From my very first cherry blossom viewing (hanami) party at Maruyama Park in 1992, I’ve always looked forward to spring in Kyoto. Hanami is when the Japanese really let loose and foreigners are always welcome to join the fun. Here’s our guide.
Hanami party at the Kyoto Botanical Gardens © Chris Rowthorn
The best way to enjoy the cherry blossoms is with a hanami (cherry blossom) viewing party. This involves setting out a picnic blanket or blue tarp under the loveliest (and biggest) cherry tree you can find and gorging yourself on festive food and drinks. The picture above, which I took at the Kyoto Botanical Gardens is pretty typical daytime version. Once night falls, things start to get wild as sake, beer and portable karaoke systems come into play. If you’re lucky, you might get asked to join a party as you walk by.
Be warned: if you join, there’s no escaping without imbibing a lot and perhaps even grabbing the mic to sing a few English songs. If you’re in the mood, this might be the highlight of your trip. But, don’t wait for someone to invite you: take matters into your own hands – buy the fixings and head to one of the following spots:
Hanami party at Maruyama Park by friend of the blog © Paul Crouse
Maruyama-koen Park: I’ll never forget my first hanami party at Maruyama a few months after I arrived in Japan. The place was literally heaving. At the center of it all was that magnificent cherry tree in the middle of the park, ablaze like a cauldron of light. If you want to see a really wild, full-blown hanami party with all the trimmings, this is the place.
Kamo-gawa Riverbanks: This is one long strip of hanami parties in season, but there is enough room so it never feels crowded. The best trees and best parties are north of Imadegawa-dori Street.
Shidare-zakura trees in the Kyoto Gosho – image © Chris Rowthorn
Kyoto Gosho (Kyoto Imperial Palace Park): When my kids were young, we usually took them to daytime hanami parties at the north end of the Kyoto Gosho. There are some magnificent weeping cherries here and the playground nearby is fantastic.
Kyoto Botanical Gardens: I had lived in Kyoto for several years before I visited the Botanical Gardens in cherry blossom season. Then I realized what I had been missing: spacious grounds, great cherry trees and crowds of happy people. Few tourists make it here in cherry blossom season and that’s their loss.
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.
