Cherry blossoms Night Illumination spots 36 in Kyoto 2023

Higashiyama area

Kiyomizudera temple

Overview

Kiyomizudera temple is the most famous landmark in Kyoto. It shows us one of the most amazing cherry blossom landscape though the main hall is still under construction.

The main hall

Now the main hall is covered with a huge cage and we cannot have the same view as we see in guide books.

The stage is open to us. We are able to have a good view there.

The east gate

Around the east gate, there are many cherry blossom trees. Weeping ones, and Someiyoshino.

At twilight, we have stunning veiw thruough the gate.

Around the pond

There is a pond near the exit. We admire the pagoda near there.

Night Illumination

Kyomizudera temple has one of the most amazing illumination in Kyoto. Enjoy Someiyoshino against vermilion buildings.

How to get to Kiyomizudera temple?

Train: Keihan Gion shijo/Gojozaka station or Hankyu Kawaramachi station.

Kyoto city bus: Sijo Kawaramachi/Gion bus stop. Gojyozaka and Kiyomizu michi bus stop is not available because they are so crowded.

About Kiyomizudera temple

Jisyu shrine

Overview

Jishu shrine is located inside of the area of Kiyomizudera temple. It is famous for love seekers because it gives us “Goen,” the mysterious power that binds people with others.

It has very rare cherry blossoms called “Mikuruma Gaeshi.”

Mikurumagaeshi

Mikuruma gaeshi tree has unique flowers. It has bothe single and double petals.

How to get to Jishu shrine?

Train: Keihan Gion shijo/Gojozaka station or Hankyu Kawaramachi station.

Kyoto city bus: Sijo Kawaramachi/Gion bus stop. Gojyozaka and Kiyomizu michi bus stop is not available because they are so crowded.

About Jishu shrine

Kodaiji temple

Overview

Kodaiji temple is most famous and crowded spot in Higashiyama. It has a beautiful Zen garden where we can admire extraordinary weeping cherry blosomms.

The Zen garden

Kodaiji has a simple Zen garden. It has only one weeping cherry blossom tree. It is one in a million. At night, Illumination and projection mapping take place.

Night Illumination

The Zen garden is illuninated and we can enjoy projection mapping there.

Kogetsu Chaya tea house

Near the entrance, there is a small tea house named Kogetsu Chaya. We can have traditional Japanese sweets like Dango or Anmitsu. My favorite is Amazake. Amazake is a soft drink made from rice.

How to get to Kodaiji temple?

Train: Keihan Gion shijo station or Hankyu Kawaramachi station.

Kyoto city bus: Sijo Kawaramachi/Gion bus stop.

About Kodaiji temple

Shogunzuka Seiryuden

Overview

Seiryuden in Shogunzuka hill is a temple belongs to Syorenin temple. It is located on a mountain and we can have a good view of Kyoto city. It has a small Zen garden in a strolling garden.

Night Illumination

The most amazing moment in Shogunzuka is twilight. You can stroll under the tunnel of Sakura in the garden.

How to get to Shoguzuka Seiryuden?

It would be better to go there taxi. Kyoto Bus is available but inconvenient.

About Shoguzuka Seiryuden

Maruayma park

Overview

Maruyama park is a popular public park in Kyoto. It is located near Yasaka shrine or Kodaiji temple. It has many cherry blossom tress. The most famous one is a huge weeping cherry blossom tree. Professional Sakura watchers admire Sakura all through the night there. There are many food stands in Sakura season.

Weeping cherry blossoms

It is a landmark of the park. It is amazing especially at night.

The professionals

Professional Sakura watchers enjoy Sakura all through the night.

How to get to Maruyama park?

Train: Keihan Gion shijo　station or Hankyu Kawaramachi station.

Kyoto city bus: Sijo Kawaramachi/Gion bus stop.

About Maruyama park

Chionin temple

Overview

Chionin temple has large Sanmon gate. There are cherry blossom trees in front of it. We can admire them against the dark gate.

