Kyoto Cherry Blossoms Illumination (light up)

The information about Kyoto Cherry Blossoms Illumination (light up) is presented here. In Kyoto, Kiyomizu-dera Temple, To-ji Temple, Kodai-ji Temple, Nijo Castle, Hirano Shrine, Gion Shirakawa, Heian Jingu Shrine, Maruyama Park, and other places may be illuminated during the best time to see the cherry blossoms. In Kyoto, the cherry blossoms are usually illuminated from mid-March to early April. Maruyama Park, Gion Shirakawa, and Okazaki Sosui offer free of charge.

• Kodai-ji Temple (高台寺) Eastern Kyoto city
• To-ji Temple (東寺) Southern Kyoto City
• Daigo-ji Temple (醍醐寺) Yamashina Kyoto City
• Byodo-in Temple (平等院) Uji City
• Gion Shirakawa (祇園白川) Central Kyoto City
• Hirano Shrine (平野神社) Central Kyoto City
• Maruyama Park (円山公園) Eastern Kyoto City
• Kiyomizu-dera Temple (清水寺) Eastern Kyoto City
• Heian Jingu Shrine (平安神宮) Eastern Kyoto City

【Basic knowledge of Cherry Blossoms】

Generally, the best time to see cherry blossoms is earlier when the spring temperature is high, and later when the spring temperature is low. Somei-Yoshino, a representative variety of cherry blossoms, is said to bloom when the daily maximum temperature since February 1st is totaled and exceeds 600 degrees Celsius, and to be in full bloom when it exceeds 800 degrees Celsius. And Somei-Yoshino is said to be in full bloom from 5 days to 1 week after blooming, although there are differences by region. According to the average for the past 30 years until 2010, Somei-Yoshino in Kyoto City bloom around March 27th and are in full bloom around April 7th. Recently, however, due to the effects of global warming, the blooming and full-blooming of cherry trees are gradually being accelerated.

【Kodai-ji Temple (高台寺) Eastern Kyoto city】

At Kodai-ji Temple, about 50 cherry trees are planted, including Kodaiji-zakura, Somei-Yoshino, weeping cherry trees, and the illuminated weeping cherry tree in the Hashintei Garden is said to be beautiful. Kodai-ji Temple was founded in 1606 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s wife, Kita no Mandokoro, to mourn Hideyoshi’s bodhi. It is also held at Entoku-in Temple (圓徳院), sub-temple of Kodai-ji Temple.
★schedule (Kodai-ji Temple) : March 13th – May 6th, 2026, 17:00 – 22:00 (registration closes at 21:30)
Kodai-ji Temple (高台寺)
★schedule (Entoku-in Temple) : March 13th – May 6th, 2026, 17:00 – 22:00 (registration closes at 21:30)
Entoku-in Temple (圓徳院)

【To-ji Temple (東寺) Southern Kyoto City】

At To-ji Temple, about 200 cherry trees are planted, including Fuji-zakura (double-stemmed weeping cherry tree) and Somei-Yoshino, and the illuminated Fuji-zakura is said to be beautiful. To-ji Temple was built in 796 at the request of the 50th Emperor Kanmu, as an official temple for the protection of the nation, along with Sai-ji Temple, to the east of Rajomon Gate, the entrance to Heian-kyo.
★schedule : March 14th – April 12th, 2026, 18:00 – 21:30 (registration closes at 21:00)
To-ji Temple (東寺)

【Nijo Castle (二条城) Central Kyoto City】

At Nijo Castle, about 400 cherry trees of about 50 varieties are planted, including Somei-Yoshino, Sato-zakura and weeping cherry trees, and the illuminated Sato-zakura in the cherry blossom garden and the weeping cherry blossoms in Seiryuen are said to be beautiful. The construction of Nijo Castle began in 1601 by Tokugawa Ieyasu as a guard for the Kyoto Imperial Palace and a residence for shoguns, and the Honmaru Goten (Palace) was completed in 1603.
★schedule : March 19th – April 19th, 2026, 18:00 – 21:00 (closes at 22:00)
Nijo Castle (二条城)

【Maruyama Park (円山公園) Eastern Kyoto City】

At Maruyama Park, about 680 cherry trees are planted, including Gion-no-shidarezakura (weeping cherry tree) and Somei-Yoshino, and the illuminated Gion-no-shidarezakura is said to be beautiful. Maruyama Park was once the grounds of Yasaka Shrine and other shrines and temples, etc., but was turned into a park in 1886.
★schedule : March 24th – April 8th, 2026, 18:00 – 22:00
Maruyama Park (円山公園)

【Chion-in Temple (知恩院) Eastern Kyoto City】

At Chion-in Temple, about 200 cherry trees are planted, including Somei-Yoshino, Yama-zakura, and the illuminated Sanmon gate, which is about 24 meters high, and the Yuzen-en garden are said to be beautiful. Chion-in Temple was founded by Honen, the founder of the Jodo sect, who built a hut in Yoshimizu, Higashiyama.
★schedule : March 25th – April 5th, 2026, 17:45 – 21:30 (registration closes at 21:00)
Chion-in Temple (知恩院)

