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Kyoto is a top destination, not only for its high concentration of breathtaking Buddhist temples but also for the cherry blossoms the bloom throughout the city in the spring. The cherry blossom trees of Kyoto bloom just after those in Tokyo, so once you’ve seen the blossoms in Tokyo head down south to Kyoto. Sakura (or cherry blossom) season in Japan is an extremely popular time to travel for both foreigners and Japanese alike. The season is also very fickle and the timing of peak blossoms is dependent on the winter conditions. It is hard to accurately predict if your trip will fall within the short two-week window of blooms if you are planning more than a few months in advance. The good thing is there are many different types of cherry blossom trees, and while they all have roughly a 2-week window, those windows are spread out over March and April. The locations in this list don’t all reach full bloom at the same time and they are all must-see destinations in and of themselves, even without being covered in pinkish-white flowers.

Cherry Blossoms covering the Tenryu-Ji gardens in Arashiyama

5. Arashiyama

Just outside the main center of Kyoto is the Arashiyama district, famous for its bamboo grove. You will likely be visiting the area anyway to walk amongst the bamboo trees, to visit the amazing gardens of the Tenryu-Ji- Temple, or to feed the Japanese macaques. If those sights aren’t enough of a draw, then the beautiful cherry blossoms of the area will be. There are pink cherry blossom trees scattered on the forested hills to either side of the Katsura river. Numerous cherry blossom trees stand out in the already beautiful Tenryu-Ji gardens. There are even trees along the river bank, near the Togetsu-kyo Bridge.

Arashiyama can get especially crowded during Sakura season, so plan to visit either first thing in the morning or later in the afternoon. You can easily spend almost a full day in Arashiyama, but we spent 5 hours and got to see all the main Arashiyama sights. Around mid-day, visitors and large tour groups will be crowding the sidewalks of the town. It is free to see these amazing cherry blossom displays, except for those in the Tenryu-Ji Temple gardens which charges 500 yen.

4. Kyoto Botanical Garden

For the best light-up sakura experience in Kyoto, visit the botanical garden. There are over 140 different cherry blossom species throughout the garden, meaning you’ll see a great variety of blooms and there will likely be at least some trees in bloom when you visit, even till late April. However, the light up event only takes place during a 2-week span. The exact dates of the night events vary year to year. In 2019, it took place from March 25th to April 7th. The botanical garden closes at 5 pm, but reopens at sunset with lights illuminating the beautiful cherry blossoms. There is an entry fee of 200 yen, but it is worth the cost, especially if this is your only experience viewing the trees at night.

The best part? The crowds are low. Unlike the other touristy places in Japan, you are not going to feel squished on the walkways and you’ll be able to get plenty of people-free photos. We visited near the beginning of the night and counted less than 30 people throughout the park. Most of the park is blocked off, other than the path leading to the cherry blossoms, but you can also visit the greenhouse while you are there. There is something eerily amazing walking room to room through their extensive greenhouse with minimal lighting.

To get to the botanical garden, take the Karasuma line from Kyoto station to Kitayama station. It is just a 15-minute metro ride and the botanical garden entrance is right outside the exit to the station.

Cost: 200 yen

3. Heian Shrine

East of the Kamo River and near the Okazaki Canal, is a relatively new (1895) but exceedingly grand shrine. The shrine complex includes a few museums, a massive Torii gate, a replica of an imperial palace when Kyoto was the capital of Japan, a large open courtyard, and a beautiful garden. There are a couple of cherry trees out in the main complex, but the most striking trees are found in a paid garden. The garden costs 600 yen to enter but is well worth it if you visit at the right time. There is a beautiful trail of 300 cherry trees. You will likely know it is the right time if you encounter a short line to buy tickets and enter the garden. The cherry trees at Heian Shrine are weeping cherry trees that bloom a bit later than the ones found throughout the rest of the city. This is a great spot to visit if you arrive in Kyoto towards the end of the cherry blossom season.

