A cherry blossom festival has been held at Hirano Shrine every year since the year 985! It is the oldest annual festival in Kyoto. Food vendors and other stalls line the paths, small lanterns are strung through the trees, and all the bigger lanterns of the shrine add their warm glow to the scene, and over it all hang the branches of many beautiful weeping cherry trees.
- 1 min read
Spring at Hirano Shrine
Celebrate spring at the oldest annual festival in Kyoto

By Cathy Cawood
Community writer

Weeping cherry and lanterns

Stalls line the path

Umbrella under cherry blossom

Red covered seating

Orange lanterns

You can buy crepes here

Hirano Shrine

Red wooden lanterns beside the path

Flowers in the grass

Plastic blow-up toys

Lanterns strung through the trees

Early evening, before the crowds arrive
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Rachel Holmes
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