Table of Contents
Cherry Blossoms at Senbon Shakado
Basic Information
| Cherry blossom spot | Senbon 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.
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
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.