Sanmon gate

Taking advantage of the gate, we have many ways to enjoy cherry blossoms.

When blossoms start to fall, steps are filled with them. It is recommended to be there after rain.

At Sanmon gate, take advantage of column. Consider them as a picture frame.

Inside of the gate

Inside of the gate, there are many Someiyoshino. It would be better to be there early in the morning. We have no tourists there.

How to get to Chionin temple?

Train: Keihan Gion shijostation or Hankyu Kawaramachi station.

Kyoto city bus: Chion in mae, Sijo Kawaramachi and Gion bus stop.

About Chionin temple

Gion Shirakawa

Overview

Gion Shirakawa is a small stream in Gion district. Along it, there are many trees. It is not illuminated but many lamp posts make them beautiful.

At night

How to get to Gion Shirakawa?

Train: Keihan Gion shijostation or Hankyu Kawaramachi station.

Kyoto city bus: Chion in mae, Sijo Kawaramachi and Gion bus stop.

Arashiyama area

Togetsukyo bridge

Overveiw

Togetsukyo bridge is sometimes equivalent to Arashiyama. Actually, the mountain behind the bridge is Mt. Arashiyama. Many gardens like that of Tenryuji or Hogonin take advantage of it as “Shakkei.” Shakkei is a technique of admiring garden. In it, we enjoy a garden considering a scene behind the garden as a part of the garden.

Togetsukyo bridge

On the river bank, there are many cherry blossom trees. At the north bank, we can enjoy Someiyoshino.

On the other hand, at the south bank, we can enjoy weeping cherry blossoms.

How to get to Togetsukyo bridge?

Train: JR Saga Arashiyama station, Randen Arashiyama station, and Hankyu Arashiyama station.

Kyoto city bus: Arashiyama Tenryuji mae bus stop.

Tenryuji temple

Overview

Tenryuji temple is one of so-called Kyoto five Zen temple. This Kyoto five Zen temple is not a general ranking of temples but a ranking made by the Ashikaga Shogunate politically.

Tenryuji has a famous Zen garden and Stroll garden. We can enjoy many spring flowers with Cherry blossoms.

The Zen garden and Sogenchi pond

Zen garden has few cherry blossom trees. In Shakkei technique, we enjoy the cherry blossoms in Mt. Arashiyama. The garden is a Zen garden but has a pond named Sogenchi.

The Stroll garden

We can admire weeping cherry blossoms and other spring flowers.

These are the flowers I love. Boke and Shakunage.

How to get to Tenryuji temple?

Train: JR Saga Arashiyama station, Randen Arashiyama station, and Hankyu Arashiyama station.

Kyoto city bus: Arashiyama Tenryuji mae bus stop.

About Tenryuji temple

Hogonin temple

Overview

Hogonin temple is a sub-temple of Tenryuji temple. It is open to public in spring and fall. It is not sure whether it is open to public in spring this year. At least, we were able to visit there in spring last year.

Shishiku no Niwa garden

The stroll garden in Hogonin temple is called Shishiku no Niwa garden. It uses Mt. Arashiyama as Shakkei. The garden is well preserved and looks like a typical villa in suburb area.

How to get to Hogonin temple?

Train: JR Saga Arashiyama station, Randen Arashiyama station, and Hankyu Kawaramachi station.

Kyoto city bus: Arashiyama Tenryuji mae bus stop.

About Hogonin temple

Daikakuji temple

Overview

Daikakuji has a beautiful garden and we can see weeping cherry blossoms there. We can also enjoy Someiyosnino in Osawa no Ike, a pond adjacent to it. It is one of Monzeki jiin (Buddhist temple run by a monk who belongs to the Imperial lineage) and preserves extraordinary artifacts.

The garden

The buildings of Daikakuji is connected with many corridors. We walk around on them to see Cherry blossoms.

Osawa no Ike pond

Along the bank, there are many Someiyoshino trees.

How to get to Daikakuji temple?

