Hirano Shrine is a must-visit cherry blossom viewing spot if you want to enjoy cherry blossoms in Kyoto.

It has been loved by many Japanese people as a famous cherry blossom viewing spot since the Edo period, and is characterized by the fact that you can enjoy cherry blossom viewing over a long period of time, with approximately 400 cherry trees of 60 different varieties blooming in sequence from mid-March to April.

The cherry blossoms are also particularly beautiful at night, and the spot is famous for being known as "Hirano's Night Cherry Blossoms," making it a must-see tourist spot in Kyoto in the spring.

Characteristics of the cherry blossoms at Hirano Shrine

Hirano Shrine is a historic shrine that was enshrined (moved its sacred object or Buddha statue to another location) when the political center of Japan was moved to Heian-kyo (present-day central Kyoto) in 794.

It has a high rank as a shrine and is said to grant good fortune in general and overall luck, as well as the fulfillment of wishes, so it is crowded with many worshippers.

Highlight 1: The "vitalizing blessings" found in 60 varieties of cherry blossoms

Hirano Shrine has 60 varieties of cherry trees planted, including several varieties that are said to have originated at the shrine, such as the Sakigake Sakura.

The reason why Hirano Shrine has so many varieties of cherry blossoms is because since the Heian period (from the end of the 8th century to around the end of the 12th century), cherry blossoms have been revered as a symbol of enhancing vitality.

Since Hirano Shrine was relocated, various cherry blossom trees have been donated by the clan, and it is said that the number of cherry blossom varieties has increased to this extent.

Highlight 2: Cherry blossoms that can be enjoyed for a long period of time

While the previously introduced "Sakigake Sakura" is in full bloom from mid to late March, the Hirano Tsukubane variety, which has also been planted in the grounds of Hirano Shrine since ancient times, is in full bloom from late April to early May.

One advantage of this period is that various varieties of cherry blossoms bloom one after the other from mid-March to early May, making it easy to plan your cherry blossom viewing trips.

Furthermore, since night cherry blossom viewing was opened to the general public during the Edo period (17th century to early 19th century), Hirano Shrine is also famous for its beautiful night cherry blossoms, which are loved by locals and tourists alike as "Hirano's Night Cherry Blossoms."

The cherry blossoms are usually lit up at night between mid-March and mid-April, so be sure to visit Hirano Shrine between sunset and around 9 p.m.

Highlight 3: The spectacular historical procession "Oka Matsuri"

Every year on April 10th, a period procession called the "Cherry Blossom Festival" can be seen at Hirano Shrine.

The festival is said to have originated when Emperor Kazan, the 65th Emperor of Japan, held a special imperial festival at Hirano Shrine to pray for an uninterrupted lineage. After a religious ceremony is held at the main shrine, a period procession of about 200 people dressed as mounted warriors and Weaving Princesses parades through the area around Hirano Shrine.

This is a chance to experience Japanese culture, so if you're staying in Kyoto on April 10th, we recommend you visit Hirano Shrine.

Best time to see the cherry blossoms at Hirano Shrine

The cherry blossoms at Hirano Shrine are in full bloom from mid-March to early May.

In 2024, the Sakigake Sakura will be in full bloom around March 30th, and from around April 7th to 10th, more and more cherry trees will be in full bloom.

Location of Hirano Shrine

1 Hiranomiya Honmachi, Kita-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture

Access to Hirano Shrine

To get to Hirano Shrine, take a highway bus from Kansai International Airport to Kyoto Station.
The express bus journey takes about 90 minutes.
You can get to the vicinity of Hirano Shrine by taking city bus number [205][50] from Kyoto Station.

Take a city bus for about 30 minutes, get off at "Kinugasa School Mae" and then walk for about 3 minutes to reach Hirano Shrine.

Nearby tourist attractions

Tourist Spot 1: Kinkakuji Temple

About a 10-minute walk from Hirano Shrine is Kinkaku-ji Temple, one of Kyoto's most famous tourist spots.

Kinkakuji Temple's shining golden exterior walls covered in gold leaf are a sensational sight, and it is a place that attracts many tourists from both Japan and abroad.

Its official name is Rokuon-ji Temple, and it is said that during the Muromachi period (late 14th century to late 15th century), Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu used a lot of gold leaf here to show his authority and power.

Additionally, gold leaf has the advantage of being resistant to deterioration such as rust, so it is thought that it may have been used to represent immutability, eternity, and immortality.

Location of Kinkakuji Temple

1 Kinkakuji-cho, Kita-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture

Tourist Spot ② Kamigamo Shrine

In contrast to the dazzlingly shining Kinkaku-ji Temple, the famous Kamigamo Shrine is a brilliantly vermilion painted structure. Kamigamo Shrine is the oldest shrine in Kyoto, and its vast grounds are all registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Its official name is Kamo Wakeikazuchi Shrine, and it enshrines Kamo Wakeikazuchi-no-Okami, the god who controls the waters of the Kamo River, the lifeblood of Kyoto.

Kamo Wakeikazuchi-no-Okami is one of the gods of thunder, and is said to have such strong power that he can ward off lightning, so he is loved as a god of protection from misfortune and disasters, and of victory. It is located about a 10-minute taxi ride away from Hirano Shrine.

Location of Kamigamo Shrine

339 Kamigamomotoyama, Kita-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture

Tourist spot 3: Daitokuji Temple Ryugen-in

Ryugen-in Temple, located about a 20-minute walk from Hirano Shrine, is also a must-see tourist spot when exploring Kyoto.
Ryugen-in Temple was founded around 1502 and is famous for the dry landscape garden within its grounds.

Why not ponder on the sensibility and elegance that Japanese people consider to be virtues by admiring dry landscape gardens, a style of Japanese garden that expresses the flow of water and landscape scenery using stones, sand, plants, and topography?

In addition to the dry landscape gardens, the smallest rock garden in Japan, the Eastern Tsubo Garden, is also a famous tourist spot with a refined appearance.

Location of Daitokuji Ryugen-in Temple

82-1 Daitokujicho, Murasakino, Kita Ward, Kyoto City

Tourist spot 4: Shozan Garden

Shozan Garden, located about a 30-minute walk from Hirano Shrine, is a famous Japanese garden that spreads over a vast area of 122,000 square meters.

The Kamiya River flows through the grounds, and the area is dotted with buildings that exude Japanese history, including a guest house, teahouse, and mansion.

Shozan Garden is famous for its autumn foliage, but the plum blossoms, which are in full bloom in March, are also very beautiful. You can enjoy the sight of about 100 plum trees, including white and red plums, blooming beautifully in this traditional Japanese garden.

Location of Shozan Garden

47 Kinugasa Kagamiishicho, Kita-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture

summary

Hirano Shrine, one of Kyoto's most famous spring sightseeing spots, is a place where you can enjoy various varieties of cherry blossoms from mid-March to early May.

It is very difficult to predict when cherry blossoms will bloom, but at Hirano Shrine you have a good chance of seeing them at their best.

If you visit Kyoto in the spring, be sure to take a stroll through the grounds of Hirano Shrine.