Nara is a city steeped in centuries of tradition. Its many shrines and temples are also excellent locations to take in the riotous blooms brought with each changing season.
Spring in Nara is said to begin with the celebration of the Shuni-e ceremony at Todai-ji Temple. It is a season in which the stillness of temple gardens and natural greenery becomes beautifully adorned with flowering blossoms. Amidst this atmosphere of calm, the city is brought to life with parties of cherry blossom-viewers and traditional festivals.
Todai-ji Temple's Shuni-e Ceremony Marking the Beginning of Spring (Water-Drawing Ceremony) (March)
Byakugo-ji Temple's Five-Colored Camellias, One of Nara's Three Great Camellias (March-April)
Kairyuo-ji Temple frosted white with Baby's Breath Spirea (April)
Multi-Layered Cherry Blossoms at Kofuku-ji Temple's Five-Storied Pagoda (April)
The Famous Tree & Celebrated Wisteria Blooms at Kasuga Taisha Shrine (April-May)
Outdoor Noh Performances, Tataki O-Noh (May)
| Location | Species, scope of bloom | Season | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tsukigase Plum Grove | 10,000 trees | Mid-February to late March | - |
| Nara Park | - | Late February to Mid-March | - |
| Akishino-dera Temple | - | Late February to Early March | - |
| Oiwake Plum Grove | 6,000 trees over 10 hectares | Early February to Mid-March | - |
| Location | Species, scope of bloom | Season | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gango-ji Temple (Gokurakubo) | - | Early Spring | - |
| Todai-ji Temple Kaidan-do Hall | - | March-April | - |
| Todai-Ji Temple Kaizan-do Hall | - | March-April | Famous Red-and-white Camellia Tree |
| Hokke-ji Temple | - | March-April | - |
| Toshodai-ji Temple | - | March-April | - |
| Denko-ji Temple | - | Early March-Early April | Fallen Camellias |
| Byakugo-ji Temple | - | Early March-Early April | Five-Colored Camellia |
| Gokoku Shrine | 1,800 varieties, 23,000 trees | Late March-Early April | - |
| Location | Species, scope of bloom | Season | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nara Park (Including within shrine/temple grounds) | Viewable in various parts of Nara Park. Within Kasuga Taisha Shrine Grounds (Sasayaki no Michi, the whispering trail) Various locations within Todai-ji Temple grounds | Late March-Early May | - |
| Location | Species, scope of bloom | Season | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kairyuo-ji Temple | 150 plants | Late April | - |
| Hokke-ji Temple | Some blooms, contributing to the temple's lovely scenery | Mid-March-Early April | - |
| Location | Species, scope of bloom | Season | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Futai-ji Temple | Within temple grounds | Early April | - |
| Location | Species, scope of bloom | Season | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saho Riverside | Nearly 1,000 Yoshino cherry trees | Spring | These trees were planted by Nara's magristrate, Toshiakitara Kawaji, at the close of the Edo period (19th century), making some of them as old as 150 years. |
| Himuro Shrine | A 100 year-old weeping cherry tree stands to the right at the end of the road approaching the shrine. | Spring | - |
| Mount Wakakusa | The mountain is well-known for the blossoms at its summit, base, and along its trails. It's weeping and nine-layered cherry trees are remarkable for their long blooming periods. | Spring | - |
| Nara Park Area around the Ukimo-do Pavilion | 30 Higan weeping cherry trees 470 Mountain cherry trees 200 Yoshino cherry trees 1,000 Nine-layered & Yang Guifei cherry trees; 1,800 Nara nine-layered cherry trees | Late March-Early April Early April Early April Mid-April | Numbers listed are those within Nara Park |
| Heijo Palace Site | Mountain cherry trees Yoshino cherry trees Nine-layered cherry trees, etc. Nearly 1,000 trees | Early-Mid April | - |
| Tsukigase | Tsukigase lakeshore Tsukigase Sightseeing Information Center | Early-Mid April | Tsukigase is most famous for its plum blossoms, but when the plum blossoms begin to fall, cherry blossoms bloom in their place. |
| Site of the Yagyu Clan's Chief Retainer's House | 300 Yoshino cherry trees | Mid-April | - |
| Location | Species, scope of bloom | Season | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hannya-ji Temple | 1500 plants | Mid-April-Early May | - |
| Location | Species, scope of bloom | Season | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jurin-in Temple | Hirado azaleas | Late April-Early May | - |
| Location | Species, scope of bloom | Season | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gango-ji Temple (Gokurakubo) | - | Early Spring | - |
| Location | Species, scope of bloom | Season | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nara Park (Including within shrine/temple grounds) | Weeping wisteria at Kasuga Taisha Shrine, and those within Gango-ji Temple Grounds | Late April-Early May | Weeping wisteria at Kasuga Taisha Shrine Kasuga Taisha Shrine +81-742-22-7788 |
| Location | Species, scope of bloom | Season | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hokke-ji Temple | Blooms within the temple gardens | May 1st-15th Special opening | - |
| Isui-en Garden | Flowers bloom along the lakeside within the garden | Mid-May | - |
| Location | Species, scope of bloom | Season | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Futai-ji Temple | 800 plants | Late May-Mid-June | - |
| Isui-en Garden | Blooms within the temple gardens | Late May-Mid-June | - |
| Location | Species, scope of bloom | Season | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hokke-ji Temple | Some blooms, contributing to the temple's lovely scenery | May-June | - |
| Location | Species, scope of bloom | Season | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryosen-ji Temple | 200 varieties, 2,000 plants | May-June | - |
| Location | Species, scope of bloom | Season | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obitoke-dera Temple | 100 square yards | Mid-May | - |
| Isui-en Garden | Found throughout the garden | Mid-June | - |
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