By MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team
In addition to famous cherry blossom spots like Kōenji Park, Ueno Park, and Hirosaki Park in Japan, the Shōjuin Temple in Kyoto is also a must-visit attraction. This 800-year-old historic temple is especially distinctive for its heart-shaped "Inokuma Window," through which visitors can admire cherry blossoms. In spring 2018, the temple's night cherry blossom illumination was opened to the public for the first time, and the romantic scene quickly became a popular photo spot among Japanese netizens.
The most distinctive feature of Shōjuin Temple is viewing cherry blossoms through the heart-shaped "Inokuma Window" (Photo / Shōjuin Temple, the same below)
Nighttime cherry blossom illumination at Shōjuin Temple opens to the public for the first time
Also known as the "Wind Chime Temple," Shōjuin Temple hosts an annual wind chime festival in summer, during which 2,000 wind chimes are hung throughout the grounds, creating an elegant and beautiful scene. The heart shape of the Inokuma Window is one of Japan’s traditional patterns passed down through the ages, regarded as a window that brings happiness — believed to ward off disasters and invite good fortune — making it widely loved.
Shōjuin Temple holds a wind chime festival every summer, hanging 2,000 wind chimes throughout the temple
The beauty of cherry blossoms at Shōjuin Temple in spring
In addition to the heart-shaped Inokuma Window, the ceiling murals inside the temple are also highly favored by visitors. Admiring the beautiful Japanese garden and cherry blossoms through the Inokuma Window gives the cherry blossom experience a unique charm.
The ceiling murals inside the temple are also highly favored by visitors
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