Cherry Blossom Spots in Kyoto No.6

Located in the Kita-ku area of Kyoto, Kamigamo Shrine is the oldest shrine in Kyoto. Within its grounds, you can find several ancient cherry trees, such as the “Saiozakura” (Saio Cherry Tree), the “Goshozakura” (Imperial Palace Cherry Tree) which is over 150 years old, “Furyu Sakura” (Elegant Cherry Tree), and “Miare Sakura”. Since each tree blooms at different times, visitors can enjoy a variety of cherry blossoms from the end of February through mid-April, starting with the early-blooming “Kanhi Sakura” (a type of cherry blossom).

Location	339 Kamigamo Honmachi, Kita-ku, Kyoto, 603-8047, Japan
Access	From Kyoto Station, take the #4 city bus to “Kamigamo Shrine-mae” (about 55 minutes).
Opening Hours	Grounds: 5:30 AM to 5:00 PM (open year-round) Main Hall and Sacred Buildings: 8:30 AM to 4:45 PM (open year-round)
Fee	Free entry to the grounds. Special entry to the main hall is 500 yen.
Website	Kamigamo Shrine Official Website

After entering the first torii gate, two large weeping cherry trees can be seen on the right. The front tree is the “Saiozakura,” a red weeping cherry, while the northern tree is the white-flowering “Goshozakura,” a gift from Emperor Kōmei.

There is a café on the shrine grounds where you can enjoy coffee, café au lait, and roasted rice cakes. coffee shop website

On the evening of April 5th, 2025, I visited and found the “Goshozakura” and “Shinnozakura” (Prince’s Cherry Tree) in full bloom. The trunks were strong, and the white blossoms swayed gracefully in the wind. The “Shinnozakura,” located next to the “Goshozakura,” seemed to invite me to admire its delicate flowers. The vast grounds were peaceful, and the air was fresh.