Bathed in the glory of endless cherry blossom trees, Sewaritei is a district of the Yodogawa Riverside Park with unbeatable sakura views.
A short walk from Iwashimizu Hachimangu station in the Kyoto city of Yawata, Sewaritei is a scenic sakura spot featuring breathtakingly large cherry blossom trees all along the Yodogawa Riverside Park which stretches all the way down to Osaka.
It is here at Sewaritei where Kyoto’s three major rivers, the Kizu River, Uji River, and Katsura River merge to form the Yodo River which extends to Osaka, essentially representing the endpoint (or starting point, depending on how you look at it) of the Yodogawa Riverside Park.
It costs a mere 100 yen coin to enter Sewaritei, and all proceeds are used for the maintenance of the park.
Stunning Sakura In Full Bloom
The moment you walk through the entrance, you will be blown away by the sheer abundance of cherry blossom petals that surround the walkway and extend as far as the eye can see.
Sakura trees on either side of the footpath have their branches merging up above to form a spectacular display of pretty pink cherry blossom flowers that block out the sky to form a magical tunnel of utter beauty and bliss.
Beautiful Walking Paths
There are three main walking paths at Sewaritei; the first is the middle path (as depicted in the previous photo) which runs through the trees from the top of the hill and is the main default path as soon as you enter the park.
The second and third paths are on either side of the hill’s base. While you won’t be as close to the cherry blossoms on these paths compared to the default path, you will be exposed to ecstatic views that you otherwise wouldn’t see.
Rather than having the cherry blossoms up in your face, you get a zoomed-out view of the entire sakura trees all along the hill, and being at a lower altitude means the cherry blossoms hover over you in a more spectacular fashion.
Insane Photo Opportunities!
The photo opportunities at Sewaritei are truly boundless. Just about any magical cherry blossom photo that you’ve seen on the Internet that took your breath away can be replicated at this park.
From halfway down the hill, I took this magnificent photo of my brother sitting on a park bench under two enormous cherry blossom trees. The best time to take photos like this is around the late afternoon when the crowds start to diminish.
Fantastic Picnic Spots
Of course, the presence of the crowds brings a lot of life to Sewaritei, so enjoy the family fun vibes while they last. In fact, this park is known for being one of the best picnic spots in Kyoto during springtime, so grab your mats and set up camp!
There are plenty of spots to mark your territory along the Yodogawa Riverside Park, no matter how crowded it gets. Enjoy the atmosphere as families, friends, and even solo travelers gather here to eat, rest, and play under the beautiful cherry blossom trees.
Cherry Blossom Festival
During Hanami or “Cherry Blossom Viewing Festival,” you will typically find an abundance of food and drink stalls set up around popular cherry blossom locations.
Here at Sewaritei, you will find a bunch of food stands serving up Japanese street food classics such as takoyaki and wagyu beef skewers as well as western carnival staples such as hotdogs, french fries, and ice cream.
Spectacular Sunsets
As the sun starts to set, don’t miss an opportunity to see one of the most spectacular views ever! I never put the two together, but cherry blossoms and sunsets are a match made in heaven.
It may be a coincidence, but I do feel the sunset at Sewaritei adds a subtle pink filter to the surrounding area, perhaps a result of the light reflecting off the cherry blossom petals.
Either way, if you need another reason to come down to the Sewaritei district of Yodogawa Riverside Park, then surely a magnificent sunset perfectly positioned between two mountain peaks will suffice!
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