Cherry Blossom Viewing in Kyoto 17001800 Asian Art Museum

Kyoto is ane of Japan's almost popular spots for ruby-red blossom viewing, or "hanami". As Nihon's capital for one,000 years, Kyoto is rich with gorgeous historical scenery that elevates the beauty of Japan'south cherry blossom copse. Every bit an Australian in Kyoto, I've shown visitors effectually town during blood-red blossom season many times. Here is my one-day flower viewing itinerary for enjoying Kyoto in bloom!

[Early forenoon] Kiyomizu-dera: Kyoto's Most Iconic Temple

[Early on morning] Kiyomizu-dera

To start your day, head to Kiyomizu-dera Temple as early every bit you'd similar. This Buddhist temple is a UNESCO Globe Heritage site start founded in 778, and built in its nowadays form in 1633. Famous for its main hall congenital from wood on the mountainside with no nails at all, Kiyomizu-dera offers plenty of cherry-red trees to enjoy throughout its grounds. The dramatic outlook from the principal temple phase besides gives you a view of Kyoto metropolis and the lush forested mountainside which, of course, looks peculiarly beautiful during cherry blossom flavour.

This temple opens at 6:00 am, and equally one of Kyoto's about famous destinations, this expanse does get quite crowded. I recommend visiting in the early on morning then that you can have in the details both of the temple and historic surrounding streets with a little more animate room. In my opinion, the view from the temple too looks particularly beautiful in the morning lite.

[ten:00 am] Shirakawa and Gion Area

Later on Kiyomizu-dera, head north to explore the Higashiyama Gion area. Peradventure most famous for being Kyoto's geisha district, this popular area is a gamble to step back into the atmosphere of one-time Kyoto. In cherry blossom season, I highly recommend a walk along the Shirakawa River canal, which is located a few streets north from Shijo-dori Street. The stone paved streets, weeping cherry-red trees forth the canal, and the area'southward charming teahouses all create a magical jump atmosphere. Hanami-koji, a historical alleyway off Shijo-dori Street that ends at Kenninji Temple, is also worth exploring in this area.

[eleven:00 am] Maruyama Park

Next, caput into Maruyama Park, which is located backside Yasaka Shrine at the end of Shijo-dori Street. This was Kyoto'southward first public park, and is one of the most popular spots among locals for hanami flower viewing picnics. When you enter the park yous will see some food stalls and places to sit nether the trees in the master plaza. I recommend picking up some soft serve ice cream or a cup of tea to savor nether the falling petals. This park is full of cute trees to enjoy, merely it is particularly famous for the Gion Weeping Cherry-red Tree pictured above. This park can get busy during full blossom, but its wide paths and relaxed atmosphere means you can take your time getting some pictures of the blooms without feeling crowded.

[12:30 pm] Lunch: Maruyama Park area

Subsequently all your morning exploration, yous're probably ready for a relaxing lunch! Here are my recommendations in the Gion expanse surrounding Maruyama Park.

Kappo Chihiro

Kyoto'south Gion area is known for being a hotspot for enjoying traditional fine dining. If you lot desire to savor Kyoto's loftier quality local cuisine, Kappo Chihiro is an excellent choice. Chef Nagata's approach to food is exemplified by the restaurant'south exceptional [Grilled Eggplant]. This dish is made with no additional flavors but the vegetable itself, which is expertly grilled to condense its natural season. With courses ranging from 12,000 JPY to 22,000 JPY, this is all-time for a special meal, and you may find that experiencing the world of Kyoto's fine dining is an enriching cultural experience, likewise.

Open up: Lunch 12:00 pm - i:00 pm (Reservation at least one day prior required), Dinner five:00 pm - 8:thirty pm (L.O. viii:30 pm)
Airtight: Monday
Average price: 20,000 JPY
Accost: 279-eight, Gionmachi-Kitagawa, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Map
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Cafe Restaurant Yayoi

If you don't have the budget or time in your itinerary for a more than leisurely dejeuner, endeavour a set meal at the comfy Cafe Eatery Yayoi. I peculiarly recommend the [Ochazuke Set (i,390 JPY)]. Ochazuke is a simple, homestyle dish fabricated past pouring a soup made with hot tea and broth over a basin of rice. This ready comes with a pick of condiments that include Cafe Eating place Yayoi's specialities, chirimen-zansho (dried baby sardines with Japanese pepper) and tsukudani, a traditional type of preserved dish fabricated by stewing ingredients in soy sauce and mirin.

