Tag Archives: #kyoto

JP 2023 April Sakura Kyoto

Returned to Kyoto and stayed for 5 days. While the Somei Yoshino sakura has mostly finished, some late blooming varieties were in peak blossom. After dropping our luggage in the hotel, we headed westbound to the first site.

Umenomiya Taisha (梅宮大社)

It was a warm afternoon. Apart from sakura other flowers such as azaleas, tsubaki (camelia), suzuran were in bloom.

 

On the next morning we visited Hirano Jinja again, which is also famous for late bloomers.  Some locals were dressed up in ancient costumes preparing for rituals.

Hirano Jinja (平野神社)

 

Afterwards, went to traditional restaurant opposite to Ninna-ji for lunch course again.

 

 

==========>  Uji  =========>

 

JP 2017 Sakura Kyoto (Part 3)

Okazaki canal

After leaving Heian Jingu we had a short coffee break before walking towards Okazaki canal.  The Sun was slowly setting and the glow on the Torii gate and sakura trees was amazing.

 

Hirano Jinja (平野神社)

Before leaving Kyoto on the next day we visited Hirano Jinja, which has 400 sakura trees in 60 varieties re its website. Despite on a rainy day, the blooming sakuras looked gorgeous and there were some varieties that were totally new to us, e.g. “Kochou” (butterfly), “Nezame” (awaken from sleep) etc., and some would not bloom until late April.

 

==> Takato Castle ruins ==>

 

JP 2017 Sakura Kyoto (Part 2)

Ninna-ji  (仁和寺)

The original intention was to visit the Omuro sakura in World Heritage Ninna-ji for late blooming sakura. However, as bloom dates shifted later this year, only a few of those sakura trees have started blooming. OTOH, we were surprised with a variety of Kanzan-zakura whose petals are larger, in purple-red and quite different from the other Kanzan-zakuras elsewhere. At first glance, they looked akin to Tsutsuji (Azaleas) than sakura, though the tag stated otherwise.

 

 

Heian Jingu  (平安神宮)

3rd visit for sakura with predominantly the pink Yaebeni-Shidare-zakura which were close to full bloom. While in our last visit in 2015 we caught sight of a Japanese wedding couple, this time a white crane was in the pond for over 10 minutes posing gracefully for its lucky audience.

 

 

==> Part 3 ==>

 

JP 2017 Sakura Kyoto (Part 1)

Visited Honshu in 9 days for sakura around mid-April targeting some of the late blooming sakura varieties in Kyoto.
After Kyoto, we visited Takato castle-ruins, 2000-year old Jindai Sakura, Fujigoko, Fujinomiya areas before returning to Tokyo.

However, it turned out that the actual peak blossom dates in 2017 were roughly back to yearly average or few days later than normal in some locations.

Maruyama Park (円山公園)

Headed straight to the park right after hotel checkin. Sakura was in peak blossom while many locals and foreigners were wandering around taking shots, or having snacks/drinks in the park enjoying “Hanami”. It’s always nice watching sakura while soaking in this ambience, and to visit our old friend – the tall Shidare-zakura tree in the centre of the park.

 

Nijo-jo (二条城)

Visited World Heritage Nijo-jo on next morning, including the Ninomaru Palace and beautiful landscape gardens with mainly the pink Yaesu and Yaebeni-Shidare-zakuras in peak blossoms.

 

 

==> Part 2 ==>

 

JP 2016 Dec Chugoku (Part 3)

Himeji Castle (姫路城)

Beautiful ‘White’ castle after major renovations. There were many local and foreign visitors, though it was close to end of year.

Official website

 

Kokoen (好古園)

Kokoen is just 500m away from the Himeji castle entrance.  With less visitors, it was serene with well-maintained gardens, ponds, small bridges. Camelia was in full bloom. 

official website

 

==> Part 4 ==>

 

 

JP Koyo 2016 Kyoto (Part 3)

Kinkaku-ji (金閣寺)

Here Koyo has clearly passed peak as in Tenryu-ji. However, it was a calm day and thus the reflections of the golden pavilion was almost perfect.

