15 Best Cherry Blossom Spots in Japan / Imperial-Style Weeping Cherry Blossoms::Kyoto::Heian Shrine

Usually, visitors to Heian Shrine can only stand on the white gravel plaza and admire these exquisitely crafted vermilion-red buildings. It’s only during the Special Open Viewings that you can enter the “Shinen” (garden area) at the back. Among these, the Special Open Viewing in spring for cherry blossom viewing is the most important — simply because the shrine’s cherry blossoms are only visible at this time. This garden is also a renowned and famous cherry blossom spot in Japan.

Within the Shinen, there are about 350 cherry blossom trees, offering countless spots to enjoy the blooms. A pink grove of weeping cherry trees cascades over trellises, with countless blossoms almost covering the entire sky. The ground is blanketed with falling petals, creating an overwhelming, dreamlike scene that feels almost unreal. Among them, the red weeping cherry tree at the center of the South Shinen was even featured in the novel “The Makioka Sisters” by Japanese author Jun’ichirō Tanizaki, adding a literary charm to the blossoms here.

Besides cherry blossoms, the vast strolling garden is planted with a variety of flowers and trees, blooming all year round, making it a picturesque sight everywhere you look. If you visit the Shinen in late May or early June, you can also enjoy azaleas and irises. The Shinen, with its colorful array of blooming flowers, offers visual delight no matter when you come...Click to see detailed attraction information

Cherry Blossom Variety:Double-Petal Weeping Cherry
Number of Cherry Blossoms:A total of 350 trees, including 150 double-petal weeping cherry trees.
Cherry Blossom Events:During the cherry blossom festival, a Red Weeping Cherry Concert is held, and a cherry blossom tea party takes place in the West Shinen. The schedule varies each year, so please check the official website.

★★★ Extended Reading = Savor the Flavors of Kyoto-Style Yudofu and Kaiseki Cuisine~
If you want to experience both Kyoto-style kaiseki cuisine and home-style Kyoto dishes, “Kyō no Uchi Gohan Warabeuta” is the place to go! The owner, who is also the head chef, has over 20 years of experience in traditional Japanese ryotei restaurants. Mini kaiseki dishes that are as visually appealing as they are delicious are no problem, and the landlady’s specialty Kyoto home-cooked dishes can satisfy even the most discerning palates...Click to see detailed attraction information


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