Kansai region has many historic towns and cherry blossom viewing spots with a Japanese atmosphere. For example, Kyoto and Nara, which have the serenity of ancient cities, and Osaka, where you can enjoy the combination of castles, buildings from the Meiji period, and cherry blossoms. In addition, there are various spectacular cherry blossom viewing spots, such as Lake Biwa in Shiga, which boasts the largest lake in Japan, as well as scenic spots rich in nature. In this article, we will introduce FUN! JAPAN's carefully selected cherry blossom viewing spots in the Kansai region. Be sure to put some of these in your itinerary if you visit Kansai during cherry blossom season!
1. Osaka Prefecture: Osaka Castle Park
The vast “Osaka Castle Park” (大阪城公園 / Osaka-jo Koen) with the Osaka Castle tower in the center is dotted with cherry trees. The most famous spot is the Nishinomaru Garden, where about 300 cherry trees are in full bloom. Every spring, the cherry blossoms are illuminated at night (cancelled in 2022), and the combination of Osaka Castle towering in the night sky and the cherry blossoms is truly magnificent! In addition, there are plenty of stalls in the park during the season. Stroll around to grab some street food if you get hungry. You can also have a barbecue in the BBQ area too!
Spot Information
- Best time for cherry blossoms: Late March to early April
- Access: About 12 minutes on foot from Temmabashi Station (Nishinomaru Garden)
- Address: Map
2. Osaka Prefecture: Japan Mint "Cherry Blossom Viewing" (Sakura-no-toorinuke)
"Japan Mint Cherry Blossom Viewing" (造幣局桜の通り抜け / Zohei Kyoku no Sakura-no-toorinuke) is held for one week only in mid-April every year. This is an event where you can view the cherry blossoms while walking along the old Yodogawa River on the premises of the Japan Mint (pre-registration required for 2022). There are about 340 cherry trees of about 140 varieties, including Yae-zakura, planted along the path plus many other rare breeds of cherry blossoms. Every year, the Japan Mint selects a variety of cherry blossoms as the "flower of the year" in order to make the cherry blossoms of the event more familiar. It is a popular spot where you can appreciate various cherry blossoms at once.
Spot Information
- Best time for cherry blossoms: Mid-April
- Access: 10 minutes walk from Keihan Temmabashi Station
- Address: Map
3. Osaka Prefecture: Kema Sakuranomiya Park
"Kema Sakuranomiya Park" (毛馬桜之宮公園 / Kema Sakuranomiya Koen) is located on the riverbank of about 4.2km on both sides of the Okawa River. About 4,800 cherry blossom trees, including Somei-yoshino and wild cherry blossoms (Yama-zakura) along the tree-lined road dye the surroundings in cherry blossom color. You can enjoy the cherry blossoms in your own style, such as laying out a picnic sheet in the park or viewing the cherry blossoms in full bloom from a boat that runs along the Okawa River. There are also many food stalls in this area for visitors to enjoy food stalls of various genres.
Spot Information
- Best time for cherry blossoms: Late March to early April
- Access: About 3 minutes on foot from JR Sakuranomiya Station or Keihan Temmabashi Station
- Address: Map
4. Kyoto Prefecture: Arashiyama
"Togetsu-kyo Bridge" is a tourist attraction that represents Arashiyama. Around 1,500 cherry blossom trees dye the area in pale pink. One of the most famous sights is Tenryu-ji Temple, which is registered as a World Heritage Site as a "Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto" where about 200 cherry blossoms decorate the precincts. The "Randen Night Train" (嵐電の夜桜電車 / Randen no Yozakura Densha) is recommended for viewing cherry blossoms at night. The tram runs slowly through the illuminated 200m-long tunnel of cherry blossoms, giving you the feeling of being in a dream world.
Spot Information
- Best time for cherry blossoms: Mid-March to late April
- Access: Within walking distance from Keifuku Electric Railway Arashiyama Station, Hankyu Arashiyama Station, or JR Saga-Arashiyama Station
- Address: Map (Arashiyama Togetsu-kyo Bridge)
5. Kyoto Prefecture: Philosopher's Path
"Philosopher's Path" (哲学の道 / Tetsugaku no Michi) is a famous cherry blossom spot that has been selected as one of the "Japan's 100 Best Roads". Somei-yoshino cherry blossoms bloom profusely along the 2-km long path, creating a romantic tunnel. In front of you is a landscape too beautiful and atmospheric that you won't believe it's of this world!
