[2025 Edition] 10 Secret Cherry Blossom Spots in Kyoto! A cherry blossom viewing guide to avoid the crowds

We have carefully selected secret spots in Kyoto where you can relax and enjoy cherry blossom viewing during the 2025 cherry blossom season.

Let's avoid the crowds and enjoy the atmosphere of Kyoto!

What are the characteristics of cherry blossom spots in Kyoto?

Kyoto is a city that perfectly combines historic buildings with cherry blossoms.

Since you can enjoy cherry blossoms along with the emotional landscape of the ancient city, it has a different flavor from other cities.

What are some tips for avoiding crowds in Kyoto?

Cherry blossoms in Kyoto are extremely popular, so it's a good idea to keep the following in mind to avoid crowds.

・Visit early in the morning or evening on weekdays.

・Choose a secret cherry blossom spot instead of a popular tourist spot.

・Check the flowering forecast in advance and avoid days that are likely to be crowded.

Forecast of cherry blossoms blooming in Kyoto in 2025

It is predicted that cherry blossoms in Kyoto in 2025 will bloom around March 30 and will be in full bloom around 4/7.

The first week of April is the best time to enjoy cherry blossoms in full bloom.

Beauty experience in Kyoto

10 little-known cherry blossom spots in Kyoto

Haratanien — Kyoto's hidden cherry blossom spot

It is a privately owned garden and is open to the public for a limited time.

The weeping cherry blossoms are beautiful, perfect for those who want to avoid crowds.

Gion Shirakawa — Kyoto-like townscape and cherry blossoms

An elegant row of cherry blossom trees continues in the area lined with cobblestone streets and townhouses.

Enko-ji Temple — Enjoy cherry blossoms in silence

There are relatively few tourists, and it is a temple where you can enjoy the cherry blossoms quietly.

Mt. Kasagi — Collaboration between hiking and cherry blossoms

A perfect spot to enjoy a light hike while watching the cherry blossoms.

Jonan Shrine — Enjoying Weeping Cherry Blossoms with a Shrine

Beautiful weeping cherry blossoms spread out in the shrine grounds, and you can enjoy cherry blossom viewing in a solemn atmosphere.

Togetsu Bridge (Arashiyama) — beautiful scenery of the river and cherry blossoms

A beautiful landscape where cherry blossoms, a bridge, and the flow of a river are integrated.

Daigo-ji Temple — Historic cherry blossom viewing spot

It is famous as a place where Hideyoshi Toyotomi did cherry blossom viewing, and you can enjoy spectacular cherry blossoms.

Zuishin-in — beautiful gardens and cherry blossoms

A quiet spot with a perfect combination of cherry blossoms and moss gardens.

Okazaki Canal — Cherry blossom tunnel seen from a boat

The cherry blossoms reflected on the surface of the water are fantastic, and the view from the boat is popular.

Heian Shrine — Kyoto's Unique Scenery and Cherry Blossoms

The spectacular torii gate and cherry blossoms interweave in the landscape is impressive.

Beauty experience in Kyoto

What are some tips for enjoying cherry blossoms in Kyoto?

Best time to visit

Early morning hours and dusk are the best time to enjoy the beauty of cherry blossoms to the fullest.

Photography tips

You can take more beautiful photos if you avoid backlighting and be aware of the combination of cherry blossoms and historic buildings.

What is a Kyoto-like way to enjoy cherry blossom viewing?

Enjoy cherry blossoms with Japanese sweets and matcha

There are many teahouses in Kyoto, and enjoying Japanese sweets and matcha while looking at cherry blossoms is a Kyoto-like style of cherry blossom viewing.

In particular, teahouses around Maruyama Park and Heian Shrine offer spring-only sakuramochi and matcha sweets.

Sitting back and admiring the cherry blossoms will be a special memory.

Enjoy cherry blossom viewing with kimono rental

Kyoto has a full range of kimono rental services for tourists.

We also recommend wearing a traditional kimono or a gorgeous spring-colored kimono and strolling around famous places for cherry blossoms.

Especially in the Gion and Arashiyama areas, there are many spots to take photos in kimonos, and you can leave memories with the photogenic scenery in the background.

Enjoy the cherry blossom illuminations at night

Cherry blossoms are illuminated at night at many shrines and temples in Kyoto in spring.

At Nijo Castle, Toji Temple, and Maruyama Park, you can enjoy cherry blossoms at night in a fantastic atmosphere.

The atmosphere is different from daytime, and you can spend a relaxing time.

Enjoy cherry blossom viewing while sightseeing

Combining famous cherry blossoms with sightseeing spots is another unique way to enjoy Kyoto.

For example, if you walk along Sanneizaka from Kiyomizu-dera Temple and go around Yasaka-jinja Shrine, you can enjoy famous places in Kyoto while enjoying cherry blossoms.

We also recommend enjoying cherry blossoms at Togetsukyo Bridge while strolling along the small path of the bamboo grove in Arashiyama.

Beauty experience in Kyoto

summary

In order to enjoy cherry blossoms in Kyoto to the fullest, it is possible to enjoy cherry blossoms more comfortably by checking flowering forecasts and devising ways to avoid crowds.

Furthermore, by using a beauty salon, you can make special memories in Kyoto while healing the fatigue of your trip.

By all means, let's enjoy cherry blossoms and beauty in Kyoto this spring!

Recommended beauty salons in Kyoto

We have carefully selected salons that you can enjoy while relaxing in between sightseeing.

Here are some salons that are easy to visit alone, as a couple, or with friends.

“Maninail Kyoto” — a popular nail salon with high technology

1 minute walk from Kyoto Gojo Station!

A nail salon that provides beauty and healing with careful service that has received high praise. We have a menu that combines beauty and convenience, from choosing the color that perfectly suits your skin tone and preferences to a rich lineup of nail polishes that you can easily remove at home.

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“Kawaramachi Sopoca-lon” — popular salon for casual nails

A 7-minute walk from Hankyu Karasuma Station.

This salon is conveniently located between Sanjo and Shijo, making it perfect for shoppers and tourists alike. We have a large selection of attractive nail samples.

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head CONCIERGE Kyoto — The ultimate head spa experience

An authentic head spa specialty store where specialists with national qualifications lead to “ultimate sleep.” Massages using a deep muscle approach can be expected to have various effects such as relieving insomnia, improving shoulder stiffness, recovering from eye strain, and anti-aging.

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“SENSE by PLUSHAIR Kyoto Store” — Japan's first hair extension specialty salon

“Certified hair enhancers” who have completed rigorous training have achieved a natural increase in volume with special techniques without knots. You can also enjoy coloring and perming, and you can maintain a beautiful finish with “repair technology” even after your hair grows.

Please try out the advanced technology that Japan is proud of so that you can experience it with peace of mind even while traveling.

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