Kyoto and Nara: 4-Day Cherry Blossom Guide 🌸 Detailed Cherry Blossom and Deer Feeding Plan

Having been a cherry blossom enthusiast in Kyoto, I've compiled a few experiences for you. —— Here's the itinerary: ✅ Nara for 1 day: Jr Nara Station ➡ Saho River ➡ Nara Park 🌸 Saho River (Nara Station) The riverbanks are lined with Yoshino cherry trees. After arriving at JR Nara Station, it's recommended to take a taxi (a bit more than a hundred yuan). Tell the driver "sahokawa sakura," or simply show them the words "佐保川 の桜" enlarged, and they'll understand. 🌸 Nara Park Deer and cherry blossoms (Nara Park bus stop) After enjoying the cherry blossoms at Saho River, take a taxi back to Nara JR Station and then a bus to Nara Park, which takes about 10 minutes. The park is right at the bus stop, and you can buy deer biscuits to feed the deer. The autumn foliage season is also stunning. ——— ✅ Kyoto for 3 days 1️⃣ Day 1 (Yoshino cherry blossom viewing) Sewari-tei (Yawata Station) ➡ Fushimi Jukkoku-bune (Chushojima Station) ➡ Kamo River (Sanjo Keihan Station) 🌸 Sewari-tei (Yawata Station) Comparable to Japan's bustling spring festival, it's less crowded before 8 am. Follow the crowd after exiting the station; there are plenty of signs along the way. 🌸 Fushimi Jukkoku-bune (Chushojima Station) Tickets for the boat are usually unavailable on the day, so just enjoy the view. It wasn't very popular when I visited, but it's become a trendy cherry blossom spot in recent years. 🌸 Kamo River (Sanjo Keihan Station) Exit at Sanjo Keihan Station, and there's minimal walking. The riverbanks are lined with cherry trees, and there's always one tree just for you. It's recommended to visit in the evening for a beautiful view. 2️⃣ Day 2 (Weeping cherry blossom, Kyoto specialty) Daigoji Temple (Daigo Station) ➡ Kodaiji Temple, Kiyomizu Temple (Higashiyama Station) ➡ Hirano Shrine (Imadegawa Station) 🌸 Daigoji Temple (Daigo Station) You can take a taxi from the station, costing about half a hundred yuan. Tell the driver "daigoji sakura," and they'll understand immediately. Walking is also an option. Daigoji Temple is a cherry blossom haven, with stunning weeping cherry blossoms and a long blooming period. Even when Yoshino cherry trees haven't bloomed, you can see early-blooming weeping cherry blossoms here. There's a cherry blossom market every year, attracting many locals. 🌸 Kodaiji Temple, Kiyomizu Temple (Higashiyama Station) Ishibei-koji, Gion Yasaka, and Ninenzaka are all in this area, with many tour groups. It requires a lot of walking and uphill climbing. Kodaiji Temple has a single beautiful weeping cherry tree. Kiyomizu Temple is less impressive during cherry blossom season compared to autumn foliage. 🌸 Hirano Shrine (Imadegawa Station) There are outdoor cherry blossom markets at night, with various food stalls offering authentic Japanese flavors! There's some distance from the subway, so you might want to take a taxi, costing about half or a full hundred yuan. Tell the driver "hirano jinja," or show them the words "平野神社," and they'll understand. 3️⃣ Day 3 alternative (Arashiyama ➡ Philosopher's Path) 🌸 Arashiyama The area is vast, and you can spend a whole day exploring. The Arashiyama train is extremely popular, making tickets hard to get. However, I recommend visiting during the autumn foliage season, as the cherry blossom season in Arashiyama isn't as impressive. 🌸 Philosopher's Path It's most beautiful during the cherry blossom snow. Not as impressive as Nara's Saho River. ——— ✅ Other popular spots: Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kyoto Imperial Palace, Shijo Kawaramachi, Nijo Castle, etc. I find them average (just my personal opinion). #KyotoCherryBlossoms #KansaiCherryBlossomViewing #CherryBlossomSeason #KamoRiver #JapanTravel #KyotoTravel