Kyoto city bus: Daikakuji bus stop.

About Daikakuji temple

Ohkohchi Sanaso

Overview

Oohochi Sanso is a villa designed and constructed by Okochi Denjiro, a famous actor. It is located deep inside of Arashiyama Bamboo forest and one of the most underrated place in Kyoto.

The garden

The garden is not a typical Japanese garden we are accustomed to. The garden is a part of a mountain. It has many beautiful landscape.

How to get to Ohkochi Sanso?

Train: JR Saga Arashiyama station, Randen Arashiyama station, and Hankyu Kawaramachi station.

Kyoto city bus: Arashiyama Tenryuji mae bus stop.

About Ohkochi Sanso

Philosophor’s path area

Philosophor’s path

Overview

Philosophor’s path is located along a stream which leads us from Nanzanji to Ginakuji temple. We can admire many spring flowers like Shakunage and Yukiyanagi.

Along the path

Along the path, there are so many cherry blossom trees. We can stroll along the stream under Sakura.

Spring flowers

Along the stream, we admire many kind of flowers with Sakura.

How to get to Philosophor’s path?

Kyoto city bus: Ginkakuji michi, Ginkakuji mae, and Higashi Tenno cho bus stop.

Nanzenji temple

Overview

As described in “Sanmon Gosan no Kiri,” a famous Kabuki play, Nanzenji provides us with fabulous Sakura. In Nanzenji complex, there are sub-temples which has tranquil Zen gardens.

Around the Sanmon gate

In the Kabuki play previously I referred, Ishikawa Goemon, the notorious thief says that the view from the gate at the gate deserves tens of millions of Ryo (Ryo is an old Japanese currency), citing a poem of Su Shi, a famous poet in Northern Song dynasty of ancient China. Actually, we see many Sakura in bloom there.

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The building in the video is the gate of Nanzenji temple.

How to get to Nanzenji temple?

Kyoto city Subway: Keage station

About Nanzenji temple

Ohtoyo shrine

Overview

Ohtoyo shrine is a cozy Shinto shrine only Kyoto-enthusiasts pay attention to. Among them, the shrie is famous for its “Koma Nezumi.” Usually, Shinto shrine has at least a pair of “Koma Inu” but Ohtoyo shrine has a pair of “Koma Nezumi” instead. In spring, we can enjoy exquisite weeping charry blossoms.

How to get to Ohtoyo shrine?

Kyoto city bus: Higashi Tenoh cho bus stop

About Ohtoyo shrine

Lake Biwa Canal

Overview

Lake Biwa Canal was constructed in the Meji period for supplying water to Kyoto city. It is also used for transporting passengers and freight.

Night illumination

Of course we can enjoy Sakura in daytime, it would be better to go there in night. Trees along the canal bank are illuminated in fascinating way. Fortunately, we are able to admire them on boat.

How to get to Lake Biwa Canal?

Kyoto city bus: Okazaki koen/Bijutsukan Heian Jingu mae bus stop.

Keage Incline

Overview

Keage Incline is located between the Lake Biwa and Lake Biwa Canal (琵琶湖疎水). In the days of old, boats are loaded on a truck on the rail. Today, lots of Someiyoshino trees are planted along the rail.

How to get to Keage Incline?

Kyoto city bus: Higashi Tenoh cho bus stop

Heian Jingu shrine area

Heian Jingu shrine

Overview

Heian Jingu shrine is a 5/8 replica of Chodoin building complex in the Imperial court.

As described in The Makioka Sisters, we can admier extraordinary weeping cherry blossoms in Shinen garden. At night, “Shidare Sakura concert” takes place there.

Around the main hall

In front of the main hall, we can easily find one Sakura tree. It is called Sakon no Sakura (左近の桜).　The main hall is called Daigokuden. In ancient times, important ceremony like enthronement took place there. Today, Shishinden plays the same role as Daigokuden. In front of Shishinden of Kyoto Imperial Palace, there is Sakon no Sakura. It is a mother tree of Sakon no Sakura of Heian Jingu shrine. So, both of them are in bloom at the same time.

