As spring evenings warm Kyoto, the Shirakawa area of Gion transforms under the glow of cherry blossoms. What happens? Lined with traditional wooden townhouses, Kyoto's Gion is a historic area that flourished as a teahouse district in the mid-Edo period. Every spring, when cherry blossoms bloom along the Shirakawa River, the area offers a stunning sight. During the Gion Shirakawa Sakura Light-Up, the path from Kawabata Street to Tatsumi Bridge is illuminated. Schedule 2025 The Gion Shirakawa Evening Cherry Blossom Illuminations take place from March 28 to April 6, from 6 to 10 p.m. How to get there Take the Kyoto Municipal Subway Karasuma Line from Kyoto Station to Karasuma Oike Station. Transfer to the Tozai Line and ride to Sanjo Keihan Station. Walk 5 minutes east toward Shirakawa Canal. The whole journey should take about 15 minutes.