Open: [Monday, Tuesday, Thursday-Dominicus, National Holidays, Solar day before National Holidays] 10:00 am - 6:00 pm (Fifty.O. 5:00 pm)
Airtight: Midweek
Average price: 1,500 JPY
Address: 481, Gion Shimogawara Kiyoi-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Map
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[1:30 pm] Keage Incline

Next on our itinerary is the Keage Incline, located abreast Keage Station on the Tozai Subway line. Built in 1891 for the transport of ships, the now disused railway line is today preserved as a historical site. Each year information technology attracts crimson blossom lovers in droves for its cute leap scenery. The railway line framed by the around 90 cherry trees as a different feel to Kyoto's many shrines and temples, and visitors to Kyoto have often tell me how much they relish the unique atmosphere here.

[2:00 pm] Nanzenji Temple Complex and Philosopher'due south Path

Not far from Keage Incline is a cluster of temples that include the famous Nanzenji Temple, 1 of Nihon's most important Zen temples. I recommend passing through here to see the Sanmon Gate the Meiji era brick channel on the grounds, and seeing the rock garden in the Hojo main hall. Y'all could easily spend a few hours seeing the subtemples and gardens in this complex, but since nosotros're here to see cherry blossoms, head north towards Eikando Temple to the entrance to the Philosopher's Path.

1 of Kyoto's best known cherry blossom areas, and a personal favorite of mine is the Philosopher's Path. This stone-paved path that runs along the Lake Biwa Canal earned its name as a favorite meditation spot of famous Kyoto philosopher Nishida Kitaro (1870 - 1945), who was known to use this path as a walking meditation spot. The hundreds of scarlet trees also as small bridges criss-crossing the stone-walled canal all create beautiful scenery for a peaceful stroll betwixt Nanzenji and Ginkakuji Temple.

[4:00 pm] Imperial Palace Gardens

Our next stop after the Philosopher'south Path is the Majestic Palace Gardens. Kyoto was Nippon's majuscule for over 1,000 years, and the former palaces of the Purple court remain open to the public equally a historical spot and parkland today. The Imperial Palace Gardens is the largest green infinite in the Kyoto metropolis center, and there are enough of cherry blossoms to see in the jump. I peculiarly recommend the weeping cherry blossom grove at the north of the park. The globe-trotting branches of these tall trees create a gorgeous scene during the late afternoon aureate hour.

[4:30 pm] Afternoon Tea: Yaoiso

If you're set for a interruption, I recommend a stop at Yaoiso, located around a 5-minute walk from the north Imperial Palace cherry flower grove. Offset founded in 1869, this long running fruit shop specialises in high quality fruits for gifts, and is well known amidst Kyoto locals. Yaoiso likewise has two cafes where visitors tin can bask Nihon'southward highest quality fruits prepared as sandwiches, parfaits, or simply freshly cut equally an assorted plate. Strawberries are in flavour during early spring, so I highly recommend trying some of Yaoiso's expertly-sourced examples here.

Yaoiso Karasuma

Open: 10:00 am - half dozen:00 pm (50.O 5:30 pm)
Closed: Wed
Average price: 800 JPY
Address: 104-ane, Goshohachiman-cho, Kamidachiuri-agaru, Karasuma-dori, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Map
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[5:30 pm] Nijo Castle Illuminations

Once the sun falls, my recommendation is to head to Nijo Castle to meet its cherry blossom groves beautifully lit up in the evening. There are a number of places to run across the cherry blossoms illuminated effectually town, including Arashiyama and Kiyomizu-dera, merely Nijo Castle is growing more and more popular cheers to the fact that their evening displays often have a little something extra. Projection mapping and other interactive art pieces by production companies like Naked draw many visitors for the chance to see Kyoto's cute red trees and the Nijo Castle architecture beautifully illuminated with a modern spin. Go on in mind that the spring evenings in Kyoto can still be chilly, so bring a jacket!