【Kiyomizu-dera Temple (清水寺) Eastern Kyoto City】

At Kiyomizu-dera Temple, about 1,500 cherry trees are planted, including Somei-Yoshino and Yama-zakura, and the illuminated Kiyomizu Stage (Hondo) and the Sanju-no-to (three-story pagoda) with a height of about 31 meters are said to be beautiful. Kiyomizu-dera Temple is said to have been founded by Enchin (Kenshin) in 778.
★schedule : March 27th – April 5th, 2026, 18:30 – 21:30 (registration closes at 21:00)
Kiyomizu-dera Temple (清水寺)

【Gion Shirakawa (祇園白川) Central Kyoto City】

At Gion Shirakawa, about 40 cherry trees are planted, including Somei-Yoshino and weeping cherry trees, and the illuminated rows of cherry trees are said to be beautiful. Gion Shirakawa is located on the east side of Nawate-dori, facing Shinbashi-dori and the Shira-kawa River.
★schedule : March 27th – April 5th, 2026, 18:00 – 22:00
Gion Shirakawa (祇園白川)

【Byodo-in Temple (平等院) Uji City】

At Byodo-in Temple, Somei-Yoshino, weeping cherry trees, and other cherry trees are planted, and the illuminated cherry blossoms around Ajii-ke Pond and Phoenix Hall are said to be beautiful. Byodo-in Temple was founded in 1052 by Fujiwara no Yorimichi, who transformed the Shinden of the Uji-dono into Hon-do (main hall) as the temple of the Fujiwara clan.
★schedule : March 27th, March 28th, April 3rd and April 4th, 2026, 18:30 – 20:30
Byodo-in Temple (平等院)

【Daigo-ji Temple (醍醐寺) Yamashina Kyoto City】

At Daigo-ji Temple, about 1,000 cherry trees are planted, including Somei-Yoshino, and the illuminated cherry blossoms in the Reihokan Garden are said to be beautiful. Daigo-ji Temple was founded in 874 when Rigen Daishi Shobo, through a revelation from Yokoo Myojin, built a small hall on Mt. Kami-Daigo with a sacred spring of Daigosui (Daigo water).
★schedule (Daigo no Hanami) : March 27th – April 12th, 2026, 18:30 – 21:30
★schedule (Museum) : March 30th, April 3rd and April 4th 19:00 – 21:00
Daigo-ji Temple (醍醐寺)

【Hirano Shrine (平野神社) Central Kyoto City】

At Hirano Shrine, about 400 cherry trees of about 50 varieties are planted, including Somei-Yoshino and Yokihi cherry trees, which are illuminated by picturesque bonobori (paper lanterns) and lanterns. Hirano Shrine is said to have originated in 794 when the three gods that had been enshrined in Tamura Gokyu in the capital Heijo-kyo were transferred.
★schedule : March 28th – April 12th, 2026, sunset – around 21:00
Hirano Shrine (平野神社)

【Unryu-in Temple (雲龍院) Eastern Kyoto City】

At Unryu-in Temple, Kawadu-zakura, weeping cherry trees, and other cherry trees are planted, and the illuminated cherry trees are said to be beautiful. Unryu-in Temple was founded in 1372 at the request of Emperor Go-Kogon, with Chikugaku Shoko as its founder.
★schedule : March 28th – March 31st, 2026, sunset – 21:00
Unryu-in Temple (雲龍院)

【Heian Jingu Shrine (平安神宮) Eastern Kyoto City】

At Heian Jingu Shrine, about 300 cherry trees are planted, including Somei-Yoshino and weeping cherry trees, and the Beni-Shidare Concert is held. Visitors can enjoy the music while walking through the garden. Heian Jingu Shrine was built in 1895 to commemorate the 1,100th anniversary of the relocation of the capital to Heian-kyo.
★schedule : April 1st – April 5th, 2026, 18:15 – 21:00
Heian Jingu Shrine (平安神宮)

【Kasuga Shrine (春日神社)　Keihoku Kyoto City】

At Kasuga Shrine, Kuroda Hyakunen-zakura, said to be over 100 years old, is planted, and the illuminated Kuroda Hyakunen-zakura are said to be beautiful. Kasuga Shrine is said to have originated in 1013, when the family deity of the Fujiwara clan, Kasuga Shrine in Nara, was invited and enshrined here.
★schedule : confirming
Kasuga Shrine (春日神社)

【Shimo-Kiyamachi (下木屋町) Central Kyoto City】

In Shimo-Kiyamachi, about 200 cherry trees are planted from Shijo-dori to Matsubara-dori, and the illuminated rows of cherry trees are said to be beautiful. Kiyamachi-dori is a road with a total length of about 2.8 kilometers that runs along the east side of the Takase-gawa River from Nijo-dori at the northern end to Shichijo-dori at the southern end.
★schedule : confirming
Shimo-Kiyamachi (下木屋町)

【Kyoto Cherry Blossoms Illumination Remarks】
Always check with the organizer for event information. Information on this site is for reference only. Contents of the event may have changed.
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