Kyoto: Just Opened

It has been two days since the opening of the first blossoms was announced in Kyoto on March 29, and today, I revisited Kyoto to check on the progress of the cherry blossoms. Despite the relatively few open blossoms, there has been much progress since my last visit four days ago, thanks to the higher than average temperatures over the last five days. Warm weather is forecast for the next few days, and this should encourage the closed buds to open. I predict that the best viewing period will start from the middle of the coming week and continue for another week or so.

The cherry blossom frontline has moved beyond Tokyo, and cities in the Greater Tokyo Area like Mito, Maebashi and Kumagaya reported the opening of their first blossoms today.

I started my day walking along the Philosopher's Path, an approximately two kilometer long path lined with many cherry trees. I started from Ginkakuji or the Silver Pavilion and made my way down in the direction of Eikando Temple. I observed that under five percent of the blossoms were open today, but a lot of cherry blossoms only need a day or two to open. Consequently, I expect the best viewing period to start from the middle of the coming week and continue for another week or so.

Over at the Okazaki Canal near the Kyoto Zoo and Heian Shrine, the mainstream Somei Yoshino cherry trees were virutally bare, and the Oshima cherry tree variety were under the halfway mark to full bloom. The Somei Yoshino cherry trees look like they still need a few more days to open, but I expect the best viewing period to start from the middle of the coming week and continue for another week or so.

Until April 14, canal boat cruises are available from 9:30 to 16:30.

Over at the Keage Incline, a popular cherry blossom spots in Kyoto, I observed that the cherry trees were more advanced compared to the ones at the Okazaki Canal. I expect the best viewing period here to start from the middle of the coming week and continue for another week or so.

The last spot I visited in Kyoto was Daigoji Temple. Here, the main stars were the weeping cherry trees, and they were at full bloom today. I expect the best viewing period to continue through the rest of the coming week.

A temporary shuttle bus is operated from 9:00 to 16:00 in ten minute intervals between Daigoji Temple and Daigo Station on the Tozai Subway Line when the cherry blossoms are in bloom. The one way journey costs 210 yen, while a one day pass costs 320 yen.