🌸Full Bloom! My Ultimate List of Beautiful Cherry Blossom Spots Around Kyoto

#cherryblossom25 It's that time of year again — Sakura Season, my absolute favorite! Here’s a list of stunning cherry blossom spots around Kyoto and Kansai that have totally stolen my heart 💗✨ 🏯 Himeji Castle A lesser-known cherry blossom spot compared to busy Osaka and Kyoto, but top-ranked by Lonely Planet! It’s one of Japan’s three most famous castles, with elegant white walls surrounded by clouds of pink blossoms — totally dreamy and romantic 💕 🚄 Access: ~60 mins from JR Kyoto Station via Shinkansen ~45 mins from JR Shin-Osaka 15 min walk from JR Himeji Station 🏯 Hikone Castle (Shiga) Near Kyoto, this spot features a beautiful weeping cherry tree right at the entrance shrine — photo-perfect! As you explore further inside, you’re surrounded by full-bloom trees and can even spot Lake Biwa in the distance. 🚄 Access: 48 mins from JR Kyoto Station to Hikone Station 🌸 Sewaritei (背割堤) A local favorite for hanami! Even from afar, you’ll see a long stretch of sakura lining the riverbanks for kilometers. It can get crowded, but just walk a little deeper — there are plenty of peaceful spots for perfect photos 📸🌸 ⛩️ Fushimi Jukkokubune River Cruise A canal lined with cherry trees on both sides — you can stroll under the blossoms or take a traditional boat ride for the full experience. If you catch the sakura snow, the petals cover the water like a pink blanket 💕 🕰️ Tip: Morning visits are best, and boat rides need to be booked in advance! 🦌 Nara Park Aside from stunning sakura, you’ll find adorable deer under the cherry trees! For the most romantic view, go to Ukimi-do Pavilion where the lake reflects the falling blossoms like a dream 🌸🦌💕 🌸 Saho River (左保川) A lesser-known gem — this peaceful little river is lined with cherry blossoms for 7 kilometers, and you’ll hardly run into any tourists. Just calm, scenic beauty 🌸🌿 🏮 Hirano Shrine This shrine features over 60 types of cherry trees! Stroll through the blooms during the day, then stick around in the evening for illuminated night sakura and a charming little temple fair 💡🌸 🚃 Arashiyama Famous for both autumn leaves and sakura, this Kyoto suburb is packed with charm! Don’t miss the bamboo forest, Nonomiya Shrine, Tenryu-ji Temple, and Togetsukyo Bridge. ✨ Bonus: Catch the Randen cherry blossom tunnel with a purple tram gliding through — like stepping into an anime scene 💜🚃 🚂 Keage Incline (蹴上インクライン) This abandoned railway is now a stunning sakura walkway. Walk along the tracks under a canopy of cherry blossoms — when the wind blows, it rains petals. Pure magic 🌸🚶♀️🌸 #travel