Top 3 Late-Blooming Cherry Blossom in Kyoto, Japanese garden : If You Missed the Peak Time

Kyoto is one of the most popular destinations in Japan for cherry blossom viewing. A lot of visitors and locals enjoy the blooms in many beautiful spots. Especially, the most popular cherry blossoms “Someiyoshino”, growing along rivers and roadside, are typically blooming in late March to Early April. Those trees produce flowers at the same time, bringing billowy pink and white blooms.

Even in such a magical scenery,  these days, Japan’s cherry blossom are blooming much earlier than normal, due to climate change. It’s getting harder to plan in advance to accurately predict when the cherry trees will be peak bloom.

If you miss out the peak bloom of cherry trees,  you still have a chance to view. There are Late-blooming cherry blossoms bloom later than the typical cherry blossom ”Someiyoshino” in Kyoto. These trees usually start to bloom in early April to late April. Here are best 3 late-blooming cherry blossom viewing spots in Kyoto.

Ninnaji temple

Ninnaji-temple is the head temple of the Omuro school of the Shingon sect of Buddhism. It was first built in 888, located in eastern, Kyoto city and designated UNESCO World Heritage site. It has 5-story pagoda that was originally built in the early 17th century and Niomon gate, guarded by two wooden warriors. 

Ninnaji Temple is also known for beautiful garden : Omuro palace garden in southwest of the temple and cherry blossom area in the middle.

In spring season (early April to mid-April) cherry blossom “Omuro Zakura” bloom after most popular “Someiyoshino” are out of bloom. 

The ”Omuro Zakura” that is hybrid of “Ariake”, are averagely 6.5feet (2m) high that produce pinkish-white 10 to 19 petals. In the middle cherry blossom area, there is also a 5-story pagoda. The view of cherry blossoms and the 5-story pagoda(picture) is definitely worth a visit.

Information

Open hours

Admission

Regular holiday
None

Official site
https://ninnaji.jp/en/

Address
33 Omuroouchi, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto, 616-8092

It’s 8-minute walk away from nearest station: Randen line “Omuro-Ninnaji” station to Ninnaji temple

Ryoanmji temple

Ryoanji temple is a Zen temple located in the northwest of Kyoto city, close to Ninnaji temple and Kinkakuji temple(Golden pavilion). Originally, it was an aristocrat’s villa during the Heian period(794 – 1185), It was converted into a Zen temple 1450. It is known as the Japanese rock garden, composed of white fine gravel, 15 arranged rocks and green moss.

Ryoanji temple has a traditional Japanese garden technique “borrowed scenery” that incorporates surrounding scenery into the design of a garden.

There are late blooming weeping cherry trees ”Shidarezakura” and popular cherry tree “Someiyohino” out of the Ryoanji garden to make a small garden look bigger. The weeping cherry blossoms produce strawberry pink 5-petals in early April, one week after “Someiyoshimno”. 

Information

Open hours

・March 1st to November 30th 
8:00 ~ 17:00

・December 1st to Last day of February  
8:30 ~ 16:30

Admission

Until March 30, 2023

After April 1st, 2023

Regular holiday
None

Official site(English)
http://www.ryoanji.jp/smph/eng/

Address
13 Ryoanji Goryonoshitacho, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto, 616-8001

It’s 8 minute walk away from nearest station: Randen Line “Ryoanji” station to Ryoanji temple

Uhoin

After the peak of cherry blossom season, even Kyoto is very crowded with visitors to see beautiful Japanese gardens with spring flowers. If you want to avoid crowds and enjoy sights, Uhoin temple is one lesser-known spot.

Uhoin temple is a buddhist temple of Shingon sect, located in northern kyoto, first built in 821.

It has the tiny Japanese garden, divided by path way to a main hall and an office.
In spite of the tiny space, there are many types of late-blooming cherry blossoms: “Gyoiko” (picture) produce creamy white and green flowers which are accentuated by red color in the center, “Yaeshidare Zakura” is weeping cherry blossom has gorgeous ruby pink more 20-petals flowers from sagging branches, ”Kannon Zakura” is same variety as “Omuro-zakura” in Ninnaji temple.

Information

Open hours
9:00 ~ 17:00

Admission
Free

Regular holiday
None

Official site(Only Japanese)
https://www.uhoin.com/inquiry

Address
〒602-8481 Kyoto, Kamigyo Ward, Shōtenchō, 9-3

It’s 18 minute walk away from nearest station: Kyoto subway “Imadegawa” station to Uhoin temple