Beautiful Kyoto During Japan’s Stunning Sakura Season

Its history is what it is built upon, but it is a place where modern trends go harmoniously hand in hand with its culture that is rich with tradition. Within Kyoto, you’ll find majestic iconic sites, charming little winding streets, geisha scurrying past, and droves of tourists, there, at the same time as I was, and for the same reason- to revel in the beauty of the Sakura (the cherry blossoms that Kyoto has become famous for).

While I was there, the first week of April, 2019, the weather was uncharacteristically cold (low 40’s), so the blooms had been late in reaching their 100% peak. But we managed to find tons that were already in full bloom, while wandering through different streets, visiting stunning temples, and on our way to traditional kaiseki lunches, which are an amazing part of Japanese culture and require a post all on their own. This experience was entirely enhanced by Amy and Janet, who are not only sweet, kind friends, but who are also Japan locals, and who helped explain everything, and shared my enthusiasm for absolutely all that we saw!!! Which in five days, I really feel was some of the best of Kyoto….

The boutique hotel we stayed in, AOI Kyoto, on the bank of the Kamo river, was on one of the prettiest streets in Kyoto, lined with tons of Sakura trees and pretty little street lamps that illuminate the pink blooms at night. There is a sweet little river that runs under the trees, and a ton of good restaurants and fun bars on this street, so even if you aren’t able to get accommodations here, be sure to take a long walk along the street at some point during your stay.

The hotel was incredibly classy, and the service was stellar. The staff is very attentive, and make you feel like the most important guest, always. Our room had a beautiful onsen-style bathtub, and gorgeous traditional sliding door-screens that gave a very sophisticated and genuine feel to the space. The room also had a gorgeous view, overlooking the river, which is also lined with Sakura trees. They drip down over the river bank pathway, and you can see people strolling and biking under the flowering trees in the mornings. It’s also a very picturesque spot, with varying trees of different shades of pink. Absolutely wonderful!

As I was only there for 5 full days, and wanted to make the most of it, we planned to hit the main attractions earlier in the morning, so that we had plenty of time to see them while they were still uncrowded, and before our kaiseki lunch reservations. In Sakura season, you absolutely must make reservations ahead of time, as the good places book up quickly and do not take walk-ins. Amy set us up weeks in advance with lunches and most dinners every day.

After our lunches, we left the afternoons open to stroll around and decide spontaneously what we wanted to see in the evening. This worked out great, as some of the sites were so incredibly enhanced by the light of the setting sun. Like the Kinkaku-ji (or the Golden Temple), which should be a must-see during the ‘golden hour’.

Among the top sights that I loved the most, were Kyomizu Dera, Nishiki Market, the Weeping Sakura at Kodai-ji, Gion District, Arashiyama Park and the 1000 little statues of Otagi Nenbutsu-ji. The walk to Otaji-Nenbutsu-ji, itself, was stunning. You can get there from Arashiyama, and not many people know about it this incredible art garden & temple. You walk through a very traditional town on a quiet, but incredibly picturesque street to get there. Even Amy had not been, and was blown away by the beauty of it all.

If you are fortunate enough to go to Kyoto, you should definitely try a traditional kaiseki meal at least once, whether it be lunch or dinner. Prepare to spend at least two hours there, as each course is carefully and thoughtfully prepared and presented in front of you, by the master chefs behind the counter. We ate kaiseki every day for lunch, and it was an amazing experince to see the different presentations of similar courses that follow the traditional ‘standard’. Some courses are pure works of art, and they will awaken your tastebuds and introduce them to entirely new flavor combinations.

The geisha of Kyoto are very elusive creatures. Rarely seen anymore, they don’t like being photographed and are incredibly quick and lightfooted to get to their appointments (not an easy feat when you’re walking in tight kimono and sandals), taking side streets to avoid the people. This particular girl was a Maiko— a young geisha apprentice, evident by the long obi and pokkori – high wooden sandals that experienced geisha no longer wear. We were walking home from a really late dinner in a drizzle in Gion and caught sight of her hurrying by….

Until next time…… Aloha, Kyoto!