March in Kyoto revolves around one question. Will the cherry blossoms open before you leave? The first sakura buds typically appear around March 25-28 along the Kamogawa and at Maruyama Park, though warm years have pushed first bloom as early as March 22. Full bloom follows 5-7 days later, which means most March visitors catch the anticipation rather than the peak. That anticipation has its own draw. Plum trees at Kitano Tenmangu hold their final blooms through early March, the Higashiyama Hanatoro illumination lights the stone-paved lanes of the Higashiyama district for 10 evenings, and the air carries that particular cold-season clarity before spring humidity sets in.
The weather is transitional. Daytime temperatures reach about 14°C (57°F), comfortable for long walks through temple grounds in Arashiyama or along the Philosopher's Path. Nights tell a different story. Lows of 3-4°C (38°F) catch visitors off guard, especially in drafty machiya guesthouses and the open corridors of temples like Nijo Castle. March also brings 130mm of rain spread across roughly 11 days, more than double February's 62mm. You might get 3-4 dry days in a row. You might not.
The month splits into two pricing tiers. The first two weeks feel manageable, with moderate room rates and shorter queues at Kiyomizu-dera. Once the Japan Meteorological Corporation's cherry blossom forecast narrows the expected bloom date, usually around mid-March, rates for the final week rise sharply. A ryokan in Gion that runs at shoulder-season rates on March 10 might cost two to three times as much by March 28.
Why visit in March
- Cherry blossoms begin opening in late March at Maruyama Park and along the Philosopher's Path, with fewer crowds than the full-bloom chaos of early April.
- Plum blossom season at Kitano Tenmangu runs through early March, offering a quieter, often more fragrant alternative to sakura viewing.
- Higashiyama Hanatoro, a 10-night illumination event lighting the lanes between Shoren-in and Kiyomizu-dera, happens only in March.
- Daytime temperatures around 14°C (57°F) are close to ideal for all-day temple walks without the exhaustion of summer heat or humidity.
- The first two weeks of March offer shoulder-season pricing at ryokan and hotels across Gion and Higashiyama before the cherry blossom rush.
Worth knowing
- Late March accommodation prices can reach 2-3 times early March rates once cherry blossom forecasts firm up, with popular ryokan in Gion and Arashiyama selling out weeks ahead.
- March rainfall of 130mm across about 11 days is more than double February's total, and rain can arrive without much warning.
- Nights regularly drop to 3-4°C (38°F), colder than most visitors expect from a month marketed as spring. Traditional wooden buildings have minimal insulation.
- If cherry blossoms are your primary reason, you are gambling. First bloom might arrive March 23 or March 30, and full bloom is almost always in April.
Best for
Think twice if
March in Kyoto is winter loosening its grip. Mornings start cold, often near freezing in the first week, and the air has a damp bite that the 74% average humidity makes feel colder than the numbers suggest. By midday the sun warms temple courtyards to a comfortable 14°C (57°F). Rain tends to arrive in multi-day stretches rather than brief afternoon showers, so a 3-day dry spell might be followed by 3 wet days. The 130mm monthly total is concentrated in the second half of March. Wind is typically light, though the exposed hillside at Fushimi Inari can feel notably colder than sheltered spots in Gion.
Seasonal caution
- Early March mornings can dip near 0°C (32°F), especially in the northern Kitayama area and around Arashiyama. Traditional ryokan and temple lodgings often lack central heating, relying on space heaters and futon blankets instead.
Year-round climate
Averages from the last 5 years.
| Month | Avg high (°C) | Avg low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 8 | -1 | 47 |
| Feb | 9 | 0 | 62 |
| Mar | 14 | 4 | 130 |
| Apr | 20 | 9 | 156 |
| May | 23 | 13 | 223 |
| Jun | 27 | 18 | 247 |
| Jul | 32 | 23 | 231 |
| Aug | 33 | 24 | 213 |
| Sep | 29 | 21 | 162 |
| Oct | 23 | 14 | 118 |
| Nov | 17 | 7 | 86 |
| Dec | 11 | 1 | 50 |
Headline events
Cherry Blossom Season (Sakura)
Late March (first bloom typically March 25-28, varies by year)
Kyoto's cherry blossom season typically begins in the final week of March, with first bloom appearing along the Kamogawa, at Maruyama Park, and at early-blooming spots like Daigo-ji. The city plants over 1,500 cherry trees in Maruyama Park alone, and the weeping cherry (shidarezakura) at the park's center has been the single most photographed tree in Kyoto for decades. Full bloom follows 5-7 days after first opening, usually falling in the first week of April. March visitors catch the early buds and, in warm years, the first days of bloom.
