Four Seasons

About 500 Someiyoshino cherry trees are in full bloom, creating a fantastic view as if walking through a tunnel of cherry blossoms, and cherry blossom snowstorms and flower rafts (cherry petals flowing on the water) are also highlights. Compared to Arashiyama and Kiyomizu-dera Temple, which tend to be crowded, you can enjoy the cherry blossoms in a more relaxed atmosphere.

The symbol of Maruyama Park, the “Gion Shidare-zakura” is one of the most famous cherry trees in Kyoto. The 80-year-old second generation weeping cherry tree is illuminated at night to create a fantastic atmosphere, offering a different beauty from that of the daytime.

It is one of the most famous cherry blossom viewing spots in Kyoto with approximately 1,000 cherry trees in bloom, including Someiyoshino, weeping cherry, and mountain cherry. It is a historic place where Toyotomi Hideyoshi held “Daigo no Hanami” (cherry blossom viewing), and visitors can enjoy a breathtaking view of cherry blossoms when they visit in spring.

Someiyoshino and yamazakura cherry trees are in full bloom around the Togetsu Bridge, and the mountain cherry trees of Arashiyama rising in the background are also a highlight. The rows of cherry trees along the river are also beautiful, and a leisurely stroll along the river is all it takes to fully enjoy the spring season.

Nijo Castle, a World Heritage Site built by Tokugawa Ieyasu, is one of the most famous cherry blossom viewing spots in Kyoto, with 50 varieties and about 300 cherry trees. In the “Cherry Blossom Garden,” visitors can enjoy the different blooming styles of each type of cherry tree. The cherry blossoms are also illuminated at night, allowing visitors to enjoy the spectacular view that only spring can offer, day and night.

The weeping cherry blossoms in Hashinniwa, the garden in front of the Hojo (main building) of Kodaiji Temple, are magnificent, and their pink blossoms against the white sand garden attracts visitors.

With someiyoshino and weeping cherry trees in the precincts, the quiet spring atmosphere is attractive, and with fewer people than famous tourist spots, it is a hidden cherry blossom spot for those in the know. The precincts of Konkai Komyoji Temple also offer a spectacular view of the city of Kyoto, and along with the cherry blossoms, visitors can also enjoy the distant view of Kyoto Tower and Higashiyama.

A cherry blossom tunnel appears between Saga and Kameoka Stations (approx. 7.3 km), and visitors can fully enjoy the tunnel of cherry blossoms from the train window. From near Kameoka Station, visitors can board a “Hozu River cruise” boat. The popular course is to enjoy the mountain scenery on the trolley and then take the boat to enjoy the river scenery. The cherry blossoms seen from the river are also beautiful, making the spring in Kyoto even more enjoyable.

The “Tanabata Bamboo Decoration Light-up” at Kibune Shrine is an annual summer event held from early July to mid-August. Lush bamboo branches are decorated on the shrine grounds, and strips of paper on which visitors have written their wishes sway in the wind. From sunset to around 8:00 p.m., the bamboo decorations and shrine pavilions are illuminated with gentle light, creating a fantastic atmosphere.

The Summer Night Special Viewing is held every year from early to mid-August to commemorate August 18, the anniversary of the death of Lord Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The temple grounds and gardens are fantastically lit up, and approximately 900 lanterns are lit along the approach to the temple, creating an ethereal atmosphere.

It is a summer tradition in Kyoto to enjoy a meal on a tatami mat set up on the Kibune River. It began in the Taisho era (1912-1926) when tea stalls set up their tokodachi on the river as a place to cool off. Sitting on the cool water flowing from the river is like a natural cooler. At night, the kawadoko are beautifully illuminated with lanterns and indirect lighting.

The bamboo forest walking path in Arashiyama, Kyoto, has tens of thousands of bamboo trees planted along a 400-meter path, creating a spectacular sight of bamboo growing as if climbing to the heavens. Sunlight shines through the gaps between the bamboos, creating a fantastic atmosphere, and the breeze through the bamboo grove is pleasant, making it cooler than other tourist attractions.

It is one of the three major festivals in Japan with a history of over 1,000 years. It takes place over a one-month period from July 1 to July 31 every year. The Yamaboko Junko, the biggest highlight of the festival, takes place on the 17th of the first festival, when 23 floats lead the procession of Nagatohoko floats, and on the 24th of the second festival, when 11 floats lead the procession of Hashibenkei floats, filling the streets of Kyoto with the excitement of the festival.

Opened in March 2012, it is the first inland urban aquarium in Japan to utilize completely artificial seawater. Located in Umekoji Park, which is easily accessible from Kyoto Station, the aquarium's largest tank, called “Kyoto Sea,” has a capacity of 500 tons of water and exhibits about 50 species of marine life living in the sea near Kyoto, making it an impressive sight.

The “Wind Bell Festival” is held every year from July to September. About 2,000 colorful wind chimes are displayed in the precincts of the temple, and their cool sound echoes every time the wind blows. In the main hall, there is a heart-shaped “Inome-mado” window, which offers a spectacular view of the seasonal scenery reflected in the window.