Shinen garden

Behind Daigokuden, Heian Jingu has a stroll garden called Shinen. This garden has so many beautiful weeping cherry blossom trees. It is one of the best place to admire weeping cherry blossoms.

Shidare Sakura concert (Night Illumination)

At night in early April, Shidare Sakura concerts takes place for 3 nights. Shinen garden is illuminated and concert or recital is held around a pond.

How to get to Heian Jingu shrine?

Kyoto city bus: Okazaki koen/Bijutsukan Heian Jingu mae bus stop.

About Heian Jingu shrine

Shinnyodo temple

Overview

Shinnyodo temple is located on a hill near Heian Jingu shrine. It is very quiet place only known to Kyoto-enthusiasts. At Chozuya, a place we wash hands before play, amazing spring flowers always welcome us.

 

How to get to Shinnyodo temple?

Kyoto city bus: Okazaki Jinja mae bus stop.

About Shinyodo temple

Konkai Komyoji temple

Overview

Konkai Komyoji temple is located on the same hill as Shinnyodo is. Famous Shinsengumi, the special police force under the Tokugawa Shogunate, was born there. It has extraordinary garden whichi is not oepn to public. We can admire Sakura against Sanmon gate.

How to get to Konkai Komyoji temple?

Kyoto city bus: Okazaki Jinja mae bus stop.

About Konkai Komyoji temple

Kinkakuji area

Kinkakuji temple

Overview

Kinkakuji temple is, as well as Kiyomizudera temple, one of the most popular landmark in Kyoto. It used be a villa belonged to Ashikgaga Yoshimitsu, the 3rd Shogun of the Ashikaga Shogunate. Shariden (the golden pavilion) is plastered with genuine gold.

Shariden

In a front view of Kinkakuji, we cannot admire Sakura. The way adore it is “Turn around Kinkaku.” Behind Kinkakuji (Shariden), we can enjoy Shariden taking advantage of Mt. Kinugasa as Shakkei. There only are couples of Sakura trees but they go with the golden pavilion perfectly.

How to get to Kinkakuji temple?

Kyoto city bus: Kinkakuji michi/Kinakuji mae bus stop.

About Kinkakuji temple

Ryoanji temple

Overview

Rroanji temple has the most famous Zen garden in on the planet. No one tell who, when, why is the garden built. In addtiton to them, it remainds the secret what does the garden mean. Ryoanji has an extraordinary stroll garden as well as a Zen rock garden.

The Zen garden

Behind the wall, there are two Sakura trees. Both of them are in bloom at the different times but we are able to admire them at the same time in a couple of days a year. The garden is always crowded with many tourists. If you enjoy it in silence, it would be bettere to be there early in the morning or at twilight.

Behind the wall.

The stroll garden

Stroll garden has a pond and we can enjoy Sakura trees and spring flowes. Especially, Shakunage and Boke is amazing.

How to get to Ryoanji temple?

Kyoto city bus: Ryoanji mae bus stop.

Randen: Ryoanji station

About Ryoanji temple

Ninnaji temple

Overview

Ninnnaji is the first “Monzeki Jiin” in our history. Monzeki Jiin is a Buddhist temple run by a monk who belongs to the Imperial lineage. We can enjoy lots of Sakura like Ohsawa Zakura and Omuro Zakura as well as Someiyoshino. The most famous one is Omuro Zakura. It is Sakura indigenous to northern part of Kyoto and looks like shrub.

Omuro Zakura

The most famous Sakura in Ninnaji temple. It booms in mid-April usually. The bossoms are so close to us.

Ohsawa Zakura and others

Ninnaji has lots of kinds of Sakura. Ohsawa Zakura, Yokihi, etc.

How to get to Ninnaji temple?

Kyoto city bus: Omuro Ninnaji bus stop.