Best things to do in March
Plum Blossom Viewing at Kitano Tenmangu
natureKitano Tenmangu's plum grove holds roughly 1,500 trees across 50 varieties, blooming white, pink, and deep red against the shrine's dark wooden beams. The fragrance is sweeter and more concentrated than cherry blossoms, and you'll notice it before you see the trees. The grove opens as an enclosed garden through early March.
The 1,500 plum trees at Kitano Tenmangu reach their final peak in the first week of March before the petals drop.Booking tipThe plum garden typically closes by March 10-15. Arrive early on weekdays to have the paths mostly to yourself.
Higashiyama Hanatoro Evening Walk
culturalFor 10 nights in March, the stone-paved lanes between Shoren-in and Kiyomizu-dera are lined with over 2,400 lanterns. The warm light against the old wooden facades of Ninen-zaka and Sannen-zaka creates a mood that photographs well but feels better in person. The cold night air, the smell of roasted mochi from street vendors, the quiet crunch of gravel underfoot.
Higashiyama Hanatoro is a March-only event. It does not repeat in any other month.Booking tipStart from the northern end at Shoren-in and walk south toward Kiyomizu-dera. Most crowds enter from the Kiyomizu side.
Early Sakura Scouting at Daigo-ji
natureDaigo-ji in Kyoto's Fushimi ward is one of the earliest cherry blossom spots in the city, with weeping cherries that tend to open 2-3 days before Maruyama Park. Toyotomi Hideyoshi held his legendary 1598 cherry blossom party here with 1,300 guests. The Sanboin garden, with its 800-year-old design, frames the blossoms against a pond.
Daigo-ji's weeping cherries typically open around March 23-25, making it one of the few spots where March visitors can catch actual bloom.Booking tipDaigo-ji is a 20-minute walk from Daigo Station on the Tozai subway line. Weekday mornings before 10:00 are quietest.
Philosopher's Path Walk
natureThe 2km canal-side path between Ginkaku-ji and Nanzen-ji is lined with roughly 500 cherry trees. In late March, the buds are swelling and occasionally opening, and the path is far less congested than it will be in April. Stone bridges, small temples tucked behind hedges, and the sound of water moving through the canal make this a different walk than in peak season.
Late March catches the cherry trees budding without the shoulder-to-shoulder crowds of April's full bloom week.Nishiki Market Morning Graze
foodKyoto's 400-year-old market stretches 5 blocks between Teramachi and Takakura streets. March brings the tail of winter seafood alongside early spring ingredients. Stalls sell fresh yuba (tofu skin), Kyoto-grown pickles, seasonal wagashi, and grilled skewers of mochi or dango. The covered arcade keeps you dry on rainy mornings.
March is a transitional month on Nishiki's stalls, with winter root vegetables overlapping the first spring greens and bamboo shoots.Tea Ceremony in a Machiya
culturalSeveral restored machiya townhouses in the Higashiyama and Nakagyo wards offer private tea ceremonies for small groups. The tatami floors are cold in March, and the host will typically serve a seasonal wagashi before the matcha. The experience is quieter and more intimate than the larger temple tea rooms.
March's cooler temperatures make the warm matcha particularly welcome, and the seasonal wagashi often reference plum blossoms or early spring motifs.Booking tipBook 3-5 days ahead through the machiya's website or your accommodation. Sessions of 2-4 guests tend to be more personal than larger groups.
Day Trip to Nara Park
culturalNara is 45 minutes from Kyoto Station by JR Nara Line. The park's 1,200 free-roaming deer are active and approachable in March, and Todai-ji's 15-meter bronze Buddha sits inside the largest wooden building in the world. The Omizutori ceremony at Nigatsu-do hall, involving massive burning torches carried along the balcony, happens in early March.
The Omizutori fire ceremony at Todai-ji's Nigatsu-do runs March 1-14, a tradition unbroken since 752 CE.Sake Brewery Visits in Fushimi
foodFushimi, in Kyoto's south, is one of Japan's top 3 sake-producing districts alongside Nada in Kobe. Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum and Kizakura Kappa Country both offer tastings. The spring brewing season means fresh namazake (unpasteurized sake) is available at the source, with a lighter, slightly effervescent character that disappears within weeks of pressing.
March is when breweries release their spring namazake, brewed through the winter months with Fushimi's soft groundwater.What to eat in March
On menus now
Nanohana no Karashi-ae
Blanched rapeseed greens dressed in hot mustard and soy. The bitterness is the point. Nanohana peaks in March across the Kansai region, and you will find it as a small side dish (kobachi) in kaiseki meals and teishoku sets alike. The slight bite cuts through the heavier winter dishes still on most menus.
Chirashizushi
Scattered sushi on a bed of vinegared rice, traditionally prepared for Hinamatsuri (Girls' Day) on March 3. Kyoto-style chirashizushi tends toward a composed arrangement with sashimi, kinshi tamago (shredded egg), and lotus root. Restaurants across the Nishiki Market area serve seasonal versions through the first two weeks of March.
