You all must know by now that SweetEscape only works together with creative folks who not only know how to work the camera, but also has all the best inside tips in one particular city or country. This time, we got the most coveted insider’s tips on everything sakura in Japan! So brace yourselves and check out what our experts have to say below:

Timing is Everything

The 1st question that comes to everyone's mind when it comes to sakura is when is the best period to go see them. Unless you plan to stay for a very long time, it is always important to time your sakura moment perfectly. In this case, the best period to go see sakura is definitely in the last week of March until the first week of April. This is the most common timing for sakura to reach full bloom, so you’re guaranteed to witness some of the best ones at this period!

Best Sakura Spots

When in Kyoto, our photographers prefer below places for obvious reasons that we included below :

哲学の道 - The Philosopher’s Path

Crowd level : High

Approximately 2 kilometers long, this path is always exploding with colors- all thanks to the sakura lined walkway of over hundreds of cherry trees. Inspired by one of Japan’s most famous philosophers, this inspiring spot is all about zen and calming tranquility, although it can get pretty crowded during sakura season.

竹中稻荷神社- Takenaka-Inari-Jinja Shrine & Nearby Areas

Crowd level : Low

Super photogenic and lovely, this small shrine gets pretty quiet during low season. You will not be able to miss the red torii gates that stand side by side with the cherry trees, making it such a wonderful scenery of nature and history that blend together.

鸭川 - Kamo-gawa

Crowd level : Medium-High

This is a river that runs through central Kyoto. A great number of cherry trees that are planted along the river always bears a beautiful sight as far as the river runs. Whether you are cruising with a tourist boat, sitting underneath the trees for picnic or sitting across inside a cafe, you’ll be reminded that the world is indeed such a pretty place.

背割堤 - Sewari Tei

Crowd level : Low-Medium

Located among the three rivers of Kizu, Uji and Katsura, Sewari Tei is a popular cherry blossom spot with over 250 trees in place. This place is magnificent since it’s surrounded by a low wall of grass or levee, giving you a sensation of walking in a cherry tunnel all along the park.

Sakura Photoshoot

Everyone wants the sakura experience, so it can be hard to find your best moments along under the cherry trees. Our photographers recommend getting to the destination early, since people are still scouting for spots, thus less people will block the view.

Prepare for Picnic

To celebrate sakura in spring, the one must-do activity is picnic. So get your tarp and food ready, along with some favorite drinks such as sake or other beverage, to enjoy the mood all around. Festivals are all the rage too during hanami, with food stalls, decorations, game activities and plenty more provided in the area.

Celebrate Spring All Around Japan

Kyoto is definitely not the only region in Japan that boasts excellent sakura scenery. In fact, each region has its own signature view that you don’t want to miss and can’t get enough of! Our photographers also highly recommend Tokyo, Osaka, Furano at Hokkaido, Sapporo, nd also Hiroshima at Chugoku!

Hokkaido, which is located in the northernmost island of Japan, is the last city to warm up in the spring. As a result, Hokkaido’s cherry blossoms bloom in late April, making it perfect for you to arrange your travel schedule!

SweetEscape is an online platform that connects you with local photographers in over 400 cities around the world. Our mission is to capture your life precious moments, anywhere in the world. Whether you want to do a prewedding photo session, celebrating love on your anniversary trip, or doing a Cherry Blossoms themed photo shoot, let SweetEscape capture your moments. Book your spring session and get $100 SweetEscape Voucher for your next booking! Enter the code: JOYOFSPRING at checkout.