Tickets for the Ninna-ji Temple Omuro Flower Festival & Garden Visit in Kyoto, Japan

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-Details of the 2026 Omuro Flower Festival -

• Event period: March 27, 2026 (Friday) to May 6, 2026 (Wednesday and public holiday)
• Visiting hours: 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM (last entry: 5:00 PM)
• Imperial Palace Garden Visiting Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Last entry: 4:30 PM)

-Attraction Introduction-

• Ninna-ji Temple was founded in 888 AD and is now the head temple of the Omuro school of Shingon Buddhism. Many historical buildings from the Edo period are preserved within its grounds, such as the five-story pagoda and the Niōmon Gate. The Omuro cherry blossoms, planted around the same time, reach their peak viewing period around mid-April each year and retain their original appearance to this day.
  Furthermore, Ninna-ji Temple was designated a World Heritage Site in 1994 (Heisei 6). Entering through the Niōmon Gate, one of Kyoto's three main gates facing the road, one is greeted by the expansive and grand temple grounds. Within these grounds are the National Treasure "Kindō," as well as the Important Cultural Properties "Five-Storied Pagoda," "Miei-dō," and "Kannon-dō," along with numerous historical buildings within the Imperial Palace, including the "Ryōkō-tei" and "Hitaotei." Due to its deep ties with the Imperial Family and nobility, the overall architecture reflects the "Ninna-ji Imperial Palace" style, showcasing the elegant characteristics of Imperial Palace architecture.

• Famous scenic spot "Omuro Sakura"
  Every spring, the grounds of Ninna-ji Temple are adorned with beautiful cherry blossoms.
  The Somei Yoshino cherry blossoms in front of the Golden Hall and the weeping cherry blossoms in front of the Bell Tower are in full bloom, among which the "Omuro cherry blossoms" on the west side inside the Middle Gate are the most famous.
  The Omuro cherry blossoms are renowned for their late blooming and have been beloved by commoners since the Edo period, appearing frequently in waka poems. The lively cherry blossom viewing scene of that time was also recorded by the Edo-period Confucian scholar Kaihara Ekiken in his book, *Kyoto Shōkan*, as follows:
  "In spring, the area is rich in double-flowered cherry blossoms, the finest in Kyoto and beyond, comparable to the Yoshino cherry blossoms... Many people come to admire the blossoms, and the crowds are like tides every day..."
  Its magnificent bloom is thus considered comparable to that of the Yoshino cherry blossom. Furthermore, the Omuro cherry blossom was designated a National Scenic Spot of Japan in 1924 (Taisho 13). The Omuro cherry blossom is characterized by its late blooming period and low-growing stature. Previously, it was generally believed that this was due to the presence of a hard underground bedrock, preventing the roots from extending deep; however, recent investigations have revealed that it is actually planted in clay soil. Nevertheless, the lower oxygen and nutrient content in clay soil still affects root development, which is also considered one of the important reasons for the cherry blossom's stunted growth.