Cormorant fishing on the Uji River is a traditional river event that can be enjoyed in Uji, Kyoto in summer. Visitors can watch cormorants catch fish while viewing the fantastic bonfire-lit scenery from a boat. The festival begins around 5:00 p.m., and at night the boats are lit with lanterns, creating a fantastic atmosphere.

Visitors can enjoy the beautiful gradation of the approximately 1,000 autumn leaves. The autumn leaves reflected on the mirrored surface of Garyu Pond in the garden are particularly breathtaking. The colorful projection mapping in the Hashinniwa garden in front of the Hojo, with a different theme each year, is one of Kyoto's most famous events.

About 2,000 maple trees have been planted, and the scenery of the spreading red and yellow leaves is as spectacular as a sea of autumn leaves. Especially famous is the view of the autumn leaves from “Tsutenkyo Bridge,” where you can enjoy the overwhelming beauty of the autumn leaves filling the valley.

Ruriko-in Temple is normally closed to the public, but is open to the public only during specific periods in spring and fall. 12,000 tsubo (approximately 1,860 square meters) in size, the temple grounds are home to three types of gardens, each with more than 100 varieties of maple trees. The view of the “Ruri no Niwa” garden, in particular, creates a fantasy space with its windows filled with autumn leaves and reflections on the desk.

The contrast between the vermilion lanterns lining the stone steps of the temple and the vivid autumn leaves is beautiful and offers a view typical of Kyoto. At night, the lanterns and stone steps are lit up, creating a fantastic atmosphere that is different from that of the daytime. The colors of the autumn leaves come to life in a way that is unique to Kibune Shrine, and we recommend that you visit after sunset.

Only from mid-November to early December, the Momiji Garden with approximately 350 maple trees is open to the public for a special viewing. During this period, visitors can enter the area and stroll through the garden surrounded by autumn leaves. A leisurely stroll through the garden while admiring the autumn leaves provides a tranquility and atmosphere that cannot be experienced at any other tourist attraction.

The view from Kiyomizu-dera Temple in the clear winter air is exceptional. Especially when the mountains are covered with a light dusting of snow, you can enjoy a fantastic atmosphere. The temple grounds are sometimes covered with frost, giving the temple a cold, winter-like beauty.

From Togetsukyo Bridge, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of Arashiyama and the autumn leaves along the Hozu River, and see the mountains beautifully turn red and yellow. Another attraction of the bridge is the “upside-down maple leaves,” which are reflected in the surface of the Hozu River that flows beneath the bridge. Sometimes the bridge is lit up at night during the autumn season, offering a fantastic view that is different from that during the daytime.

This sightseeing train runs along the Hozugawa River valley, offering a spectacular view of the fiery autumn leaves from the train windows. The entire mountain is dyed red and yellow, and the beautiful contrast between the valley and the river is a unique autumnal attraction. You can spend a luxurious time feeling the breeze and enjoying the colors of nature from the train windows.

The Temple of the Golden Pavilion.
Kinkakuji Temple in the snowy scenery is just like a painting, and the contrast between the golden buildings and the white snow is very beautiful. It is especially worth visiting on days when snow piles up, and early in the morning, there are fewer tourists, so you can enjoy the temple in a relaxed atmosphere.

The view from Kiyomizu Temple in the clear winter air is exceptional. Especially when the mountains are covered with a light dusting of snow, you can enjoy a fantastic atmosphere. The temple grounds are sometimes covered with frost, giving the temple a cold, winter-like beauty.

In winter, there are fewer tourists and a quieter atmosphere can be enjoyed. Especially on snowy days, the brick canal pavilions and the snowy scenery create a stunning contrast, making for a great photo opportunity.

Arashiyama in winter is a quiet place with few tourists. The area around Togetsu Bridge and the bamboo grove have a unique winter atmosphere, and at Okochi Sanso, a short walk away, you can enjoy a Japanese garden covered with snow.

During the winter, the temple is sometimes illuminated at night, creating a magical glow in the tranquil garden, creating a sense of serene winter beauty. The lights reflecting on the garden and pond in the precincts are truly ethereal, especially on days when it snows.

The Oohara area is often cooler than the urban area of Kyoto and offers snowy scenery. At Sanzen-in Temple, snow-covered moss gardens and old buildings create a beautiful scene. The tranquility of winter is especially calming when visiting in winter.

Every year on January 25th, the shrine is celebrated as “Hatsutenjin,” and many stalls line the precincts of the shrine. Kitano Tenmangu Shrine is also famous for its plum blossoms, and early-blooming plum trees can be seen here and there. Many people visit the shrine especially to pray for success in entrance examinations, which Tenjin-san is famous for, so it is a good idea to visit in winter during the exam season.

Kyoto in winter is bitterly cold, so yudofu (boiled tofu) and green tea sweets are recommended to warm you up. A bowl of zenzai or oshiruko at a yudofu specialty store near Nanzenji Temple or at a sweet shop in the Kawaramachi/Gion area will warm up your cold body.