Kyoto's early cherry blossoms must be seen, Rakunan Daigoji Temple 100 selected cherry blossom viewing trip 📸
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💕Daigoji Temple, a famous spot for cherry blossom viewing in Kyoto, is located in Fushimi, Ronan. It is one of the top 100 cherry blossoms in Japan and a must-visit attraction in Kyoto during the Qingming Festival. 🥰The flowering period in Kyoto is very long, and the representative of the early cherry blossoms is none other than Daigoji Temple’s weeping cherry blossoms, and the Ninwaji Temple’s Omuro Sakura is the representative of Kyoto’s late cherry blossoms. The cherry blossoms at Daigoji Temple are usually in full bloom from the end of March to the beginning of April. While other places are about to fully bloom around April 5, the cherry blossoms here are nearing the end of full bloom.
🗺️Daigo Temple is divided into Sanboin, Shimodaigo and Upper Daigo. The key areas for cherry blossom viewing are Shimodaigo and Sanhoin (Xianshen Forest Garden / Lingbo Hall)
🤩By the way, Toyotomi Hideyoshi held the Daigo Hanami here in 1598. In addition to being extremely grand and making Daigoji Temple a famous place for cherry blossom viewing, it was also the last time he appeared on a large scale.
🤳The stunning cherry blossoms at Daigoji Temple are my favorite cherry blossom viewing spots in Kyoto
Sanbao Yuan – Xianshen Forest Garden:
🏞️After entering the main gate of Daigoji Temple, in addition to the cherry blossom tunnel as far as the eye can see, the building on the left is the climax of cherry blossom viewing at Daigoji Temple: Kenshin Forest Garden. You need to buy a ticket from the Sanhoin Ticket Office (payment is accepted) in front of you on the left. After entering, you will first see the four-story-high weeping cherry blossoms that bloom early. Then, as you walk forward, you will see Kenshen Forest Garden on your left. Those who have searched for Kyoto's cherry blossoms should be familiar with the cherry blossoms there.
🌸The cherry blossoms in full bloom are really beautiful. You just get tired of looking at them for a long time. The cherry blossoms at Daigoji Temple are the most magnificent ones I have ever seen in a Kyoto temple!
😅When you go to Kyoto to enjoy cherry blossoms in late March or early April, the early blooming weeping cherry blossoms will be your savior. In addition to Daigoji Temple, there are also many Kyoto Gyoen Gardens!
Sanbaoyuan – Lingbao Pavilion:
😉 The Reihokan, which stores valuable cultural relics, is one of the highlights of Daigoji’s cherry blossoms. It is recommended to buy a pass for Sanhoin, Reihokan and Garan when purchasing tickets. When I was taking photos of cherry blossoms in this area, my family was resting at the Ugetsu Tea House opposite, so I only stayed for about half an hour and did not go indoors to visit.
💐The magnificence of Daigoji Temple’s cherry blossoms is considered one of the best in Kyoto, but it is located in the more remote Luonan, and there is nothing to eat around. If you don’t bring food, you can only buy snacks at Ugetsu Tea House.
🌺The trail between Lingbokan and Ugetsu Tea House is also a good place to enjoy cherry blossoms at Daigoji Temple. Using an ultra-wide-angle lens can bring out a cherry blossom tunnel full of perspective, and they can be integrated into the composition even if there are a lot of people.
Xia Daigo – Jialan:
🗼The Garan of Japanese temples is the garden where monks live together, that is, important temples and buildings such as triple/five-story pagodas. Garan is another highlight of Daigoji Temple for cherry blossom viewing. Most of the important buildings are there, but the cherry blossoms are blooming there. It was relatively slow, and I didn’t spend much time looking at each building, so I took a few photos and left.
🛕 Walk from Sanhoin to the Nio Gate at the entrance of Garan, and you will see the Tang Gate on the left. The black and gold color scheme is very noble. It used to be only opened for imperial envoys.
⛩️The main temple of Daigoji Temple: Jintang, which houses Medicine Master Tathagata! The current Jindo was moved here from Wakayama in 1600.
🛤️Finally, the cherry blossom walkway is attached, looking from the Nio Gate to the exit of Daigoji Temple
It takes about 2-2.5 hours to walk through the three Daigoji Temple cherry blossom viewing areas. If you want to savor each building carefully, it should take nearly 4 hours. After visiting Daigoji Temple where the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, I suggest you change your taste in the afternoon and don’t go on the cherry blossom viewing tour, which will be very boring. I went to Kiyomizu Temple and Ninnezaka/Nenenzaka in the afternoon. Although there are also cherry blossoms, the itinerary is The focus is on the old street over there.
🚗Transportation information & nearby cherry blossom viewing spots:
One of the major disadvantages of Daigoji Temple is that it is located in the south and the transportation time is relatively long. I always take the Tozai Subway Line to Daigo Station and then walk for about 15 minutes to Daigoji Temple. If starting from Kyoto Station, I first take the Subway Karasuma Line towards the Kokusai Kaikan. , change to the Tozai Line at Karasuma Oike in the direction of Rokujizo, and get off at Daigo Station.
🌏Daigo Station is not far from Daigo Temple, but the indicators are very poor and you may not be able to find the direction. If you see the river, you are going in the opposite direction. If you are not lost, it takes about 50-60 minutes to take the subway from Kyoto Station and then walk to Daigoji Temple.
💡You can also take the local paid shuttle bus to Daigoji Temple before the flower season, but it will take a detour and have to wait. In fact, it is not faster than walking, but you will not get lost. It is recommended to walk there.
🚗If you want to arrange a cherry blossom viewing trip around Daigo, you can consider Uji (take the JR from Rokujizo, the terminus of the Tozai Subway Line) or Yamashina (take the Tozai Subway Line, toward Taishin Tenjin River). If you go to Daigoji Temple, these two The cherry blossoms in the area are also blooming well, so you can consider making it a one-day trip. At the end of the Daigoji Temple's full bloom, these two places are roughly close to the early stages of its full bloom.