In markets
Takenoko (Bamboo Shoots)
Fresh bamboo shoots from the Oharano and Nagaokakyo areas southwest of Kyoto start appearing at Nishiki Market stalls and on kaiseki menus in late March. Kyoto takenoko has a reputation across Japan for tenderness and low bitterness. The young shoots tend to show up simmered in dashi with wakame, or grilled with a light soy glaze.
Festival food
Sakura Mochi
Pink-tinted rice cake wrapped in a pickled cherry leaf, with a faintly salty, floral flavor. Kyoto's version uses tsubu-an (chunky red bean paste) wrapped in a thin mochi layer rather than the crepe-style dough of eastern Japan. Available at wagashi shops across the city from mid-March, though Kagizen Yoshifusa in Gion is particularly known for theirs.
Ichigo Daifuku
Whole strawberry wrapped in soft mochi and a thin layer of white bean paste. Kyoto's strawberry season runs from January through March, and wagashi shops like Demachi Futaba near Demachiyanagi Station turn out fresh batches daily. The combination of cold, slightly tart berry against the soft, sweet mochi is a textural contrast that works as a walking snack between temples.
Regular events in March
Hinamatsuri (Girls' Day)Free
On March 3, families display tiered sets of ornamental dolls representing the imperial court. Kyoto's temples and cultural spaces set up elaborate public displays. The Shimogamo Shrine nagashi-bina ceremony involves floating small paper dolls down the Mitarashi stream to carry away bad fortune.
March 3Omizutori at Todai-ji (Nara)Free
One of Japan's oldest ceremonies, running unbroken since 752 CE. Monks carry massive burning pine torches along the balcony of Nigatsu-do hall, sending sparks cascading over the crowd below. The ceremony marks the transition from winter to spring. Nara is a 45-minute train ride from Kyoto Station.
March 1-14 (torch ceremony most dramatic on March 12)Kitano Tenmangu Plum Festival (Baikasai)
A tea ceremony held outdoors among the plum grove, with geiko and maiko from the Kamishichiken district serving matcha to attendees. The event draws several hundred visitors and sells out its tea tickets early in the day.
February 25 (occasionally early March, check yearly schedule)Seiryu-e Dragon Dance at Kiyomizu-deraFree
A blue dragon procession through the temple grounds, based on a legend that the deity Kannon transforms into a dragon each night to drink from the Otowa waterfall. The procession includes musicians and attendants in traditional costume.
Mid-March (date varies yearly)Best places this March
Maruyama Park
parkKyoto's most popular hanami spot, centered around a massive weeping cherry tree that is illuminated at night during bloom. In late March, the tree's buds draw daily crowds checking the progress. Food stalls set up along the paths leading to Yasaka Shrine.
HigashiyamaKitano Tenmangu Shrine
shrineDedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deity of scholarship, and surrounded by a grove of 1,500 plum trees in 50 varieties. The plum blossoms peak in late February through early March, earlier than the cherry trees. The shrine's monthly flea market on the 25th is one of Kyoto's largest.
KamigyoFushimi Inari Taisha
shrineThe 10,000 vermillion torii gates climb 4km up Mount Inari. March mornings are cold on the exposed hillside, but the lower sections catch morning sun by 9:00. The full hike to the summit takes about 2 hours round trip and thins out dramatically past the Yotsutsuji intersection at the halfway point.
FushimiNijo Castle
historic_siteThe Tokugawa shogunate's Kyoto residence, with its famous nightingale floors that chirp underfoot as a security measure. The castle grounds contain early-blooming cherry trees, and the palace corridors are open-air between rooms, meaning March visits feel cold. Thick socks help.
NakagyoDaigo-ji Temple
templeA Shingon Buddhist temple in Fushimi ward whose weeping cherry trees bloom 2-3 days before most Kyoto spots. The Sanboin garden is a designated national treasure. Toyotomi Hideyoshi's 1598 cherry blossom viewing party here involved 1,300 guests and remains one of the most famous hanami events in Japanese history.
FushimiArashiyama Bamboo Grove
natureThe towering bamboo stalks creak and knock together in the wind, a sound that Kyoto's government has designated as one of Japan's top 100 soundscapes. March mornings before 8:00 offer the grove with minimal foot traffic. The Togetsukyo bridge nearby spans the Hozu River with mountains as backdrop.
ArashiyamaNishiki Market
marketA 400-year-old covered market running 5 blocks through central Kyoto. Over 100 stalls and shops sell pickles, fresh tofu, seasonal fish, wagashi, and kitchen tools. March brings the overlap of winter and spring produce, and the covered arcade means rain does not interrupt a visit.