Randen: Omuro Ninnaji station

About Ninnaji temple

Kitano Tenmangu shrine

Overview

Kitano tenmangu shrine is a good example of Goryo shinko: In Heian period, persons who was ousted or passed away in despair sometimes came back to Kyoto and raged. Poeople thought if they worshipped them, they save them with their extraordinary power. Famous Gion matsuri festival began in the same belief.

At Kitano Tennmangu, Sugawara no Michizane was enshrined. He was a bureaucrat but ousted by the Fujiwara no Tokihira. The Fujiwara clan is the most porsperous clan which exercised poltical power over the Imperial court.

Kitanno Zakura

We are able to see Kitano Zakura nowhrer but in Kitano tenmangu shrine. There is only one tree in the world. It has tiny, exquisite blossoms in mid-April. It say farewell to Sakura-season in Kyoto.

How to get to Kitano Tenmangu shrine?

Kyoto city bus: Kitano Tenmangu mae bus stop.

Randen: Kitano Hakubaicho station

About Kitano Tenmangu shrine

Hirano Shrine

Overview

Hirano Shrine is one of the oldest Shitno shrine in Kyoto. Its history dates back about 1200 years ago. It has 60 kinds of Sakura. We can enjoy so-called Ohanami and Food stand.

Night illumination

How to get to Hirano shrine?

Kyoto city bus: Kinugasako mae bus stop.

Randen: Kitano Hakubaicho station

About Kitano Hirano shrine

Haradanien

Overview

Haradanien is a private garden in the foot of Mt. Kinugasa. It is open to public in spring.

It has many kind of Sakura and spring flowers. We can admire them eating Bento lunch box.

How to get to Haradanien?

Kyoto city bus is available but it’s not convenient because we have 1 bus an hour.

About Haradanien

Taizoin temple

Overview

Taizoin temple is a small sub-temple of Myoshinji temple. It has a Zen garden under the umbrella of weeping cherry blossoms. When they start to fall, the sand ditches of the Zen garden is filled with petals.

How to get to Taizoin temple?

Kyoto city bus: Myoshinji mae bus stop.

JR Sagano line: Hanazono station

About Taizoin temple

Kyoto Imperial palace area

Kyoto Imperial palace (Kyoto Gyoen)

Overview

Kyoto Imperial Place was Dairi, the emperor’s residence from the 14th to 19th century. It has many kind of Sakura and spring flowers. Sakura located in a site of Konoe’s residence blooms mid-March and tells Kyotoites beginning of spring.

We can admire peach flowers at the same time.

How to get to Kyoto Imperial Palace?

Kyoto city bus: Karasuma Imadegawa or Karasuma Marutamachi bus stop

Kyoto city subway: Imadegawa or Marutamachi station.

About Kyoto Imperial Palace

Shinsenen temple

Overview

So-called “Ohanami” began there. It used be a private garden for emperor in the Heian Kyo city. Now Shinsenen is a small temple where we can enjoy tiny weeping cherry blossoms.

How to get to Kyoto Shinsen temple?

Kyoto city bus: Shinsenen mae bus stop

Kyoto city subway: Nijojomae station.

About Sinsenen Temple

Nijo castle

Overview

Nijo castle was constructed as a temporary residence of Shoguns of the Tokugawa Shogunate. In 1867, Tokugawa Yoshinobu, the last Tokugawa Shogun, decided to give up the plitical power the Shogunate had to emperor Meiji. At night, we can enjoy amzing illumination and projection mapping.

Illumination and projection mapping

Every spring, “Nijojo Sakura matsuri” is held there. At night, lots of cherry trees are illuminated.

How to get to Nijo castle?

Kyoto city bus: Nijojo mae bus stop

Kyoto city subway: station

About Nijo castle

Kamogawa area

Kamogawa river bank

Overview

At Kamogawa river bank, there are many cherry blossom trees. It is located near Shijo Kawara machi downtown and Gion. No illumination is held but lots of lamp post has the same effect on them.

