［2025] Cherry Blossoms Light Up at Night in Spring in Kyoto! 18 Recommended Cherry Blossom Viewing Spots

Leaf KYOTO ［2025] Cherry Blossoms Light Up at Night in Spring in Kyoto! 18 recommended cherry blossom viewing spots

2025.3.19

Light up the cherry blossoms at night in spring in Kyoto

［2025] Cherry Blossoms Light Up at Night in Spring in Kyoto! 18 recommended cherry blossom viewing spots

The cherry blossom season has come again this year. Depending on where and when you view them, the cherry blossoms will show you different expressions. In this issue, we will introduce information on cherry blossom illumination in Kyoto, from famous temples where you can enjoy nighttime viewing only, to hidden places where you can stroll freely. Enjoy the fantastic nighttime cherry blossoms, which are different from those in the daytime.

Contents of this article

1.: ［Nighttime Special Viewing at Kiyomizu-Dera Temple / Kiyomizu-Dera Temple, Gion, Gion

2.: Heian Jingu Shrine, Sakura Oto Yoru - Benishidare Concert 2025" / Okazaki, Japan

3.: Cherry blossoms illuminated at night with the five-story pagoda in the background [Toji Temple] / Kyoto Station area

4.: ［Projection mapping to decorate Nijo Castle / Nijo Castle area

5.: ［Chion-in Temple] Spring Light-up 2025 / Gion

6.: ［Kodaidera Temple: Special nighttime viewing in spring 2025 / Gion, Gion, Kyoto

7.: ［Cherry blossoms with weeping branches are illuminated in Maruyama Park in Gion, Kyoto.

8.: ［Kyoto Botanical Garden] 300 cherry trees are illuminated / Kitayama

9.: ［Special nighttime cherry blossom viewing at Hirano Shrine / Kitano Hakubai-cho

10.: Nighttime cherry blossoms floating on Hachijogaike Pond [Nagaoka Tenmangu Shrine] / Nagaokakyo City

11.: ［Sagano Trolley Train] Spring Light-up & Illumination / Arashiyama

12.: ［Gion Shirakawa: Cherry blossoms lit up in the evening in Gion, Kyoto.

13.: A sea of cherry blossoms [Shoju-in Temple] / Ujitawara

14.: Beautiful nighttime cherry blossoms floating on the river [Kiyamachi-dori]

15.: ［The solemn weeping cherry blossoms of Myokenji Temple / Nishijin

16.: Weeping cherry trees in full bloom in the cherry orchard [Myoman-ji Temple].

17.: Light up the cherry blossoms at night at Sumizome-ji Temple, which is deeply connected with cherry blossoms / Fujimori

18.: Nighttime cherry blossoms along the canal "Biwako Canal of Cherry Blossoms" / Kyoto area, Otsu

16. Weeping cherry trees in full bloom in the cherry orchard [Myoman-ji Temple].

Myoman-ji Temple was founded in 1389 by Nichiji Taisho, a Buddhist priest, in Rokujo Bomon Muromachi.
The temple area was later moved to its present location as time went by. The cherry blossom garden in the corner centering on the Daishoin is famous for its magnificent weeping cherry trees and approximately 3,000 azalea plants. The temple grounds can be enjoyed in all four seasons throughout the year.

Best time to visit: Late March - early April
Cherry Blossom Garden Light-up Special Viewing" (Japanese only)
Period: March 29 (Sat) - until the cherry blossoms fall
Hours of visitation: 17:00 - 20:00
Admission / Free *Only in the cherry blossom garden

Myoumanji Temple

Buddhist revelation through intuitive discernment
91, Iwakura Hatagae-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
5 minutes walk from Kino Station on the Eiden Line
Approx. 15 min. walk from Kokusai Kaikan Subway Station
Tel. 075-791-7171
Opening Hours/6:00-17:00, Honbo 9:00-16:00, 17:00-20:00
Admission: Free in the precincts (600 yen during cherry blossom, azalea, and fall foliage seasons), 600 yen in the main building, 300 yen for elementary and junior high school students.
https://kenpon.jp/

17. Light up the cherry blossoms at night at Sumizome-ji Temple, which is deeply connected with cherry blossoms / Fujimori

The predecessor of the temple [Sumizome-ji Temple] is said to have been founded by Yoshifusa Fujiwara in the Heian period (794-1185).
The temple is also called "Sakura-dera" (cherry blossom temple), and its name comes from a poem written by Mineo Ueno, a poet of the Heian period (794-1185) in mourning for the death of Mototsune Fujiwara, the chief advisor to the Emperor, which reads, "If I have a cherry blossom in the field in Fukakusa, this year only, it will bloom in sumizome. The temple grounds are illuminated with light-colored sumizome cherry blossoms, someiyoshino cherry trees, yaezakura cherry trees, and other historic cherry trees.

Sumizome-ji Temple Cherry Blossom Light-up

Best time to visit: Late March to mid-April
Cherry blossoms light up at night.
Period / Wednesday, March 26, 2025 - early April
Hours of visitation: 18:00-21:00
Admission fee/free

Sumizome Temple

divination of shepherds
741 Sumizome-cho, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
3 min. walk from Keihan "Sumizome" station.
Tel. 075-642-2675

Click here for details

18. Nighttime cherry blossoms along the canal "Biwako Canal of Cherry Blossoms" / Kyoto area, Otsu

The Biwako Sosui, a canal built in the Meiji era to channel water from Lake Biwa from Shiga Prefecture to Kyoto City.
During the cherry blossom season, someiyoshino cherry trees and mountain cherry trees planted along both banks of the canal from around Shikaseki Bridge to about 200 meters downstream are lit up, inviting visitors into a fantastic world of cherry blossoms at night. The area leading to the adjacent Mitsui Temple (Sonjoji Temple) is one of the best cherry blossom viewing spots in the Kansai region.

Biwako Sosui Boat Cherry Blossom Light-up

Best time to visit: Early to mid-April
Biwako Otsu Spring Light-up - Cherry Blossoms on Lake Biwa Sosui
Period / Tuesday, March 25, 2025 - Sunday, April 13, 2025
Hours/18:00-21:30
Fee/No charge

Lake Biwa Canal

loquat water
7, Mitsuiidera-cho, Otsu-shi, Shiga
Tel. 077-528-2772 (Biwako Otsu Tourist Association)

Click here for details

The information is subject to change. Please contact each store or facility directly for the latest information.
All prices include tax.
※内容の誤りや閉店情報などお気づきの点がございましたら、info@leafkyoto.co.jp までお知らせください。
*Since this site uses automatic translation, the translation may differ from the original Japanese content.

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