I’ve been lucky enough to experience about 20 cherry blossom seasons in Kyoto but I’m not a fan of crowds. Here are the places I go when I want to enjoy the blossoms without the crowds.
Shinyo-do Main Hall © Chris Rowthorn
Shinyodo-Temple: Due to the lack of bus parking here, the crowds usually give this place a miss. There are some large cherry trees in front of the main gate. Go behind the main hall and then take the back way to Kurodani Temple to see some more cherries.
Cherry blossoms at Kurodani Temple © Chris Rowthorn
Path of Philosophy cherry blossoms © Chris Rowthorn
Path of Philosophy (Tetsugaku-no-Michi) by night: I used to live within walking distance of the Path of Philosphy. In cherry blossom season it gets very crowded during the day, but as soon as night falls, it’s almost deserted and there are enough lights to illuminate the trees. It’s magical – go see for yourself!
The Takano-gawa River: This is one of the two rivers that meet at Demachiyanagi (the place where Imadegawa-dori crosses the Kamo-gawa River). It’s the eastern of the two rivers (the western one is the Kamo-gawa). The river is lined with cherry trees but gets fewer crowds than the Kamo-gawa.
Kiyamachi with cherry blossoms in evening © Paul Crouse
Kiyamachi, south of Shijo-dori by night: There are really two Kiyamachi Streets: North of Shijo it can be packed during cherry blossom season, but when you walk south of Shijo for 100 meters or so, the crowds thin out and it gets very pretty. Give it a try.
Kyoto Cherry Blossoms Guide
- When Do Cherry Blossoms Bloom In Kyoto?
- Where Is The Best Place To See The Cherry Blossoms In Kyoto?
- Where To Stay In Cherry Blossom Season In Kyoto
- Where To Stay If Kyoto Is Fully Booked
- Best Places To See Cherry Blossoms Away From The Crowds
- Best Places For A Cherry Blossom Viewing Party (Hanami Party) In Kyoto
Kyoto Cherry Blossom Itineraries
- Kyoto 2-Day Cherry Blossom Itinerary
- Kyoto One-Day Cherry Blossom Off-The-Beaten-Track Itinerary
- Kyoto Evening Cherry Blossom Itinerary
- Kyoto Romantic Cherry Blossom Itinerary
Cherry Blossoms In Other Japanese Cities
- Japan Cherry Blossoms
- Hiroshima and Miyajima Cherry Blossoms
- Kanazawa Cherry Blossoms
- Kobe Cherry Blossoms
- Nara Cherry Blossoms
- Takayama Cherry Blossoms
Visiting Tokyo or Osaka?
See my guides to viewing cherry blossoms in Tokyo and the best Osaka cherry blossom spots too.
You can check availability of Kyoto hotels during cherry blossom season (mid-March to mid-April) on Agoda.com and Booking.com
Kyoto Vacation Checklist
- ESSENTIALS – For all the essentials in a brief overview, see my First Time In Kyoto guide
- HOTELS – Check Kyoto accommodation availability on Booking.com and Agoda.com - often you can book with no upfront payment and free cancellation
- BULLET TRAIN – You can buy shinkansen (bullet train) tickets online from Klook - popular routes include Tokyo to Kyoto, Kyoto to Osaka and Kyoto to Tokyo
- WHERE TO STAY – Need tips on where to stay? See my one page guide Where To Stay In Kyoto
- PACKING LIST – See my comprehensive Packing List For Japan
- SIM CARDS – You can buy an eSim to activate in Japan or buy a data-only SIM card online for collection when you arrive at Tokyo's Narita or Haneda Airports or Kansai International Airport. You can also rent an unlimited data pocket wifi router
- FLIGHTS – Compare Japan flight prices and timings to find the best deals
- JAPAN RAIL PASS – If you're making frequent train journeys during your visit, you might save money with Japan Rail Pass – see if it's worth it for you
- TRAVEL INSURANCE – World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world
- WANT HELP? – Do you want help planning your trip? Chris Rowthorn and his team of Japan experts at Japan Travel Consulting can help
Kyoto District Map
Click a Kyoto District for detailed info on attractions, places to eat and accommodation
About InsideKyoto.com and Chris Rowthorn
- Chris Rowthorn is the co-founder of InsideKyoto.com and has an unparalleled travel knowledge of Kyoto spanning three decades. Chris has written or commissioned and edited every page on the Inside Kyoto website.
- A former author of Lonely Planet Kyoto and Lonely Planet Japan guidebooks, Chris is also the director of the Kyoto walking tour company Chris Rowthorn Tours, and Japan Travel Consulting, where you can get bespoke travel advice for your Japan trip.
- InsideKyoto.com has been cited by the New York Times and The Times of London, among many other publications and websites.
