Most of our clients staying at Casa Miyama, when they leave, they often ask the same question: which is the best season to visit Miyama, because they would love to come back and get to know the area better and in a different season. The truth is that there is not only one correct and easy answer to this question.
One of the best things of living in the middle of nature, like it is the case in Miyama, is that you can feel and enjoy the little changes that take place in our surrounding nature almost day by day. Regarding best season to come to Miyama, for me, at the very beginning, my answer was clear. I would usually say autumn for sure. But then, it snows and it is just magic. Afterwards, the sakura blooms and it is breathtaking. But what about the new green leaves in May? Stunning. And what about the long summer days swimming in the river just 2 minutes away from our house? Well, every season is priceless!
But let’s talk today, just because it is around the corner, about the Sakura season in Miyama. For those who have visited Kyoto during the post covid era, will have noticed how packed the city, the temples and the parks all over the city are. Extremely saturated doesn’t quiet describe how crazy the situation is nowadays. And I get it, we all want to enjoy the best cherry blossom with the most beautiful temples in the background, all in one picture. But believe me, once you have dragged yourself around Kyoto for a couples of days in peak season, the only thing you will want to enjoy is a relaxing couple of days in the middle of nature without the crowds. And this is just exactly what we have got here in Miyama!
Here you will find our best kept secret Sakura spots in Miyama, all within 15 minutes by car from both Casa Miyama and Koya Miyama, two charming houses to rent, one only for couples, the other for either 2 people and up to 8. Let’s start with my favorite spots.
Number 1 Sakura spot in Miyama!
The name of the place in Japanese is “Nagatani Undo Koen“, or what is the same in English “Nagatani Athletic Park”. Why do I love this place? First of all because it has more than 200 shidare sakura trees, or what is the same, weeping cherry blossoms trees. When a lot of weeping sakuras are planted together they just create a magical pink forest kind of place. Walking through its thin branches and its light pink petals makes you feel like you are in a dream. No more no less. You have to live this experience by yourself at least once in your life! Second reason to come here, and not less important, is that it is not only a park but also a baseball field. Is there anything more Japanese than a baseball field full of kids playing their favorite and most popular sport in Japan surrounded by 200 cherry blossom trees? Come on!!! If you are lucky enough to find a couple of school teams beating each other in the field, you will have the feeling of being in a movie set. I promise you! Just bring your blanket, your lunch box and enjoy!
I would say that my number 2 spot would be Ohno Dam park. Also a very unknown and zero crowded place, except for festival weekend, but still nothing to do with city crowds!. Beautiful park home to 1.000 sakura trees, all of them planted by locals once the dam construction was finished in 1961. This is a must see destination not only in spring but also in autumn because there are also more than 500 Japanese maple trees. Can not really decide which of the those seasons is more amazing! I would say equally beautiful both of them! But be careful because in Miyama blossom timing is different from Kyoto city. Miyama is usually between 3 to 5 degrees colder than the city so Sakura season, and due to global warming and climate change, exact dates are difficult to predict. The 2026 Sakura festival at Ohno dam will be held between the 4th and the 12th of April. But you can follow our Casa Miyama Instagram for more detailed blooming days!
Number 3 Sakura spot in Miyama!
A very tiny temple, up the hill, hard to see from the national road. If you drove by you would most likely miss it. What a mistake! Homyoji is a very small Soto Sect (Zen Buddhism) temple, a bit run down but with a quite unique 18th century sakura tree line up the hill. These yaezakura trees bloom later than other sakuras, usually around 20th of April and is a result of a mutation of mountain cherry trees. So, if for some reason you can not make it to Miyama by the beginning of April, you will always have a second chance here. The densely bloomed double flowers on the large, old tree are gorgeous. This is for sure a zero tourist spot, only villagers nearby come to worship it and they actually prepare the light up themselves and install it when the tree has already bloomed. Best kept secret for a bit of authentic countryside Japanese life. Become a Miyama native for a couple of hours! You might even be able to capture a beautiful picture with a full moon in the background!
Other spots in Miyama you shouldn’t miss …
The above highlighted spots are the most beautiful ones to me but not the only ones. Of course, a stroll around Kayabuki no sato and the nearby riverside are also very enjoyable. And if you drive further into deep Miyama mountain and Ashiu you will be able to spot mountain sakuras along the way.
All pictures by ©Tina Bagué & ©Toru Morimoto. Not allowed to use them anywhere without contacting us.
