When is cherry blossom season in Kyoto? In my experience of about 20 cherry blossom seasons in the city, I can tell you with confidence that the answer is simple: Cherry blossom season in Kyoto usually runs from late March to early April.
Cherry blossoms in full bloom at Haradani-en Garden in Kyoto © Chris Rowthorn
In Kyoto, the cherry blossoms (sakura) usually bloom in the last week of March and the first two weeks of April in Kyoto (roughly between 20 March and 14 April). In an average year, the blooms peak on 1 April in Kyoto. Once they bloom, they are notoriously fickle: sometimes almost all the trees will come into full bloom (mankai) at the same time and stay in full bloom for a week or even longer.
Cherry blooms blooming in Gion Shimbashi © Chris RowthornChanging From Year To Year
Depending on the weather, the cherries can start blooming as early as 20 March and as late as 1 April. In some years, all the trees seem to bloom at the same time, while in other years, they bloom and peak at different times across the city. Worse yet, heavy rains can strike just after most trees have reached peak, bringing the petals down several days earlier than they might have lasted.
Playground in the Gosho with cherries © Chris RowthornIt’s Hard To Predict When The Cherry Blossoms Will Peak
Timing your trip to coincide with the cherry blossoms is a very tricky affair. Here’s what I usually tell my consulting clients and family guests: If you leave yourself only a couple of days in Kyoto, you might find that you’ve arrived just after the cherries have bloomed, or you might have the frustrating experience of seeing the trees approaching peak just as you have to leave the city. In order to be sure of catching the cherries at their peak, you’d have to stay 10 days or so in the city, and this would cost a fortune at high-season rates.
Booking Accommodation During Cherry Blossom Season
Kyoto is incredibly popular during cherry blossom season for both domestic and foreign tourists. Thus, it’s wise to book well in advance – by at least a couple of months – to get the exact Kyoto hotel you want in the price bracket you prefer. Your choice will be very limited if you make a last-minute decision to visit Kyoto to see the blossoms. You can check current Kyoto hotel availability and prices for mid-March to mid-April, when the cherry blossoms bloom, on Agoda.com and Booking.com. You can also check accommodation in nearby Osaka, which is only 10 minutes by bullet train from Kyoto, if you need a bigger choice of places to stay. If you need more choices, check out our Where To Stay If Kyoto Is Fully Booked.
Blossoms As A Bonus
To be honest, it’s best to consider the cherries an added bonus: If you catch them at their peak, great, but if you miss them, no big deal. Keep in mind that May is arguably a better month to visit Kyoto: many plants are in bloom, the trees are green and the weather is reliably warmer (it can still be cold in Kyoto in late March and April).
Likewise, it’s much easier to catch the fall foliage in Kyoto: If you visit between mid-October and mid-December, you will almost certainly see some lovely fall colors. Read more about Autumn colors in Kyoto in our comprehensive guide.
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.
