Kyoto Cherry-blossom Viewing 2024 | Exploring the Beauty #6
Let’s take a tour of three early-blooming cherry blossom spots in Kyoto. This is Daigo Station on the subway. It is about a 13 minute walk from here to Daigo-ji Temple. Today is a clear day and a perfect day for cherry blossom viewing. I reserved an early morning private viewing for a limited number of people starting at 8am. The temple grounds are divided into three areas: “Sanpoin-in”, “Garan”, and “Reihokan”. When we arrive at the Nioh-mon gate, the entrance of “Garan” area, we are immediately greeted by a beautiful weeping cherry tree. This temple is one of Kyoto’s most famous cherry blossoms viewing spots, and is famous for being the site of “Daigo Cherry Blossom Viewing” by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, old famous Daimyo. There are also many weeping cherry blossoms, which bloom earlier than very popular “Someiyoshino”, so you can see cherry blossoms in full bloom earlier than regular cherry blossoms. This year (2024), the weather was getting colder from mid-March, and the cherry blossoms bloomed later than usual. The main hall, “Kondo” has been designated as a national treasure. The building is over 1000 years old. There is also a beautiful weeping cherry tree next to the main hall. The five-storied pagoda was built to pray for the soul of Emperor Daigo and was completed in 951. It is the oldest wooden building in Kyoto Prefecture, and is also a national treasure. Let’s walk further to “Kannondo”. Beautiful ponds and streams flow around Kannondo, making it a very scenic place. In front of “Benten-do”, there is Benten Pond. There are benches around the pond, where you can take a break while listening to the sound of the murmuring stream. Next, we will visit the “Sanpou-in” area. “Karamon” -this gate- is a national treasure. Once inside, the highlight is the Weeping Cherry Blossoms named “Tiko”. It is said to be a descendant of the cherry blossoms that old Daimyo Toyotomi admired during his famous “Daigo Cherry Blossom Viewing.” In order to further pass on the cherry blossoms to future generations, “clone cherry blossoms” were created using cloning technology. By this time, the private reserved time had ended and the place was crowded with many people. This garden was designed by Daimyo Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1598 for the “Daigo Cherry Blossom Viewing”. Here you can find beautiful fusuma paintings drawn by artist Taisuke Hamada in the Heisei era. The Weeping Cherry Tree named “Big Daigo”, which is 180 years old, was spectacular. We also enjoyed the weeping cherry blossoms in full bloom. I visit the restaurant floor on the 3rd floor of the west station building. Let’s have lunch at “Shiroku Jichu”, which serves tempura and Japanese cuisine. This is a casual Japanese restaurant that is easy to enter. I rorderd “Spring Gozen”, lunch special. We can enjoy a variety of Japanese foods little by little. There are three types of tempura. Canola flowers are widely eaten in Japan as a spring ingredient. Tempura can be eaten with salt or dipping in soup. Thank you for the meal. It was nice to be able to have a relaxing meal. Let’s take the Tozai Subway Line from Daigo Station to Karasuma-Oike Station. At Karasuma-Oike Station, transfer to the Karasuma Line. At Karasuma-Oike Station, transfer to the Karasuma Line. When you exit, the Kyoto Imperial Palace is right in front of you. The Kyoto Imperial Palace was the residence of the emperor until the Meiji Restoration (1869), from 794. At the “Konoe residence” on the northernmost side, we can enjoy early-blooming weeping cherry blossoms. This is the remains of the mansion of the Konoe family, the head of Kyoto’s highest class of aristocrats. Weeping Cherry Blossoms at the Konoe Residence is famous as a cherry blossom viewing spot in Kyoto. Take a leisurely stroll through Kyoto Gyoen National Garden. Let’s take a look at the weeping cherry blossoms named “Demizu”, famous cherry blossoms. In addition to weeping cherry blossoms, peach blossoms are also beautiful this time of year. Let’s take a tour inside the Imperial Palace, which was the residence of successive emperors until 1869. “Shishinden” is the main hall in the inner palace. It is said to be the place where the Emperor’s ceremonies were held. You will be overwhelmed by the huge scale. From July 2016, visitors can now visit here year-round without reservations. "Tsuruya Yoshinobu" is a long-established Japanese sweets shop in Kyoto, founded in 1803. The main store placed in Imadegawa-Horikawa has a tee room where you can also eat in. Let’s enjoy Japanese sweets and matcha here. We can watch a craftsman demonstrate how to make fresh Japanese sweets at the counter. I ordered Japanese sweet called “Hana Kurenai” (pink flower) with the image of cherry blossoms and willows. I thought that the ability to create beautiful sweets using only one tool was truly a craftsmanship. The colors, which are inspired by cherry blossoms and are perfect for today, make you feel like spring. Enjoy a relaxing cup of tea while looking out at the garden where you can feel the breeze. It was very very delicious with a slight elegant sweetness and a melting texture. As our last cherry blossom viewing spot for today, we visit Hirano Jinjya Shrine. I took the 59 line bus from the Imadegawa Omiya bus stop to the Wara Tenjin bus stop. You can also take the 202 line to Kitano Hakubaicho. Hirano Jinjya is a shrine with a history dating back to 794. It is said that there are about 400 cherry trees of about 60 different species planted there. The “Sakigake’” cherry blossoms, which are said to herald the arrival of spring in Kyoto, are famous. This cherry blossom blooms early, and it is said that Kyoto’s cherry blossom viewing season begins when this cherry blossom begins to bloom. There were other early-blooming cherry blossoms in full bloom on the grounds. Today, I went to see the early blooming cherry blossoms in Kyoto. Thank you for your viewing. Please subscribe to the channel and click Good (*^▽^*)
I visited three beautiful cherry blossom spots in Kyoto.
This year, I visited spots where cherry blossoms bloom early.
Weeping cherry blossoms reach full bloom earlier than Someiyoshino cherry trees. Weeping cherry blossoms are also very beautiful with their vibrant colors.
01:44 Daigo-ji Temple
08:09 Lunch at Shiroku Jicyu
10:34 Kyoto Imperial Palace
13:58 Tsuruya Yoshinobu / Maccha & Japanese Sweets
16:43 Hirano Jinjya Shrine
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In the “Exploring the Beauty” series, I am going to explore various beauties – – scenery, art, food. – mainly in Japan.