Beautiful blossoms: Kyoto’s most stunning seasonal flowers and where to admire them

In Japan, sunflowers (himawari) are synonymous with summer – and it’s easy to see why when you catch a glimpse of their tall, bright yellow flowers outlined against a clear blue sky. The Ayabe Fureai Bokujo Ranch in Ayabe City is among the best locations to enjoy them in Kyoto. The farmland boasts fields of around 50,000 cheery sunflowers stretching out across the hillside, and as an added bonus you can interact with the ranch’s cats, rabbits, goats, sheep and other animals while you’re visiting!

Access:
45-minute walk from JR Ayabe Station on the San’in Line, or you can drive to 81 Hinokimae, Iden-cho, Ayabe City and use the free parking lot on site

Famous as a symbol of enlightenment, lotuses can be viewed across Kyoto during the summer. A great place to see them is Ryogon-ji Temple in Ayabe City, which is also known as the Temple of Crows due to the paintings of the birds and the four seasons adorning its sliding paper doors. The sight of the soft pink and white flowers popping up on their sturdy stems at this temple, their petals unfolding amid a sea of green leaves, is sure to bring you some inner serenity.

Access:
From JR Ayabe Station on the San’in Line, take the Aya bus (Shigananboku line) to Tachi and walk east for 15 minutes.

Autumn in Japan isn’t just about colourful leaves. One of the best known flowers which bloom exclusively at this time of year is cosmos, named akizakura (autumn cherry blossom) thanks to their popularity and stunning shades of pink. To see them in all their glory head to the Yume Cosmos Park in Kameoka City, where an astonishing 8 million flowers of different colors and species bloom. For adults, the fee to enter the garden is 600 yen on weekdays, and 800 yen on weekends (as of 2021).

Access:
From Kyoto City, get off at the Kameoka IC on the Kyoto Jukan Expressway, and head toward Route 372. The garden is in front of the Kameoka Sports Park Gymnasium. Free parking is available.

As the year draws to a close and the weather gets cooler and crisper, the leaves across Japan begin to change from lush green to vibrant shades of red, orange and yellow. This transforms the surrounding forests and mountainsides into fiery displays of autumnal colours (known as koyo), and is almost as popular as cherry blossom season. Some of the major tourist spots in Kyoto City can get very busy at this time, so exploring the wider prefecture gives you the perfect chance to admire the leaves away from the crowds.

One excellent location is Komyo-ji Temple in Nagaokakyo City, where hundreds of maple trees line the path from the Somon gate into the grounds. This transforms it into a 200-metre tunnel of vivid red and amber, with the falling leaves carpeting the ground beneath your feet with the same bright colours.

Access:
Take the train to Nagaokakyo Station on the JR Kyoto Line, or Nagaoka Tenjin Station on the Hankyu Kyoto Line. Board the Hankyu Bus, and get off at Asahigaoka Home Mae.

Meanwhile, the Ryuon-ji Zen temple in Nantan City has gingko trees as well as maples within its grounds, which add brilliant hues of yellow and gold to the mix.

Access:
Take the JR Sagano Line to Sonobe Station. Board the Keihan Kyoto Kotsu Bus and get off at Nie, then walk for 5 minutes.

For more of an active trip, head to Kasagiyama Natural Park in Kasagi-cho, where you can hike through the fall foliage of the broad-leaved trees on Mt. Kasagiyama before exploring Kasagi-dera Temple or enjoying light-up events in Momiji Park.

Access:
45-minute walk from Kasagi Station (Kansai Line).

Miyazu City’s Nariai-ji Temple is another mountaintop location well worth a visit in autumn. The sight of the temple’s soaring five-storied pagoda surrounded by intense red and blazing orange leaves will take your breath away.

Access:
20 minutes by car from the Yosa Amanohashidate IC on the Kyoto Jukan Expressway Miyazu Yosa Road.