A complete guide to the Sewaritei cherry blossom park in Kyoto
Image Copyright: Ollie Ronin
Table of Contents
Overview
Sewaritei is an incredible 1.6km long river island covered in cherry blossom trees. The island is the point at which three rivers come together, forming the Yodagawa River that runs between Kyoto and Osaka. During the cherry blossom season, from the end of March to the start of April, hundreds of cherry trees bloom to create a stunning display which is unlike anything else in Japan.
The cherry trees are huge, lining both sides of the 1.4km path, and reach out over grassy slopes on each side of the island. During the blooming period, market stalls selling street food and drinks are set up on the banks of the island. There's also ample space to bring your own food and have a picnic.
The area becomes extremely busy on the weekends, and a small entry fee is charged to cover the cost of the maintaining the park, however, the crowds and the fee can be avoided if you arrive in the early morning. The crowds can be a bit overwhelming at the beginning, especially the 10-minute walk from the station to the park, but it becomes more peaceful towards the end of the Sewaritei path.
Location & Access
Image Copyright: Ollie Ronin
Sewaritei is located between Kyoto and Osaka, access is via a 10-minute walk from the Iwashimizu Hachimangu train station. It takes about 30-40 minutes to reach the station from Kyoto, and 40-50 minutes from Osaka. The walk from Iwashimizu station to Sewaritei can become very crowded, it takes you across a large bridge along a very busy road full of cars and trucks, the crowds and the traffic make this a very unpleasant walk during peak hour (8am-10am & 4pm-7pm) so it's best to time your trip accordingly. Weekends should also be avoided if you're averse to large crowds of people.
🕗 Opening Hours
24/7
Market Stall Hours: 9am - 5pm
📍 Location
Southern Kyoto (Google Maps)
💴 Cost
Excluding 9-5: Free
9am-5pm: ¥200
Seasons
Image Copyright: Ollie Ronin
🌸 Cherry Blossoms
Late March to Early-April
🍁 Autumn Leaves
Mid-November to Late-November
☀️ Summer
June - August
Average temp. 32°C
Lush and green environment
❄️ Winter
December to February
Snowfall: 1-3 times per season
Interesting Facts
Image Copyright: Ollie Ronin
Sewaritei contains approximately 250 cherry trees.
Sewaritei sits at the convergence of three rivers, the Uji River, the Katsura River, and the Kizu River, which all combined to form the Yodo River.
The total length of the walking path along Sewaritei is 1.5km.
Sewaritei is technically not an island, it's an outstretching river embankment.
