Best viewing time: early April<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In Kyoto, it is probably hard to find someone who has never seen the Gion weeping cherry tree in Maruyama Park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It may be not only the most famous cherry tree in Kyoto, but also the most famous one in all of Japan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since the Edo period, there has been a custom of lighting up cherry blossoms at night and enjoying yozakura, or night cherry blossoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2025, the event was held from March 25 to April 9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From late March to early April, bonfires are also set up there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Park Information Gion Weeping Cherry Tree Light-up (2025 Information) The best viewing time is early April<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Gion area, known as the largest geisha district in Japan, is also a famous cherry blossom spot. Gion Shirakawa is known for its old streets and beautiful cherry blossoms. During cherry blossom season, many people visit this area. In 2026, the light-up will be held from Friday, March 27 to Sunday, April 5, from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Visitor Information<\/strong> Gion Shirakawa Evening Cherry Blossom Light-Up<\/strong> The best viewing time is early April<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Kiyomizu-dera is one of the most famous sightseeing spots in Kyoto. 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. Speaking of Kiyomizu-dera, the light-up is also one of the highlights. Visitor Information<\/strong> Admission:<\/strong> Tel:<\/strong> 075-551-1287 Special Night Viewing<\/strong> The best viewing time is early April<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Today, K\u014ddai-ji is one of Kyoto\u2019s best-known tourist spots, Five years after opening to the public, K\u014ddai-ji started its light-up event in 1994. Visitor Information<\/strong> Tel:<\/strong> 075-561-9966 Special Spring Night Viewing<\/strong> The best viewing time is early April<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In Kyoto, the Higashiyama area has many famous sightseeing spots close together. On the east side of Nene no Michi (the mountain side), there is a beautiful row of Somei Yoshino cherry trees. 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. With an MK sightseeing charter taxi, you can fully enjoy spring in Kyoto. For sightseeing in Kyoto, leave it to MK\u2019s chartered sightseeing taxi.<\/strong> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":1082,"template":"","article_category":[],"class_list":["post-1081","article","type-article","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","en-US"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article\/1081","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/article"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1082"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1081"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"article_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article_category?post=1081"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}The Gion weeping cherry tree may be the most famous cherry tree in Japan<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/maruyama2-600x450-1.webp\")
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<\/strong>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 \u201cGion-Shijo\u201d Station<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>Event period: March 25, 2025 \u2013 April 9, 2025
Hours: 18:00 \u2013 22:00<\/p>\n\n\n\nGion Shirakawa<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/shirakawa1-1-600x311-1.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe Weeping Cherry Tree at the Kanikakuni Monument<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/shirakawa4-1-600x311-1.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nGion Shirakawa Evening Cherry Blossom Light-Up Returns<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
At night, the \u201cGion Shirakawa Evening Cherry Blossom Light-Up\u201d is held, and the streets and cherry blossoms are lit up in a beautiful way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is also nice that you can enjoy the cherry blossom light-up until 10:00 PM.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/shirakawa6-1-600x311-1.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Access:<\/strong> 3 minutes from Keihan \u201cGion-Shijo\u201d Station<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dates:<\/strong> Friday, March 27, 2026 to Sunday, April 5, 2026
Time:<\/strong> 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Admission:<\/strong> Free<\/p>\n\n\n\nKiyomizu-dera Temple (Higashiyama Ward)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/kiyomizu1-1-600x450-1.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nA Spectacular View from the Stage, with a Sea of Cherry Blossoms<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIf you want to enjoy it slowly, early morning is the best time<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/kiyomizu4-1-600x311-1.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
In 2026, it will be held from Friday, March 27 to Sunday, April 5.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Opening Hours:<\/strong>
6:00 AM\u20136:00 PM (January 1\u2013March 5)
6:00 AM\u20139:30 PM (March 6\u201315)
6:00 AM\u20136:00 PM (March 16\u201326)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Adults: 400 yen
Elementary and junior high school students: 200 yen<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Address:<\/strong> 294 Kiyomizu 1-chome, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto
Access:<\/strong>
25 minutes from Keihan \u201cKiyomizu-Gojo\u201d Station
10 minutes from city bus stop \u201cGojozaka\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dates:<\/strong> Friday, March 27, 2025 to Sunday, April 5, 2025
Hours:<\/strong> 6:00 PM\u20139:00 PM
Admission:<\/strong>
Adults: 500 yen
Elementary and junior high school students: 200 yen<\/p>\n\n\n\nKodai-ji Temple (Higashiyama Ward)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/koudaiji2-600x311-1.webp\")
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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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/koudaiji3-600x311-1.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nK\u014ddai-ji Brings in New Ideas<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
It was the first temple or shrine in Kyoto to do this.
Now many temples and shrines in Kyoto have light-up events, but K\u014ddai-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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Opening Hours:<\/strong> 9:00 AM\u20135:30 PM (last entry at 5:00 PM)
Admission:<\/strong>
Adults: 600 yen
Junior and senior high school students: 250 yen<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Address:<\/strong> 526 Kodaiji Shimokawara-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto
Access:<\/strong> 7 minutes from city bus stop \u201cHigashiyama Yasui\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dates:<\/strong> Friday, March 13, 2026 to Wednesday, May 6, 2026 (public holiday)
Hours:<\/strong> Until 10:00 PM (last entry at 9:30 PM)<\/p>\n\n\n\nNene no Michi (Higashiyama Ward)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/nene1-600x311-1.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nA Classic Route for Visiting Higashiyama<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
A classic route for visiting Higashiyama is: Maruyama Park \u2192 Nene no Michi \u2192 Ninenzaka \u2192 Sannenzaka \u2192 Kiyomizu-dera<\/strong>.
Among them, one beautiful walking path, together with Sannenzaka, is \u201cNene no Michi\u201d<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/nene2-600x311-1.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nA Beautiful Row of Somei Yoshino Cherry Trees<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
In early April, the blossoms bloom beautifully and in great number.<\/p>\n\n\n\nConclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
MK Taxi sightseeing drivers usually know where the cherry blossoms are most beautiful at the moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why not experience a different kind of Kyoto trip with a professional sightseeing driver?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your private driver is a Kyoto expert who handles both transport and guiding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/\u30d0\u30ca\u30fc\u8cb8\u5207\u89b3\u5149E-2.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n