Unmatched Beauty:
Cherry Blossoms in Kyoto, Nara & Yoshino
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Kyoto’s Philosopher’s Path During Cherry Blossom Season
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Omura-sakura Trees Ninnaji Temple in Kyoto
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Kamogawa River during Cherry Blossom Season in Kyoto
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Keage Incline Cherry Blossom in Kyoto
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Cherry Blossom (Sakura) in Shosei-en Garden in Kyoto
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Daibutsuden, Todaiji Temple in Nara
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Cherry Blossom at Horyu-ji Temple in Nara
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Cherry Blossom in Nara
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Trip Intro
After arriving at Kansai Airport and spending a night in Osaka, I travelled straight to Kyoto the following morning on a 30-minute local train ride. Kyoto is my favourite place in Japan. As you know, timing is everything when it comes to enjoying the cherry blossom season, which usually lasts from late March to mid April. I took my time exploring the city’s most popular cherry blossom spots and spent two nights in a traditional ryokan before continuing to Nara by local train. Nara is a very walkable city, and its main attractions are all within easy reach. There is no better time to explore its famous UNESCO World Heritage Sites than during this beautiful season. After another night in a ryokan, I took a two-hour local train journey to Yoshino. There, I put on my hiking boots and walked among around 30000 cherry trees on my way up Mount Yoshino, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was an unforgettable experience. On the next day I went back to Kyoto.
Best Places to Stay in Kyoto >
1Kyoto
Kyoto is the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, one of Japan’s most popular tourist destinations and the cultural heart of the country. Cherry blossom season is one of the best times of the year to visit the city. I have been here many times, and I would love to share my recommendations with you. Here is my list of the most popular cherry blossom spots in Kyoto. If you have more time to spend in the city, take a look at my overview of Kyoto itineraries for one to five days. A stay in a traditional ryokan is also an essential Kyoto experience and an absolute must during your visit. To give you an idea of what to expect, Kyoto is home to around 1600 Buddhist temples, more than 400 Shinto shrines and 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This remarkable concentration of cultural treasures is unmatched in Japan. It is the legacy of Kyoto’s long history as Japan’s imperial capital from 794 until 1868. Over more than a thousand years, Kyoto developed into one of the most culturally rich cities in the world. Find out more >
2Nara
The city of Nara served as the capital of Japan from 710 to 784. It is famous for the eight sites that together form the Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These are Todaiji Temple, Heijo Palace, Kasuga Taisha Shrine, Kofukuji Temple, Toshodaiji Temple, Gangoji Temple, Yakushiji Temple and the Kasugayama Primeval Forest. Visiting these historic places during cherry blossom season was an absolute highlight for me. My tip is not to miss the Daibutsuden, or Great Buddha Hall, within the Todaiji Temple complex. It is one of the largest wooden structures in the world, and its enormous size is breathtaking. Spend at least one full day exploring Nara and end your visit with a night in a beautiful traditional ryokan. Find out more >
My tips for local activities
How about exploring the highlights and hidden gems of the fascinating city Nara with a local guide? The personalized tour by our partner GetYourGuide can take between 2 - 6 hours. For more details check out this page
3Yoshino
Many important pilgrimage sites and sacred places can be found around Mount Yoshino, an area of extraordinary natural beauty. It is one of, if not the most famous cherry blossom destinations in Japan, with around 30000 trees creating a spectacular display when they are in full bloom. Mount Yoshino also forms part of the Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There is far too much to discover in just one day, including the Zaodo Hall at Kinpusenji Temple, which is designated a National Treasure. However, the hike is well worth the sore legs. :) Find out more >
Location
Kyoto, the starting point of this trip, is located on the main island of Honshu near Osaka within the Kansai region.
How to get around?
- People from foreign countries arrive usually at Kansai International Airport in Osaka and take a train from there.
- 30min from Osaka Station to Kyoto Station (stops at Shin-Osaka and Takatsuki) by JR Special Rapid Service
- 34min from Kyoto Station to Nara by Kintetsu Limited Express
- 1hr40min in total, start from Nara by Kintetsu Nara Line to Yamato Saidaiji, change there to the Kintetsu Kashihara Line for Kashiharajingu-mae and change there again to the Kintetsu Yoshino Line for Yoshino