The Heian Shrine gardens are also worth visiting in the fall when the leaves change colors and in early summer to see the irises.

While you are in the area, walk along the Okazaki Canal. You can also take a canal boat ride to see the trees from down on the water. If the trees along the canal aren’t in full bloom, skip out on the boat ride. However, Heian Shrine is a must-see regardless if you hit peak bloom while you are in Kyoto.

Cost: Free or 600 yen

2. Keage Incline

This former cargo railway is now a gently sloping pedestrian walkway covered on both sides with gorgeous cherry blossom trees. The Keage Incline is not as popular as the other locations, but it was one of my personal favorites. It also seemed to be a favorite amongst locals or Japanese travelers from elsewhere in Japan. We saw many newlywed couples getting photos on the incline or young high school-aged couples holding hands or groups of older women admiring the blooms. Thankfully though, it wasn’t overly crowded. We could leisurely walk and take photos without navigating between people. You can follow the rail tracks all the way down to the Okazaki Canal, near the end of the track they have a model of the cargo cars that would go on these tracks.

Cost: Free

1. PHILOSOPHER’S Path

The philosopher’s path is one of the more well-known destinations for cherry blossoms throughout Japan. There are beautiful cherry blossom trees that line this canal, dropping their petals in the slowly moving water. There is a long path that stretches alongside the canal. By the end of your walk, you’ll be fully at peace and might even begin philosophizing. We visited near the beginning of the sakura season, so not all trees were in bloom and the petals had yet to fall into the canal. If possible, I’d recommend visiting towards the end of the season or just near the end of your time in Kyoto.

Due to its beauty and fame, the path can get crowded most of the day. You’ll be weaving back and forth between tourists heading towards you on the very narrow path, neither of you knowing whether to move to the right or left. If only the world would agree on which side to walk on. Nevertheless, you can still take a moment to step off the path onto one of the many bridges over the canal along the way to just admire these trees. These trees that bring people from all over the world.

Cost: Free

Notable mentions not on this list

There is currently scaffolding covering the main hall of Kiyomizu-dera (present from 2017 to March 2020), which spoils the view a bit. This beautiful beautiful temple will be a must-see once again once the restoration is finished. Other places worth checking out if you have more time are Maruyama Park, Hirano Shrine, Ninnaji Temple, and Nijo Castle.

Where to stay in kyoto

All of the major sights in Kyoto are far spread out across the city, including the best places to view cherry blossoms. Wherever you stay in Kyoto, make sure it is near a big metro station. A place close to Kyoto station would be ideal, especially for when you arrive or leave Kyoto, or if you are planning several day trips to cities like Nara or Osaka. We stayed at the Hotel Gran Ms Kyoto near the Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae station – and while we liked the hotel and the location was very close to the busy Teramachi-dori shopping street, staying near the Kyoto station would have saved 10-15 minutes each morning getting to our first sight of the day. If we were to go back to Kyoto, we would likely stay at one of these hotels instead:

Kyoto Granbell Hotel – Located centrally in town and near a metro station, this reasonably priced hotel offers comfort and convenience.
One of the many great Ryokans – Ryokans are traditional style Japanese inns. These accommodations are more than just a place to stay, but also an experience all of its own. The prices may seem high but ryokan experience includes many provided amenities and usually at least one meal. This link is a great source for finding the right ryokan for you depending on your price range and where in the city you want to stay.
A traditional Japanese Apartment on Airbnb – There are dozens of traditional style apartments or townhomes on airbnb to book while in Kyoto. If you want a more private, homey, and likely cheaper experience than the Ryokan. These apartments are typically situated in the middle of town, close to restaurants and sights, and offer a more authentic Japanese experience. This is a great option if you want to save money and cook a few meals for yourself or do your laundry while you are there.
The Millennials – Tokyo isn’t the only city where you can get a modern capsule hotel experience. At this hotel, you get a small private room with a bed for you to sleep or chill out in and the rest of the amenities are shared – bathrooms, laundry, lounges, etc. You can save money without sacrificing modern style.