Dinner Recommendations

After a full day of enjoying some of Kyoto's most beautiful areas, you'll desire a slap-up meal to wind downwards over. Hither are my picks for dinner in the Nijo Castle expanse.

Hyoto

Hyoto is a stylish Japanese restaurant with tabular array seating and private rooms to choose from. Their specialty is dashi-shabu, a variation of shabu-shabu, a dish where diners parboil their ain thin slices of meat at the table. Dashi-shabu uses a flavored dashi stock to add a richer flavor to the high quality Sakurajima Island Biyuton make pork. A range of other course menus made from seasonal ingredients are available, making Hyoto platonic for a range of occasions and budgets.

Open: [Friday, Saturday, Day before National Holidays] Dejeuner 11:30 am - 3:00 pm (Fifty.O. two:00 pm), Dinner five:xxx pm - 10:xxx pm (L.O. 9:xxx pm)
[Mon - Thursday, Sunday] tiffin 11:30 am - 3:00 pm (L.O. 2:00 pm), Dinner 5:30 pm - x:00 pm (L.O. 9:00 pm)
Closed: None
Average cost: [Dinner] seven,000 JPY / [Lunch] 2,500 JPY
Address: 1F, Meirin Bldg., 550-1, Yamabushiyama-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Map
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Roast Beef Watanabe

Road Beef Watanabe specialises in kuroge wagyu, a variety of high quality Japanese beef. French-inspired course menus are available, and tables are fitted with a specially-designed grills and so that guests can watch the meat beingness prepared fresh correct in front of their eyes. The quality of Japanese beefiness is well-known effectually the earth, and then if you lot're looking to try information technology while you're in Japan, I recommend taking advantage of Chef Watanabe's passion for this ingredient at Roast Beef Watanabe.

Open: [Tuesday - Sunday/national holiday/eve of national holiday] Luncheon from 12:00 pm - ii:00 pm, dinner from 6:00 pm - x:00 pm
Airtight: None
Average price: [Dinner] 5,000 JPY / [Tiffin] 4,000 JPY
Access: We are on basement 1 of the Sanyo Oike Building.
Address: Sanyo Oike Bldg. 1F, 137 Aburakoji Dori Oike Sagaru Shikiami-cho , Chukyo-ku,Kyoto-shi , Kyoto Map
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Uru

The emphasis on fresh, local produce that Kyoto is famous for melds well with Italian cuisine, which oft focuses on high quality ingredients prepared only but skillfully. This eating house serves organic vegetables and fresh, hand-made pasta and pizza in a 100 year quondam machiya townhouse. This affordably-priced restaurant also offers a skilful amount of vegetarian options, including the signature [Trippa Lycopersicon esculentum Linguine], fabricated with a delicately herbed tomato and white wine sauce.

Open up: [Weekday] Lunch 11:30 am - 3:00 pm (L.O. ii:30 pm) / Dinner 5:30 pm - 12:00 am (L.O. 11:00 pm)/ [Saturday, Sunday, National Holidays] Dejeuner xi:30 am - 2:30 pm / Cafe ii:30 pm - v:00 pm / Dinner v:30 pm - 12:00 am (L.O. 11:00 pm)
Closed: None
Boilerplate price: [Dinner] three,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,200 JPY
Admission: Leave Karasyma Oike station and walk westward along Oike-dori, then turn north into Nishinotoin-dori and the restaurant is located a curt mode down the west side (two doors south of Mikane shrine).
Address: 610, Oshinishinotoincho-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Map
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Kyoto has a wealth of places to enjoy cute ruby blossoms in leap. I hope this guide to some favorite local spots and great restaurants along the way helps you plan your side by side trip to this beautiful city!

Disclaimer: All data is accurate at time of publication.

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