Kyoto has many famous cherry blossom spots. Among them, we introduce five 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 five places introduced here are all must-visit cherry blossom spots when visiting Kyoto.

Shinnyodo Temple (Sakyo Ward)

Best viewing time: Early April

Weeping cherry blossoms blooming with the three-story pagoda in the background

The most recommended cherry tree at Shinnyodo is the weeping cherry tree in front of the three-story pagoda.
It does not have a special name, but every year it blooms beautifully with the 30-meter-tall pagoda behind it.
Because the view is very picturesque, it is a cherry tree in Kyoto known mainly by people who know the area.

Many kinds of cherry blossoms bloom around the temple grounds.
The most noticeable one is the Somei Yoshino cherry.
They bloom in many places, especially in front of the main hall, Shinnyodo, and are highly recommended.

When the Somei Yoshino blossoms pass their peak, beautiful fresh green leaves begin to appear.
The combination of cherry blossoms and fresh green leaves is said to be especially beautiful here, even among Kyoto temples.

Visitor Information

Opening Hours
9:00–16:00 (last entry 15:45)
The area around the main hall is open during the day.

Admission Fee

Regular period

• Adults: 500 yen
• High school students: 300 yen

Nehan-zu (Nirvana painting) special viewing period
(March 1–31, 2025)

• Adults: 800 yen
• High school students: 600 yen
• Junior high school students and younger: Free

The area around the main hall is a free-access area.

Tel: 075-771-0915
Address: 82 Shinnyo-cho, Jodoji, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto
Access: 8-minute walk from the city bus stop “Kinrin Shako-mae”.

Nanzenji Temple (Sakyo Ward)

Best viewing time: Early April

Cherry blossoms seen from the Sanmon Gate — a view that makes people say “What a beautiful scene.”

The Sanmon Gate of Nanzenji, one of the three great gates of Kyoto, is surrounded by cherry blossoms in spring.

From the Sanmon Gate of Nanzenji, you can look down at the cherry blossoms blooming below and enjoy a wonderful view.
It is a place where people cannot help saying, “What a beautiful view.”

Most of the cherry trees at Nanzenji are Somei Yoshino.
Around the Sanmon Gate, there are also a few Yamazakura (mountain cherry trees).
These trees produce new leaves at the same time as the flowers, with colors like green, red, and orange, which makes them very beautiful.

Visitor Information

Opening Hours
8:40–17:00 (March–November)
8:40–17:00 (December–February)

The areas around the Sanmon Gate and the Suirokaku Aqueduct are open during the day.

Admission Fee

Hojo Garden

• Adults: 600 yen
• High school students: 500 yen
• Junior high school students: 400 yen

Sanmon Gate

• Adults: 600 yen
• High school students: 500 yen
• Junior high school students: 400 yen

Areas such as the Suirokaku Aqueduct are free to enter except for the Hojo Garden and the Sanmon Gate.

Tel: 075-771-0365
Address: Fukuchi-cho, Nanzenji, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto
Access: 10-minute walk from Keage Subway Station.

Philosopher’s Path (Sakyo Ward)

Best viewing time: Early April

This is a walking path that is pleasant to visit in every season.
However, the cherry blossom season is the most beautiful and attracts many visitors.

About 500 cherry trees, mainly Somei Yoshino, grow along the path and form a canopy of blossoms above.
In early April, you can enjoy a beautiful row of cherry blossoms, which makes this place very popular.

Visit together with Nanzenji Temple and Ginkakuji Temple

One reason why the Philosopher’s Path is popular is that it connects many famous sightseeing spots in the area, making it a perfect route for walking and sightseeing.

Also look for the “flower rafts” floating on the water.

Among the many cherry blossom spots in Kyoto, one special feature of the Philosopher’s Path is that it runs along a canal called the Sosui branch canal.
You can enjoy a pleasant walk along the water.

After the blossoms pass full bloom and begin to fall, you may also see beautiful petals floating on the water.

When the cherry blossoms above the Sosui canal fall like a shower of petals, the petals gather on the water and form “flower rafts.”
In some places, the water surface becomes completely covered with beautiful petals.

