Sakura ‘Light-ups’ in Kyoto
A number of temples and several shrines and the castle in Kyoto have springtime ‘light-ups’ in which people go to see the cherry blossoms at night and the trees are lit up, usually from below. The sakura flowers are very delicate and light pink in color, so they are not that prominent against a light blue sky or white clouds. Being lit up at night helps one focus on and accentuates and dramatizes the beauty of the sakura. These light-ups are extremely popular in Kyoto.
Kodai-ji Temple (高大寺)
Kodai-ji Temple is a Zen temple located in the scenic Higashiyama/Gion neighborhood. It is an historic temple and was the residence of ‘Nene’, the ex-wife/widow of warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Kodai-ji has a spring sakura light-up and an autumn momiji (maple) light-up every year. In addition to the temple buildings there are three wonderful tea houses in the garden that are important cultural properties. One of the rock gardens has a funky light show designed by a different artist every year. Be sure to walk up the hill in the back of the garden to see the two tea houses on the hilltop and the bamboo grove which is also lit up.
Nijo-jo Castle (二条城)
Nijo-jo Castle is a blockbuster of a sakura light up and is conveniently located on the Tozai subway line at the intersection of Horikawa and Nijo Streets. While the castle interior is not open in the evening (it is during the day) the grounds, with a large number of sakura trees are dramatically light up. This is the only place in Kyoto where you can see sakura blossoms on a large scale amid castle moats and ramparts.
Timing: Traditionally, sakura bloomed at around the beginning of April, but now with a warmer climate this generally happens a week or so earlier now. So, generally, it is late March now. However, the winter and early spring weather of the year determine when they will bloom, and there are numerous varieties of sakura, some blooming early, some late. For example the sakura at Gosho (The Imperial Palace), bloom quite early.
Hanami (Flower Viewing): Many people picnic and barbecue under the sakura trees, often at night. This can be nice but generally it is loud, extremely crowded, there are a lot of obnoxiously drunk old men and there is often stinking garbage piling up. Maruyama-koen (Maruyama Park), at the east end of Shijo-dori (Shijo Street) is a popular destination for this kind of hanami. Light ups on temple grounds, anywhere that an admission fee is required, will be free of picnickers.
