Where is Maruyama Park?

Right behind Yasaka Shrine, to the east: about 300 m on foot from the shrine's stone torii, through the grounds.

When is Maruyama Park lit up for the cherry blossoms?

For a couple of weeks around late March and early April, on dates set each year: in 2026 from 24 March to 8 April; in 2025 from 25 March to 9 April, 18:00–22:00.

When is Maruyama Park least crowded?

On an ordinary week, by our estimate from Google Maps popular times, before 10:00 every day. It is busiest on Saturdays around 17:00. Cherry blossom season is not in this estimate.

Maruyama Park

What is Maruyama Park, next to Yasaka Shrine?

Kyoto's park right behind Yasaka Shrine, a national Place of Scenic Beauty. Its symbol is the great weeping cherry, lit up at night when it blooms.

Walk straight through the shrine grounds to reach it: about 300 m from the stone torii.

When is the park busy?

On an ordinary week it is quiet before 10:00 every day and busiest on Saturday around 17:00. Afternoons and early evenings are the busy part of the day. This is the park's own 0–100 scale, so don't compare its numbers with the shrine's.

Estimated crowd level at Maruyama Park by hour and day of the week
Hour	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
6:00	11	13	13	13	15	16	15
7:00	20	19	19	20	20	19	20
8:00	28	25	22	26	30	25	24
9:00	34	31	26	28	32	33	31
10:00	39	36	33	33	38	43	45
11:00	43	43	40	42	51	57	64
12:00	54	51	46	53	63	68	77
13:00	58	54	49	59	68	75	77
14:00	60	59	49	58	66	77	76
15:00	58	61	47	55	66	79	72
16:00	60	64	49	55	68	83	72
17:00	56	64	55	56	72	85	69
18:00	53	60	56	55	70	81	64
19:00	45	52	51	48	62	77	58
20:00	34	39	41	37	47	63	46
21:00	24	26	28	26	30	46	31
22:00	15	17	20	17	22	34	19
23:00	11	13	14	13	16	25	13

Our estimate from Google Maps popular times for Maruyama Park, read 19 October 2026. Not a head count. Cherry blossom season is not in this table.

The weeping cherry

When the cherry blooms, the city lights it up at night. The dates are set each year: 24 March to 8 April in 2026, and 25 March to 9 April (18:00–22:00) in 2025. Bonfires burn on some of those nights, unless a dry-air or strong-wind warning is in force. Laying out sheets to save a spot is not allowed.

Source: Maruyama Park official site (Japanese). Checked 20 October 2026. Park office: 075-561-1778, 9:00–17:00, closed Wednesdays.

Cherry blossoms at Yasaka Shrine and Maruyama Park

Questions

Where is Maruyama Park?: Right behind Yasaka Shrine, to the east: about 300 m on foot from the shrine's stone torii, through the grounds.
When is Maruyama Park lit up for the cherry blossoms?: For a couple of weeks around late March and early April, on dates set each year: in 2026 from 24 March to 8 April; in 2025 from 25 March to 9 April, 18:00–22:00.
When is Maruyama Park least crowded?: On an ordinary week, by our estimate from Google Maps popular times, before 10:00 every day. It is busiest on Saturdays around 17:00. Cherry blossom season is not in this estimate.

Last updated: 20 October 2026