Also, you can't miss the time when the flowers fall. Floating flower petals, "flower rafts" (花筏 / hana-ikada), that fill the waterway along the road, present a superb scenery. It is a famous place where you have a peaceful walk.
Spot Information
- Best time for cherry blossoms: Late March to early April
- Access: About 37 minutes by city bus from the "Kyoto Ekimae" bus stop to the "Ginkakuji-mae" bus stop, then about a 2-minute walk
- Address: Map
6. Kyoto Prefecture: Kameoka City Nanatani-gawa River (Yawaragi Road)
“Yawaragi Road” (和らぎの道 / Yawaragi no Michi) along the Nanatani-gawa River in Kameoka City is one of the best cherry blossom viewing spots in the Tamba region. In the spring, about 1,500 cherry blossoms stretch for 1km and add fascinating colors to the natural scenery. During the cherry blossom blooming period, a cherry blossom festival is held. The light up at night makes it extra magical.
Spot Information
- Best time for cherry blossoms: Late March to early April
- Access: About 9 minutes from "JR Kameoka Station North Exit" bus stop to "Nanatani-gawa", immediately after getting off
- Address: Map
7. Nara Prefecture: Nara Park
"Nara Park" (奈良公園 / Nara Koen), which is famous for the Great Buddha of Todai-ji temple, is a renowned cherry blossom spot in Nara Prefecture and has been selected as one of Japan's Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots. The combination between the freely roaming deer and the cherry blossoms makes you feel the beauty of Japan. Moreover, various cherry blossoms are planted in the park, from early-blooming cherry blossoms to late-blooming species, and there are rare varieties such as Narano-yaezakura and Narano-kokonoezakura. Nara Park is a famous spot where you can enjoy many varieties of cherry blossoms for a long time.
Spot Information
- Best time for cherry blossoms: Late March to late April
- Access: About 5 minutes on foot from Kintetsu Nara Station. Or about 20 minutes on foot from JR Nara Station
- Address: Map
8. Nara Prefecture: Takada Senbonzakura Cherry Blossoms
Over a thousand cherry blossom trees blooming along the banks of the Takada River were planted in 1948. When the 1,200 trees reach full bloom, a tunnel of pale pink cherry blossoms such as Somei-yoshino cherry, Yamazakura wild cherry, and Higanzakura stretches 2.5km north and south on both banks. At night, the cherry blossoms are lit up with paper lanterns, creating a magical atmosphere. It is a spot where you can appreciate the cherry blossoms while enjoying the food stalls lined up in Onaka Park.
Spot Information
- Best time for cherry blossoms: Late March to early April
- Access: About 10 minutes on foot from Kintetsu Takadashi Station
- Address: Map（大中公園）
9. Shiga Prefecture: Kaizu Osaki
About 800 Somei-yoshino cherry blossoms bloom for 4km along the shore of Lake Biwa. The reef that protrudes into the lake has been selected as one of the eight scenic views of Lake Biwa as "Gyomu-Kaizu Osaki Rock Reef" (暁霧・海津大崎の岩礁) due to the contrast between the greenness of the lake and the Chikubushima Island floating in the northern part of Lake Biwa. In spring, the scenery is even more gorgeously decorated with cherry blossoms. If you ride the cherry blossom viewing boat (reservation required), you can also enjoy cherry blossom viewing in the middle from Lake Biwa!
Spot Information
- Best time for cherry blossoms: Early April to mid-April
- Access: About 5 minutes by bus from JR Makino Station to "Kaizu Osaki-guchi" bus stop, about 5 minutes on foot after getting off
- Address: Map
10. Hyogo Prefecture: Shukugawa Park
"Shukugawa Park" (夙川公園 / Shukugawa Koen), one of Japan's Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots, is a park with a total length of 4km where the entire river has been maintained as a park. About 1,660 cherry blossom trees line the banks of the river for about 2.8 km. Many varieties of cherry blossoms are in full bloom during the season, including Somei-yoshino, Yama-zakura, Oshima-zakura, and Kanzan. At night, the area around "Kurakuen-guchi" Station is lit up, creating a magical atmosphere to enjoy.
Spot Information
- Best time for cherry blossoms: Late March to early April
- Access: About 5 minutes on by walk from JR Sakura-shukugawa station
- Address: Map
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