Cherry blossoms at Senbon Shakado|Blooming 2024

千本釈迦堂の桜

Zen kun
Okamezakura (cherry blossoms) blooming at Senbon Shakado, an ancient temple in Kyoto, is one of the earliest cherry blossom viewing spots in Kyoto City.
Kyoto pronunciation
The precincts of the temple are home to the Okame Statue, from which the cherry blossoms are derived, and which attracts many visitors in the spring.

Cherry Blossoms at Senbon Shakado

Cherry blossoms at Senbon Shakado
Blooming Status 2024
Past peak bloom

Basic Information

Cherry blossom spotSenbon Shakado
Best time to see the cherry blossoms Late March – early April
Types of cherry trees Drooping cherry trees, double-flowered cherry trees
Opening hours 9:00-16:00
Admission Precincts: Free
Main hall and Reihouden: Adults 600 yen, High school and university students 500 yen, Elementary and junior high school students 400 yen
Light-up No light-up
Parking lot No parking
Location: 1034 Mizomae-cho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, 602-8319 1034 Mizomae-cho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, 602-8319, Japan
Phone number: 075-461-5973 075-461-5973

Features and Highlights

  • Cherry blossoms bloom early in Kyoto City
  • Enjoy the collaboration with “Okame Statue” in the precincts of the temple.
  • Cherry blossoms can be viewed in the atmosphere of an old temple with a long history

Okamezakura” in the precincts of the temple is an 80-year-old weeping cherry tree, which blooms with pale pink flowers from late March to early April every year. This cherry tree is named after “Okame,” the wife of the master carpenter who built the main hall.

It is said that when her husband cut the pillars of the main hall short, Okame advised him to cut the other pillars short as well and put “Masugumi” on top of them. Thanks to this advice, the main hall was successfully completed, and a statue of Okame was erected in honor of her achievements.

The collaboration of the Okame cherry blossoms and the Okame statue is a unique highlight of Senbon Shakado. The temple also has historical buildings such as the main hall and the Reihouden Hall, where visitors can enjoy both the cherry blossoms and the atmosphere of an old temple at the same time.

千本釈迦堂の桜
Okame Cherry Blossom
千本釈迦堂の桜
Okame-zakura (cherry blossom)
千本釈迦堂の桜
Yaezakura (double-flowered cherry tree)

How to access

To get to Senbon Shakado, take city bus No. 50 from JR Kyoto Station, get off at Kamishichiken bus stop, and walk about 3 minutes.

Popular nearby spots

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Hirano Shrine (10 minutes)
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Cherry blossoms at Hirano Shrine|Blooming status 2024 [Updated March 7].
2024.03.11 Cherry Blossom Spots

Summary

Okamezakura” at Senbon Shakado is a unique cherry blossom viewing spot where visitors can enjoy the collaboration with the “Okame Statue” on the temple grounds, which blooms earlier than other cherry blossom viewing spots in Kyoto City. It is recommended to visit the temple to appreciate the cherry blossoms in the atmosphere of a historic old temple, and to combine your visit with other cherry blossom viewing spots in the area.

We encourage you to visit Senbon Shakado when enjoying the spring in Kyoto.