NakagyoPhilosopher's Path
walkA 2km stone-paved canal walk between Ginkaku-ji and Nanzen-ji, named after the philosopher Nishida Kitaro who reportedly meditated here on his daily commute to Kyoto University. Roughly 500 cherry trees line the canal, with late March showing swelling buds and occasional early blooms.
Sakyo
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Insider tips
The Japan Meteorological Corporation updates cherry blossom forecasts weekly starting in early March. Check the JMC website directly rather than relying on English-language travel blogs, which tend to lag by 3-5 days.
Kyoto's bus system gets overwhelmed during cherry blossom season, especially the 100 and 206 routes to Kiyomizu-dera and Ginkaku-ji. The subway and JR San-in line to Arashiyama are faster and less crowded during late March.
Convenience stores (7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart) sell disposable hand warmers (kairo) for cold temple visits. Stick them in your pockets or inside your socks for the open-air corridors at Nijo Castle.
The weeping cherry at Maruyama Park is illuminated at night during bloom, but the generators powering the lights also create a persistent hum. For photography, the pre-dawn hour around 5:30 gives better light and silence.
Kitano Tenmangu's flea market on March 25 (Tenjin-san) coincides with the early cherry blossom period, creating a rare overlap of market stalls and blooming trees that doesn't happen in other months.
Fushimi Inari is coldest and emptiest before 7:30. The summit takes about 60-90 minutes at a steady pace, and you will have the upper gates largely to yourself if you start early.
Avoid these mistakes
- Booking accommodation for late March at early-March rates, then discovering the reservation does not exist because the property repriced and the aggregator canceled. Confirm directly with the property for late-March stays.
- Assuming cherry blossoms will be in full bloom during the last week of March. In most years, full bloom in Kyoto falls in the first week of April. March gives you buds and, in lucky years, first opening.
- Packing only for spring weather because the calendar says March. Nights at 3°C in a wooden building with no central heating feel like winter. Bring layers rated for near-freezing.
- Relying solely on buses for transport during the cherry blossom period. Routes 100 and 206 can take 40-50 minutes for a trip that would be 15 minutes by subway or train.
- Skipping Nara because it seems like a separate trip. The 45-minute JR train from Kyoto Station makes it an easy half-day, and the Omizutori torch ceremony in early March is one of the Kansai region's most dramatic annual events.
Practical tips for March
March straddles winter and spring in Kyoto. Dress for 3°C mornings and 14°C afternoons by layering. Carry rain gear daily since 130mm of rainfall spreads across roughly 11 rainy days, often in multi-day stretches. IC cards (ICOCA or Suica) work on all Kyoto buses, subways, and JR trains, and save time over buying individual tickets. Convenience stores and department store basements (depachika) sell affordable bento for temple-ground lunches. Most temples open at 8:30 or 9:00 and close at 17:00, with last entry 30 minutes before closing. Coin lockers at Kyoto Station range across several sizes, helpful for day-trip bags when checking out of accommodation. Late March accommodation fills fast once cherry blossom forecasts narrow the bloom window, so book well in advance if your travel dates overlap with the predicted first bloom.
FAQ
Will cherry blossoms be blooming in Kyoto in March?
In most years, the first cherry blossoms open in Kyoto around March 25-28, with full bloom following 5-7 days later in early April. Warm years have seen first bloom as early as March 22. Most March visitors catch the build-up and early buds rather than full bloom, though late-March travelers in warm years may see the first days of opening at early spots like Daigo-ji and Maruyama Park.
How cold does Kyoto get in March at night?
Night temperatures in March typically drop to 3-4°C (38°F), with early March mornings occasionally dipping near 0°C in the Kitayama and Arashiyama areas. Traditional wooden guesthouses and ryokan often lack central heating, relying instead on space heaters and thick futon bedding. If you are staying in a machiya or temple lodging, pack as if nights will feel like winter.
Is March a good time to visit Kyoto on a budget?
The first two weeks of March offer shoulder-season pricing, with hotel rates 10-20% below the annual average. The final 10 days shift to peak pricing as cherry blossom forecasts firm up, with rates potentially doubling or tripling compared to early March. For budget travel, aim for March 1-15 and book at least 6 weeks ahead.
What is the Higashiyama Hanatoro illumination?
A 10-night event in March where over 2,400 lanterns line the stone-paved lanes of the Higashiyama district between Shoren-in and Kiyomizu-dera. The event is free, runs from dusk until about 21:30, and includes ikebana displays and light installations at several temples along the route. It happens only in March.
Should I take the bus or train to get around Kyoto in March?
Trains and subway are more reliable than buses in late March. Bus routes 100 and 206, which serve Kiyomizu-dera and Ginkaku-ji, get heavily congested once cherry blossom season starts. The Karasuma and Tozai subway lines cover central Kyoto efficiently, and the JR San-in line reaches Arashiyama in about 15 minutes from Kyoto Station.
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