Visitor Information

Access
(North side) 4-minute walk from the city bus stop “Ginkakuji-michi”
(South side) 6-minute walk from the city bus stop “Higashi Tennocho”

Heian Shrine (Sakyo Ward)

Best viewing time: Mid-April

The main highlight of the late cherry blossom season

After the weeping cherry blossoms and Somei Yoshino pass their peak, the main highlights of the late cherry blossom season are the Yaebenishidare cherry trees at Heian Shrine and the Omuro cherry trees at Ninna-ji Temple.
In Kyoto, the cherry blossom season continues even into mid-April.

Yaebenishidare is a weeping cherry tree with double petals and deep pink flowers.

Elegant and gorgeous Yaebenishidare cherry blossoms

When you walk along the paths in the garden, you can see Yaebenishidare cherry trees blooming everywhere.
It feels as if you are walking under a rain of cherry blossoms.

The buildings of Heian Shrine are modeled after the Daigokuden Hall of the ancient Heian Palace.
The deep pink color of the Yaebenishidare cherry blossoms matches well with the bright colors of the shrine buildings, such as vermilion and green.
At the same time, it also fits nicely with buildings that have more calm colors, which is interesting.

When you walk around the pond, you can see many different views from different angles.
Try to find your own special and photogenic spot.

Visitor Information

Opening Hours
8:30–17:30 (Mar 15 – Sep 30)
8:30–17:00 (Mar 1–14, Oct 1–31)
8:30–16:30 (Nov 1 – Feb 28)

Admission Fee

• Adults: 600 yen
• Children: 300 yen

Tel: 075-761-0221
Address: 97 Okazaki Nishitennocho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto

Access:

• 10-minute walk from Higashiyama Subway Station
• About 20 minutes by taxi from JR Mukomachi Station, Hankyu Higashi-Muko Station, or Nagaoka-Tenjin Station.

Keage Incline (Sakyo Ward)

Best viewing time: Early April

Cherry blossoms decorating a retro modern heritage site

In Kyoto, you can enjoy traditional Japanese cherry blossoms at many old shrines and temples.
However, the cherry blossoms at the Keage Incline have a different retro atmosphere, which is why they are popular.

Only the railway tracks remain, like an abandoned railway, giving the place a slightly nostalgic and quiet feeling.
The bright Somei Yoshino cherry blossoms add vivid color to the scene.

This is a view that can only be seen here in Kyoto.

Cherry blossoms at the Keage Incline can be enjoyed from both above and below

In the past, carts carrying boats moved along the wide railway tracks, connecting Kyoto and Lake Biwa.
Today, during the cherry blossom season in early April, the area becomes very crowded with visitors enjoying the blossoms.

The Keage Incline at night is a hidden cherry blossom spot.
During the day in cherry blossom season it is very crowded, but at night very few people visit.

Visitor Information

Access
Right next to Keage Subway Station.

Okazaki Canal (Sakyo Ward)

Best viewing time: Early April

Enjoy cherry blossoms from a boat on the Okazaki Canal

The Okazaki Canal, which continues west from the Keage Incline, is also a popular cherry blossom spot.

One special way to enjoy the blossoms here is the “Jikkoku Boat” ride.
Visitors board the boat at the Nanzenji boat dock and travel about 3 km to Ebisugawa Dam and back. The trip takes about 25 minutes.

Many cherry trees, mainly Somei Yoshino, are planted along both sides of the canal.
You can enjoy the cherry blossoms from the boat, making it one of the popular cherry blossom spots in Kyoto.

On the boat, a guide explains many interesting sights along the way.
When the boat passes under bridges, the roof of the boat is lowered.

So it is not only cherry blossom viewing, but also an enjoyable entertainment experience.

Advance reservation is recommended for the Jikkoku boat ride.

You can buy tickets on the day, or purchase them online in advance.
During cherry blossom season, it is very popular and long lines often form at the boarding area, so it is recommended to buy tickets in advance if possible.

Okazaki Jikkoku Boat

Operating Period
March 18 (Sat) – April 13 (Thu), 2023

Operating Hours
9:30–16:30

Boat Fare

• Adults (junior high school and older): 2,000 yen
• Elementary school students: 1,000 yen
• Children (3 years and older): 500 yen

Access
7-minute walk from Keage Subway Station.

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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