The 2026 cherry blossom season is now upon us! Here are the top 5 spots for sakura viewing in Kyoto, Japan.
1. Fushimi Canal
Perhaps the most underrated sakura spot in all of Kyoto is the Fushimi Canal. A little known spot that starts from Chushojima station and stretches all along the Fushimi ward, one of the most scenic districts in Kyoto. Known for its iconic canal boat cruises under the cherry blossom trees, the area is particularly beautiful in spring. With plenty of picnic spots to choose from, you can also enjoy the annual hanami festival here as shops open up all along the river leading to Fushimi Port Park.
2. Maruyama Park
As far as city parks go, it doesn’t get better than Maruyama Park when it comes to cherry blossom picnics. The trees here are well-kept and managed all year round to optimize the sakura season with perfect tree positioning and plenty of spacious picnic spots. Maruyama Park features beautiful ponds, lanterns, and rocky river streams, which make it something of a paradise around springtime when the weather is wonderfully ideal.
3. Yodogawa Riverside Park
The Yodogawa Riverside Park is a massive grass area around the Yodo River which connects Osaka to Kyoto. Within the park is an area known as Sewaritei where the biggest cherry blossom trees you’ll ever see stand tall and proud! Unlike the city parks and rivers in Kyoto, Yodogawa Riverside Park is located in a very natural setting close to the mountains. As such, the cherry blossoms you see here are beautifully integrated into a natural setting of forests, hills, and large rivers.
4. Kamo River
The Kamo River is Kyoto’s longest river that runs from the mountains through the main cities and continues south toward Osaka prefecture. Spring is a time when not only cherry blossoms, but also other seasonal flowers pop up all alongside the river. While it can be a popular area for locals and tourists alike, there are plenty of quiet spots along the Kamo River where you can sit in solitude and enjoy the sound of running river water and the gaze of transcedental sakura petals floating in the wind.
5. Momoyama Castle
Not the most flattering pic from Momoyama Castle, but I thought I’d capture a unique angle here. While the castle itself is absolutely magnificent and breathtaking, I wanted to draw attention to the little bonsai gardens and mini bridges around the grounds too. During sakura season, the surrounding gardens are abundant in prosperous cherry blossom trees, their thick and full branches radiating a stunning white-pink glow.
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