 

Kitano Tenmangu (北野天滿宮)

visited in past Feb for Ume blossom and now returned for peak Koyo, which was so beautiful along the paths.

Daikaku-ji (大覺寺)

once a detached palace of the Saga Emperor, this temple has been growing Sagagiku (Saga Chrysanthemum) in specific colours, heights by season.

 

==> Kyoto (Part 4) ==>

 

 

JP Koyo 2016 Kyoto (Part 2)

Eikando (永觀堂)

One of the most spectacular Koyo sites in our visit this time.

 

1 day in Arashiyama

Though we had planned to visit Nara on 23rd Nov to avoid potential crowds on public holiday, we visited Arashiyama in order to catch up on our “backlogs” 🙂

Hozukyo (保津峽)

Despite my effort to reserve the Torroko train tickets about 1 month in advance, we were advised by hotel concierge that all train tickets in that week were snatched up pretty soon the booking window opened up.

Thus, we took a normal JR train to arrive at the gorge. Koyo was past peak and a boat happened to flow downstream.  We then took the next train back to Sagano.

Tenryu-ji (天龍寺)

Koyo around the pond clearly has passed peak. Colours were less vivid than in our first visit 12 years ago. However, there were some pockets of bright colours before the exit to the bamboo forest, in the Arashiyama Park and also along the passage to the main entrance.

 

Hogon-in (宝厳院)

Hogon-in is a “Tachiu” temple (塔頭寺院) of Tenryu-ji. It has a beautiful garden – “Lion-roar” (獅子吼の庭).  Koyo was at peak, unlike neighboring Tenryu-ji. Good that we did not miss it, though it was very crowded.

Official website of Hogon-in

==> Kyoto (Part 3) ==>

 

JP Koyo 2016 Kyoto (Part 1)

3rd visit for Koyo in Kyoto.  Stayed for 4 nights in 3rd week of November.  Though some popular Koyo spots were already past peak such as Tenryu-ji and Kinkaku-ji, we were so lucky as days were sunny and calm.

Kiyomizu-dera (清水寺)

Stunning Koyo, more beautiful than our last Koyo visit in 2004 🙂

 

Tofuku-ji (東福寺)

2nd visit for Koyo as well.  Went there around 9am and there were huge crowds already.  Slightly after peak than our last visit with many fallen leaves. Due to light rain on previous night, the fallen leaves were showing different textures and tone in the morning sun. Unlike our last visit in 2004, photography was forbidden on the Tsuten bridge, presumably to speed up the flow of crowds.

Shisendo (詩仙堂)

Shisendo literally means hall of saints of poets. Small beautiful hall with a lovely garden.  Koyo was beyond peak colours. Inside the hall there are portraits and essay excerpts/poems by 36 scholars/writers from ancient China. Apart from the renowned scholars and writers in Tang and Sung dynasties, some of the writers in earlier Han and Jin dynasties were unheard of.  Poems were written in an ancient Chinese calligraphy used in the Han dynasty.

 

==> Kyoto (Part 2) ==>

 

 

JP 2004 Nov Kyoto

2nd Koyo visit in Kyoto. The 1st visit was in mid-Nov 1999. Koyo was probably 50% peak and it rained quite heavily. This time we visited in late Nov.

Arashiyama (嵐山)

visited World Heritage Kinkaku-ji (金閣寺) and Tenryu-ji (天龍寺)  in Arashiyama. Colours were brilliant !!

 

Higashiyama (東山)

also peak colours in Tofuku-ji, Kiyomizu-dera and Higashi-Hongan-ji.

Tofuku-ji (東福寺)

 

Kiyomizu-dera (清水寺)

 

 

Higashi-Hongan-ji (東本願寺)

 

 

==>  Arima onsen ==>