Check out the latest cherry blossom spots in Kyoto this season: The cherry blossoms meet you at Uegaito Embankment

Text and photos /Nathan Yung

<馔旅．日本美食旅游情报　那柴团长樱花抢先报>

Latest news on cherry blossom viewing in Kyoto, Japan. The "Yodogawa Sansen Kousui Area Sakura de Ai Kan," which officially opened only on March 25th of Heisei 29 (2017), and the current state of the blossoms — Captain Nasa’s first-hand on-site report.

On April 9th, the cherry blossoms at Uegaito Embankment were nearly in full bloom, thanks to several days of sunshine.

Sakura de Ai Kan (Cherry Blossom Meeting Hall).

When Captain Nasa arrived at Uegaito Embankment in Kyoto's Yawata City to see the cherry blossoms on April 1st, it was already a must-visit spot for most blossom-chasing travelers. This time, she specially explored the area around the Yodo River riverside park in the Yodo River basin, one of the few places in Kyoto with “lined-up cherry blossom trees,” stretching 1.5 kilometers. Walking among them during full bloom is an absolutely breathtaking experience that draws endless exclamations of admiration.

Given the large number of cherry blossom viewers, the local area built the "Yodogawa Sansen Kousui Area Sakura de Ai Kan" — as the name suggests, it's a place to encounter cherry blossoms. Captain Nasa was among the first to scout the hanami (cherry blossom viewing) route. Located right at the confluence of the Kizu River, Uji River, and Katsura River, it plays a key role in regional revitalization and has become a new landmark.

The facility includes an exhibition hall and an observation tower. The exhibition hall mainly sells local specialties, but the most important part for visitors is the 25-meter-high observation tower. During the cherry blossom season, you can gaze at the 1.5-kilometer-long row of blossoming cherry trees along the riverbank — a truly stunning view. On clear days, you can even see Kyoto Tower in the distance.

Entry to the observation tower requires a small fee of just 300 yen, and the elevator goes directly to the top floor (2nd floor) without stopping.

For safety reasons, the top of the tower features glass panels surrounding it on all sides, offering panoramic views of Kyoto. It is octagonal in design, giving it the feel of a mystical pagoda.

For photography enthusiasts, after walking around the glass-enclosed area, please take the stairs down — only the staircase pathway is free of glass obstructions, perfect for taking pictures.

Wow, the cherry blossoms are so beautiful.

K8, why does it feel so desolate? Because this year, cherry blossoms in Japan bloomed later than usual. In Kyoto, they hadn’t even bloomed by April 1st, and Captain Nasa almost cried.

So why did Nasa come on April 1st? Because the opening event was only on... (text garbled). The much-touted cherry blossom tea party, expected to attract thousands, ended up with sparse attendance due to the delayed bloom. Even taking photos felt difficult for Nasa.

But the cherry blossoms at Uegaito Embankment are about to be in full bloom — you definitely shouldn’t miss the observation tower at the "Sakura de Ai Kan."

Uegaito Embankment, Yawata City, Kyoto
Location: Take the Keihan Electric Railway to Yawata Station, then walk about 10–12 minutes to reach the site
Yawata City Tourism Association official website:http://www.kankou-yawata.org/

Nathan Yung, captain of “Japanese Gourmet Travel Information,” has since 2012 invested millions of his own funds to explore Japan. Based on Taiwanese culinary tastes and inspired by Japanese cuisine, he has traveled across Japan with his remarkable taste buds, sampling all kinds of Japanese food. In Taiwan, he also tirelessly reads and practices cooking. He is currently compiling his experiences into a book, scheduled for release by the end of 2016.

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