Cherry Blossom & Autumn Leaf Spots in Osaka & Kyoto
The cherry blossoms of spring and the autumn leaves of fall. Osaka and Kyoto hold scenery you can only see in season. We've gathered the most iconic spots, with estimated peak times. Enjoy seasonal Kansai from spots near where you stay. (Peak times are typical seasonal estimates. Please check each site's official information for that year's conditions and light-up schedules.)
Cherry Blossom Spots (Spring)
Peak season is typically late March to early April. Many temples, shrines, and parks in Kyoto and Osaka also hold evening cherry-blossom light-ups.
Kyoto
Maruyama Park (Gion Weeping Cherry)
Known as Kyoto's finest evening cherry-blossom spot, where the symbolic Gion weeping cherry spreads its branches wide.
Philosopher's Path
A roughly 2-kilometer walking path along the Lake Biwa Canal, where you can stroll beneath a tunnel of cherry blossoms.
Keage Incline
A popular cherry-blossom tunnel where you can walk along the tracks of a former railway line.
Arashiyama (Togetsukyo Bridge)
Enjoy the view of Togetsukyo Bridge and the wild mountain cherries coloring the slopes of Arashiyama.
Nijo Castle
In the castle's cherry garden, many varieties of cherry trees bloom together.
Daigo-ji
Famed for Toyotomi Hideyoshi's "Daigo Blossom Viewing," this cherry-blossom spot is celebrated as "Daigo of the flowers."
Osaka
Osaka Castle Park (Nishinomaru Garden)
Around 3,000 cherry trees bloom against the backdrop of the castle keep, with Nishinomaru Garden as the noted blossom-viewing spot.
Kema Sakuranomiya Park
A row of cherry trees stretching about 4.5 kilometers along both banks of the Okawa (former Yodo River). A view fitting the "City of Water."
Mint Bureau Cherry Blossom Passage
Centered on late-blooming double-flowered cherries. Each spring, the grounds' walkway is opened to the public for only about one week in this customary event.
Expo '70 Commemorative Park
A spacious park where thousands of cherry trees bloom around the Tower of the Sun.
Autumn Leaf Spots (Fall)
Peak season is typically mid to late November (areas such as southern Higashiyama run a little later). Many temples and shrines also hold autumn-leaf light-ups.
Kyoto
Tofuku-ji (Tsutenkyo Bridge)
The autumn leaves filling the valley below, viewed from Tsutenkyo Bridge, are iconic. A spot close to Kyoto Station.
Eikan-do (Zenrin-ji)
Known as "Eikan-do of the maples," celebrated for the autumn colors that adorn its Tahoto pagoda and pond.
Kiyomizu-dera
From the Higashiyama stage, take in a sweeping view of the autumn leaves coloring Kinun-kei valley. The peak runs a little later.
Kodai-ji
A temple tied to Nene. A place where the garden's autumn leaves, set against a borrowed scenery of Higashiyama, are beautiful.
Nanzen-ji
The great Sanmon gate and the interplay of the brick aqueduct with the autumn leaves are the highlights.
Arashiyama · Jojakko-ji
Enjoy the autumn colors across all of Arashiyama alongside the coloring of Jojakko-ji, set on the mid-slope of Mount Ogura.
Osaka
Minoo Park (Minoo Great Falls)
Maples coloring the waterfall and gorge. One of Osaka's signature autumn-leaf spots.
Osaka Castle Park
Enjoy the yellow of the ginkgo avenue and the autumn leaves of the garden.
Expo '70 Commemorative Park
The Japanese garden and the area around Momiji River take on their colors in autumn.
To choose your trip around seasonal festivals, see the Festival Almanac as well.