Cherry blossoms in Kyoto
Places known for their cherry blossom. 17 places, the most featured first.
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Temple · Kiyomizu-Gojo
Kiyomizu-dera 清水寺
Founded in 780 on the Otowa waterfall in the eastern hills and part of the UNESCO Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto.
Kiyomizu-Gojo (Keihan Main Line), 20 min walk · Paid entry · 1 h
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Landmark · Nijo Castle
Nijo Castle 二条城
Built from 1603 as the Kyoto residence of Tokugawa Ieyasu and part of the UNESCO Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto.
Nijojo-mae (Tozai Line), 3 min walk · Paid entry · 1 h 30 min
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Street · Okazaki
Philosopher's Path 哲学の道
A stone path of about 2 km along a canal of the Lake Biwa Canal system, between Ginkaku-ji and the Nanzen-ji area.
Ginkakuji-michi bus stop (Kyoto City Bus 5, 17), 8 min walk · Free entry · 45 min
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Temple · Arashiyama
Tenryu-ji 天龍寺
Founded in 1339 by shogun Ashikaga Takauji and ranked first among Kyoto's five great Zen temples.
Arashiyama (Keifuku Arashiyama Line), 5 min walk · Paid entry · 1 h
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Shrine · Okazaki
Heian Shrine 平安神宮
Built in 1895 for the 1100th anniversary of the capital's founding, with main buildings modelled on a reduced-scale Heian period palace and a large torii gate on the approach.
Higashiyama (Tozai Line), 10 min walk · Paid entry · 1 h
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Street · Gion
Gion Shirakawa 祇園白川
A stretch of the Shirakawa canal north of Shijo-dori, lined with willows, restaurants and ochaya, around the small Tatsumi bridge.
Gion-Shijo (Keihan Main Line), 5 min walk · Free entry · 20 min
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Temple · Gion
Kodai-ji 高台寺
A Rinzai Zen temple founded in the early 1600s by Nene in memory of her husband Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
Gion-Shijo (Keihan Main Line), 15 min walk · Paid entry · 45 min
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Nightlife · Kawaramachi
Kiyamachi-dori 木屋町通
A street following the Takase canal, dug in 1611, between the Kamo river and Kawaramachi-dori.
Kyoto-Kawaramachi (Hankyu Kyoto Line), 3 min walk · Free entry · 45 min
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Nature · Gion
Maruyama Park 円山公園
A public park directly behind Yasaka Shrine.
Gion-Shijo (Keihan Main Line), 12 min walk · Free entry · 30 min
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Street · Okazaki
Keage Incline 蹴上インクライン
A disused inclined railway, about 582 m long, that carried boats on the Lake Biwa Canal from 1891 to 1948.
Keage (Tozai Line), 3 min walk · Free entry · 20 min
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Landmark · Arashiyama
Togetsukyo Bridge 渡月橋
Arashiyama's central landmark over the Katsura river, first built in the Heian period and last reconstructed in the 1930s, with forested mountains behind.
Arashiyama (Keifuku Arashiyama Line), 5 min walk · Free entry · 20 min
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Landmark · Arashiyama
Sagano Scenic Railway 嵯峨野観光鉄道
A sightseeing train running 7 km from Torokko Saga Station, next to JR Saga-Arashiyama Station, to Torokko Kameoka along the Hozu river gorge in about 25 minutes.
Saga-Arashiyama (JR Sagano Line), 1 min walk · Paid entry · 1 h 30 min
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Nature · Imperial Palace
Kyoto Gyoen National Garden 京都御苑
A park about 1300 m long and 700 m wide around the Imperial Palace and Sento Palace, with gravel paths, lawns and tree groves.
Marutamachi (Karasuma Line), 5 min walk · Free entry · 45 min
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Garden · Imperial Palace
Kyoto Botanical Gardens 京都府立植物園
The prefectural botanical garden beside the Kamo river in north Kyoto, with outdoor gardens and a large conservatory.
Kitayama (Karasuma Line), 5 min walk · Paid entry · 1 h 30 min
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Temple · Kinkaku-ji and Kitano
Ninna-ji 仁和寺
Founded in 888 by the reigning emperor and long headed by members of the imperial family, Ninna-ji is part of the UNESCO Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto.
Omuro-Ninnaji (Keifuku Kitano Line), 3 min walk · Paid entry · 1 h
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Shrine · Kinkaku-ji and Kitano
Hirano Shrine 平野神社
A shrine a few minutes north of Kitano Tenmangu with around 60 varieties of cherry trees that flower in succession over about six weeks.
Kitano-Hakubaicho (Keifuku Kitano Line), 7 min walk · Free entry · 20 min
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Temple · Arashiyama
Nison-in 二尊院
A Tendai temple founded in the mid 9th century on the hillside north of the bamboo grove, with large halls looking out over the city.
Saga-Arashiyama (JR Sagano Line), 19 min walk · Paid entry · 40 min
Other categories
More by season and situation
- Free things to do in Kyoto 58 places
Places with free entry, from temple grounds and shrines to markets and riverside walks.
- Kyoto on a rainy day 70 places
Museums, covered arcades and halls that stay dry when it rains.
- Kyoto early in the morning 28 places
Places at their best early, at opening time or before the day crowds.
- Kyoto at night 30 places
Places to go after dark: lit streets, shrines open at night and evening views.
- Autumn leaves in Kyoto 23 places
Places known for their autumn colour.
- Kyoto with kids 21 places
Places that work well with children.