Kyoto has many famous cherry blossom spots. Among them, we introduce six popular places in the Eastern area that are highly recommended for cherry blossom viewing.
All of them are well-known as representative sakura spots in Kyoto.
The six places introduced here are all must-visit cherry blossom spots when visiting Kyoto.

Maruyama Park（Higashiyama Ward）

Best viewing time: early April

The Gion weeping cherry tree may be the most famous cherry tree in Japan

In Kyoto, it is probably hard to find someone who has never seen the Gion weeping cherry tree in Maruyama Park.

Many people from Kyoto have actually never been to Kinkaku-ji or Kiyomizu-dera except on elementary school trips, but Maruyama Park is a rare exception.

When people in Kyoto think of cherry blossoms, they usually think of the cherry trees near their home, or the Gion weeping cherry tree in Maruyama Park.

It may be not only the most famous cherry tree in Kyoto, but also the most famous one in all of Japan.

Since the Edo period, there has been a custom of lighting up cherry blossoms at night and enjoying yozakura, or night cherry blossoms.

The night cherry blossoms of Maruyama have been famous since that time. Their graceful and dreamy beauty has been loved both in the past and today.

In 2025, the event was held from March 25 to April 9.

From late March to early April, bonfires are also set up there.

Park Information
Opening hours: Open during the daytime at any time
Admission: Free entry
Address: Maruyama-cho, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City
Access: 10 minutes on foot from Keihan “Gion-Shijo” Station

Gion Weeping Cherry Tree Light-up (2025 Information)
Event period: March 25, 2025 – April 9, 2025
Hours: 18:00 – 22:00

Gion Shirakawa

The best viewing time is early April

The Weeping Cherry Tree at the Kanikakuni Monument

The Gion area, known as the largest geisha district in Japan, is also a famous cherry blossom spot.
Along the Shirakawa River, from late March to early April, you can see a tunnel of weeping cherry trees and Somei Yoshino cherry trees.
The most famous one is the weeping cherry tree at the Kanikakuni Monument.

Gion Shirakawa Evening Cherry Blossom Light-Up Returns

Gion Shirakawa is known for its old streets and beautiful cherry blossoms. During cherry blossom season, many people visit this area.
At night, the “Gion Shirakawa Evening Cherry Blossom Light-Up” is held, and the streets and cherry blossoms are lit up in a beautiful way.

In 2026, the light-up will be held from Friday, March 27 to Sunday, April 5, from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
It is also nice that you can enjoy the cherry blossom light-up until 10:00 PM.

Visitor Information
Access: 3 minutes from Keihan “Gion-Shijo” Station

Gion Shirakawa Evening Cherry Blossom Light-Up
Dates: Friday, March 27, 2026 to Sunday, April 5, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Admission: Free

Kiyomizu-dera Temple (Higashiyama Ward)

The best viewing time is early April

A Spectacular View from the Stage, with a Sea of Cherry Blossoms

Kiyomizu-dera is one of the most famous sightseeing spots in Kyoto.
It is especially crowded during the spring cherry blossom season and the autumn leaf season.
One reason for its popularity is the grand view from the stage.
There are about 1,500 cherry trees in the temple grounds, and from the stage, you can enjoy a beautiful view of cherry blossoms and fresh green leaves spreading out like a sea.

If you want to enjoy it slowly, early morning is the best time

Kiyomizu-dera is usually crowded, but early morning is the best time to visit. Many temples and shrines in Kyoto open around 9:00 AM, but Kiyomizu-dera opens from 6:00 AM.
Even during the busy peak cherry blossom season, you can enjoy it more calmly in the early morning.
If you are lucky, you may even have the stage all to yourself.

Speaking of Kiyomizu-dera, the light-up is also one of the highlights.
In 2026, it will be held from Friday, March 27 to Sunday, April 5.

Visitor Information
Opening Hours:
6:00 AM–6:00 PM (January 1–March 5)
6:00 AM–9:30 PM (March 6–15)
6:00 AM–6:00 PM (March 16–26)

Admission:
Adults: 400 yen
Elementary and junior high school students: 200 yen

Tel: 075-551-1287
Address: 294 Kiyomizu 1-chome, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto
Access:
25 minutes from Keihan “Kiyomizu-Gojo” Station
10 minutes from city bus stop “Gojozaka”

Special Night Viewing
Dates: Friday, March 27, 2025 to Sunday, April 5, 2025
Hours: 6:00 PM–9:00 PM
Admission:
Adults: 500 yen
Elementary and junior high school students: 200 yen

Kodai-ji Temple (Higashiyama Ward)

The best viewing time is early April

Today, Kōdai-ji is one of Kyoto’s best-known tourist spots,
but for a long time, it was not open to the public.
In 1989, it was opened to visitors for the first time to help raise money for repairs.

Kōdai-ji Brings in New Ideas

Five years after opening to the public, Kōdai-ji started its light-up event in 1994.
It was the first temple or shrine in Kyoto to do this.
Now many temples and shrines in Kyoto have light-up events, but Kōdai-ji was the first.
It is a temple that actively tries new things, and during cherry blossom season, projection mapping is also held.
The combination of cherry blossoms and the night sky is beautiful.

Visitor Information
Opening Hours: 9:00 AM–5:30 PM (last entry at 5:00 PM)
Admission:
Adults: 600 yen
Junior and senior high school students: 250 yen

Tel: 075-561-9966
Address: 526 Kodaiji Shimokawara-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto
Access: 7 minutes from city bus stop “Higashiyama Yasui”

Special Spring Night Viewing
Dates: Friday, March 13, 2026 to Wednesday, May 6, 2026 (public holiday)
Hours: Until 10:00 PM (last entry at 9:30 PM)

Nene no Michi (Higashiyama Ward)

The best viewing time is early April

A Classic Route for Visiting Higashiyama

In Kyoto, the Higashiyama area has many famous sightseeing spots close together.
A classic route for visiting Higashiyama is: Maruyama Park → Nene no Michi → Ninenzaka → Sannenzaka → Kiyomizu-dera.
Among them, one beautiful walking path, together with Sannenzaka, is “Nene no Michi” in front of Kodai-ji.             
You can walk along the nicely kept stone-paved road and look around the souvenir shops.
Taking a rickshaw is also a good idea.

A Beautiful Row of Somei Yoshino Cherry Trees

On the east side of Nene no Michi (the mountain side), there is a beautiful row of Somei Yoshino cherry trees.
In early April, the blossoms bloom beautifully and in great number.

Conclusion

In Kyoto, different types of cherry blossoms reach their best viewing time one after another, so the recommended viewing spots change depending on the season.
MK Taxi sightseeing drivers usually know where the cherry blossoms are most beautiful at the moment.

With an MK sightseeing charter taxi, you can fully enjoy spring in Kyoto.
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For sightseeing in Kyoto, leave it to MK’s chartered sightseeing taxi.
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