The Biwako Sosui Canal was built in the Meiji Era (1868-1912) to carry water from Lake Biwa from Shiga Prefecture to Kyoto City. The cruise is popular for viewing someiyoshino cherry trees and mountain cherry blossoms planted along the Sosui, and the collaboration with the brick tunnel is one of the highlights. In addition to the boat trip, you can also visit Nanzenji Suijikaku (Waterway Pavilion), a power station, and other historical buildings in the area.

Best time to visit: Late March - early April
Hours: 8:00 - 15:00
Spring operating period / March 27, 2025 (Thursday) to June 8, 2025 (Sunday)
Fare/Otsu - Keage Adults 6,000 yen - 14,000 yen
*Fees for boarding for details areOfficial siteThan

Biwako Otsu Spring Lighting - Cherry Blossoms on Biwako Sosui
Period / Tuesday, March 25, 2025 - Sunday, April 13, 2025
Hours/18:00-21:30
Fee/No charge

Nijo Castle was built by Ieyasu Tokugawa and has been the setting for many historical events. In spring, visitors can enjoy a wide variety of cherry blossoms, starting with scarlet cherry trees, followed by someiyoshino cherry trees, mountain cherry trees, weeping cherry trees, and satozakura, a total of 300 cherry trees in 50 varieties. During the event period, the cherry blossoms are lit up at night and projection mapping is performed in the historical space.

Best time to visit: Mid-March to mid-April
Hours of admission/8:45-17:00 (last admission/16:00)
The Ninomaru Palace is open from 8:45 a.m. to 4:10 p.m.

Nijo Castle Cherry Blossom Festival 2025
Period / Friday, March 14, 2025 - Sunday, April 13, 2025
Hours/8:45-17:00 (last admission/16:00)
Admission: Adults 1,300 yen, junior high and high school students 400 yen, elementary school students 300 yen
Including admission to Ninomaru Palace
NAKED meets Nijo Castle 2025, Cherry Blossoms
Period / Friday, March 14, 20254 - Sunday, April 13, 20254
Time/18:00-22:00 (last admission/21:00)
Admission/Junior high school students and older: 2,000 yen, elementary school students: 1,000 yen on Monday through Thursday.
Friday-Sunday and holidays: 2,500 yen for junior high school students and older, 1,500 yen for elementary school students
*Purchase specific date tickets for March 22 (Sat), March 29 (Sat), April 5 (Sat), and April 12 (Sat). No admission with other tickets. Tickets for specific days are ¥2,800 for junior high school students and older, ¥1,800 for elementary school students.

［The Kyoto Gyoen (Kyoto Imperial Garden), which is now open to the public as a national park, was developed on the site of the former lord's town in the vicinity of the Kyoto Imperial Palace.]
The Kyoto Imperial Garden, rich in nature, is planted with approximately 1,000 cherry trees, including weeping cherry trees, Kurumagae cherry trees, and mountain cherry trees. The two most famous cherry trees are the "Izumi no edarezakura" and the "Chikamori no edarezakura. The early-blooming "Izumi no edarezakura" is a popular photo spot because of its beautiful shape, which resembles a spreading umbrella. From late March, about 60 weeping cherry trees (itozakura) at the Chikamori Estate bloom in a beautiful gradation of colors, from light to dark. (Blue sheets are not allowed).

Best time to visit: Late March to mid-April
Admission Hours and Admission Fees / Admission to the park is free

Kamowakeikazuchi-jinja Shrine is one of the oldest shrines in Kyoto and is commonly known as Kamigamo Shrine.
The 150-year-old "Goshozakura" cherry tree, which opens its white blossoms in late March, and the "Saiozakura" cherry tree, a reddish-brown weeping cherry tree, line the side of the approach that stretches in a straight line from the first torii (first shrine gate) to the second torii (second shrine gate). The path leading to the second torii gate is lined with red-flowered miare-zakura (cherry blossom trees) and a variety of cherry blossoms with different origins and traditions.

Best time to visit: mid-March to late April
Opening hours/5:30-17:00 (8:00-16:45 for the tower gate and the awarding office)
Admission fee/free

［The Hanmoku-no-michi is a walking path on the west side of the Kyoto Botanical Garden. Along the Kamo River from Kitayama Ohashi Bridge to Kitaoji Bridge, double-stemmed weeping cherry trees create a tunnel of cherry blossoms that stretches for about 800 meters. From near Aoi Bridge to near Kamigamo Bridge, there is a row of Someiyoshino cherry trees, and the view from the other side of the river is beautiful.

Best time to visit: Early to mid-April
free to stroll (i.e. to take a stroll)