How to get to Kamogawa river bank?

Kyoto city bus: Shijo Kawaramachi bus stop

Hankyu railways: Kawaramachi station

Takasegawa

Overview

Located nera Kamogawa river bank, Takasegawa has also provides us with amazing Sakura view especially at night

How to get to Takasegawa?

Kyoto city bus: Shijo Kawaramachi bus stop

Hankyu railways: Kawaramachi station

Kamigamo shrine area

Kamigamo shrine

Overview

Kamigamo shrine is one of the oldest Shinto shrine in Kyoto. Couples of decades ago, commoners were not able to visit there though it is open to us these days. It holds Aoi matsuri festival every May ans is the destination of the parade.

Miare Zakura

Saioh Zakura

Kamigamo shrine has lots of Sakura trees but the most famous one is Saioh Zakura. Saiho is a priestess who visit Kamigamo shrine on behalf of the emperor in Kamosai, the origin of Aoi matsuri. The cherry blossom tree was named after her.

How to get to Kamigamo shrine?

Kyoto city bus: Kamigamo Jinja mae or Kimigamo Misonobashi bus stop

About Kamigamo shrine

Northern part of Kamogawa

Overview

Northern part of the Kamo river, there are lots of Sakura on the river bank. It is not a landmark and is only known to Kyotoites.

South Kyoto area

Toji temple

Overview

Toji temple is one of the oldest temple in Kyoto. It remains the same place when Heiankyo city was built. In Kodoh building, statues of Buddhist Deities make so-called 3-D mandala. The Illumination of Toji in spring is the best one in Kyoto.

Kawazu Zakura

Kawazu Zakura tells us spring is coming. It blooms in early March. It is the earliest Sakura in Kyoto.

Fuji Zakura

The most famous 120 years old weeping cherry blossom in Toji. It welcomes us at the entrance of the garden.

Night illumination

Beyond description. Toji shows us the best night illumination Kyoto has ever seen.

Mizukagami

Mizukagami is an art to admire something. We see reflection on surface of water. Toji provides us with extraordinary Mizukagami.

How to get to Toji temple?

Kyoto city bus: Toji Higashimon mae or Toji michi bus stop

JR West: Kyoto station

Kintesu rail ways: Toji station

About Toji temple

Komyoin temple

Overview

Komoyoin temple is also a place only known to Kyoto enthusiasts. We can admire Sakura in complete silecne in the “Zen garden avant-garde,” an extraodinary work of Mirei Shigemori.

How to get to Komyoin temple?

JR/Keihan Tofukuji station

About Komyoin temple

Rakugai area (Outside of Kyoto city)

Sanzenin temple

Overview

Sanzenin temple is a famous Monzeki temple in Ohara. It has kawii Ojizo san (statues of Jizo bosatsu), beautiful moss and spring flowers. We can enjoy exquitite weeping chery blossoms there.

How to get to Sanzenin temple?

Kyoto bus: Ohara bus stop

About Sanzenin temple

Daigoji temple

Overview

Toyotomi Hideyoshi held “Daigono Hanmi” at Daigoji temple 5 month before his death. The monk of Daigoji found Hideyoshi’s end was near, he made the Hanami extraordinary as possible.

Daigo Zakura

The most famous Sakura in Daigoji temple but the typhoon in the last year devastated it. It was a huge tree of 150 years old with exquiste blossoms. 合掌。

How to get to Daigoji temple?

Kyoto city Subway: Daigo station

About Daigoji temple

Byodoin temple

Overview

Byodoin temple was a villa belonged to Fujiwara no Michjinaga, the most prosperous court noble in Japanses history. It was converted to a Buddhist temple in the 11th century. The Hohohdo building enshrines Amidaba and represents “Gokuraku Jodo,” the paradise in Buddhism.

Night Illumination

The best time is twilight. Enjoy the white blossoms against dark blue sky.

How to get to Byodoin temple?

JR/Keihan Uji station

About Byodoin temple