Cherry blossoms
Where are the cherry blossoms at Yasaka Shrine?
In Maruyama Park, just behind the shrine: its great weeping cherry is lit up at night while it blooms, in late March and early April.
Walk in through the shrine and out the other side: about 300 m from the stone torii.
The night light-up
| 2026 | 24 March – 8 April |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 25 March – 9 April, 18:00–22:00 |
Bonfires burn on some nights unless a dry-air or strong-wind warning is in force. Laying out sheets to save a spot is not allowed.
Source: Maruyama Park official site (Japanese). Checked 20 October 2026.
The park announces each year's light-up dates before the cherries bloom; we add them here once they are out.
At the shrine in spring
The shrine offers cherry-blossom tea (shin-ouyu, ¥400) in spring only: salted petals that open in hot water. The grounds stay open all night, so you can come for the light-up and walk through the shrine afterwards.
Our everyday crowd estimate has no season in it. On an ordinary week the shrine is 40 or lower before 10:00.
Maruyama Park: crowds on ordinary daysThe shrine at nightQuestions
- Where are the cherry blossoms near Yasaka Shrine?
- In Maruyama Park, right behind the shrine (about 300 m through the grounds). Its symbol is a great weeping cherry, lit up at night while it blooms.
- When is the Maruyama Park cherry light-up?
- The dates are set each year: 24 March to 8 April in 2026; 25 March to 9 April, 18:00–22:00, in 2025.
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