Best time to visit: 7:30 AM
Hirano Shrine
The lovely Hirano Shrine features beautiful red torii gates like Takenaka Inari Jinja, but the shrine grounds are much larger. In the spring, you can pay extra to visit the inner garden, which has lots of beautiful sakura trees and wild mustard flowers growing in the grass. Otherwise, the outer shrine area is free to access. There is a small torii path, satsuma trees, and a snack shop selling traditional Japanese tea and sweets.
Best time to visit: 7:30 AM
Kiyomizu-dera Temple
Kiyomizu-dera is the most famous temple in Kyoto, located on top of the highest hill. The name means “clear water temple” and to get here, you must climb up the traditional winding streets full of Japanese shops to reach the top of the incline. I didn’t know this originally, but the temple grounds have many beautiful cherry blossoms as well. The temple is massive and extremely popular at sunset, when the sun sets directly in front of the temple. If you don’t mind the crowds, I would definitely suggest coming at sunset and then watching the night fall over Kyoto.
Best time to visit: before 7 AM or sunset
Toji Temple
Toji Temple is a tall, 5-story pagoda with beautiful cherry blossoms at the base. In fact, this is the tallest wooden pagoda in Japan! It has much historical value, dating all the way back to the 790s when Japan’s capital moved from Nara to Kyoto. The grounds are extremely popular during spring and fall when the trees and colors look their best.
Best time to visit: 8 AM
Heian Jingu Shrine
Heian Jingu is a free shrine that has beautiful sprawling grounds, including a Japanese garden complete with a lake. Of course, there are also 300 cherry blossom trees planted in front of the shrine as well, making it the perfect place to enjoy sakura viewing or hanami in the spring.
Best time to visit: anytime
Yawaragi Road
Oh, Kameoka. This little town an hour west of Arashiyama may be a bit of a trek for the average Kyoto visitor, but this is an indispensable stop if you’re chasing cherry blossoms. Yawaragi Road in Kameoka specifically is known for its 1500 incredible cherry blossom trees lining the stunning walking paths. It is a quiet and breathtaking location that is fairly quiet even at the peak of cherry blossom season, since mostly only locals will visit! Besides the famous Yawaragi Road, you can also meander further and further along, past a gorgeous river with small waterfalls and families having hanami picnics, discovering more amazing cherry blossoms as you go.
Read my full article about discovering Kameoka’s cherry blossoms here—this is truly the best place to chase sakura in Kyoto!
Best time to visit: anytime
Maruyama Park
The large and popular Maruyama Park has 680 cherry blossom trees and is quite popular with families to set up hanami picnics. Even with its large number of trees, you’ll find families starting to stake out their place early in the morning before setting up for lunch. If you would like to partake, make sure to lay out your blanket nice and early. Otherwise, you can come anytime to enjoy the beautiful blossoms.
Best time to visit: 8:30 AM
Kamo River
The broad Kamo River divides Kyoto into two halves, its more touristic and historical eastern district and the more local and modern western district. The beautiful walking paths along the riverbank, both elevated and non-elevated, are adorned with 1000 cherry blossom trees. The river is extremely long and there usually aren’t too many trees bunched together at once, so it’s quite easy to walk along and find one that has no one nearby.
Best time to visit: anytime
Daigoji Temple
Daigoji is one of the largest temples in all of Kyoto and is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its massive grounds have been a popular cultural site for hanami since the Heian period. It is also equally popular during the fall season due to its bright colors. If you are interested in Japanese Buddhism, this temple has been an important center for the Shingon school of Buddhism for centuries. There is an admission fee of 1500 yen for adults during the spring period.
Best time to visit: anytime between 9 AM – 4 PM
Takasegawa Children’s Park
This unassuming children’s park wasn’t a cherry blossom spot that I originally had on my Kyoto list, but after stumbling across it I couldn’t not include this. These cherry blossoms are a perfect backdrop to the whimsical fixtures of the children’s playground, including swings, a seesaw, and my personal favorite, a stone slide. It’s just steps away from the Takase River, so stop by and unleash your inner child when you have a chance!
Best time to visit: anytime
Nijo Castle
Nijo Castle is another UNESCO World Heritage site that has cherry trees blooming around the castle grounds. The gardens are full of tree-lined streets and historical structures. This is a must-visit on any history lover’s spring visit to Kyoto! It was the residence of the powerful and famous shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu and retains many details that show the power of the mighty lord centuries later.
Best time to visit: anytime
Just Walk Around!
This might sound unhelpful, but you can find countless beautiful cherry trees just by walking around Kyoto. I’m not kidding—they’re actually everywhere! If I noted down every single spot I saw a beautiful sakura tree during our time in Kyoto, this list would go on forever. Here are a few shots that I took simply wandering around:
So if you’re not interested in any of the spots above, fear not. All you need on your Kyoto trip is your own two feet! Now get out there and chase some Japanese cherry blossoms.
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