Maruyama Koen Park

Maruyama - Koen Park is built with exquisite design and makeover with a very scenic lake, some gurgling streams and some of the best cherry trees in Kyoto. This dazzling park is nestled at the foot of Mount Higashiyama, sandwiched between Yasaka-jinja Shrine to the south and Chion-in Shrine to the north. If you're in Kyoto during cherry blossom season, this is the place to go for some serious hanami (cherry blossom viewing) parties, but be prepared for crowds and public drunkenness (fortunately, that's what This rarely leads to fighting like in other countries). Once a festival takes place, people often organize a picnic as well as have fun and gather friends together. Everyone brings lunchboxes to the picnic, mothers will make a lot of Onigiri (rice balls), Bento, sushi, and fathers will be indispensable for a bottle of Sake and beer gathering under the trees. Peach flowers, see flowers, sing. This is really a way for Japanese people to relax after stressful working hours. This public park is not spread over a huge area (total 86,000m2) but has many different areas to rest, eat and drink. Around these gathering spots are cleverly arranged food stalls that sell beer or takoyaki (octopus balls).

Maruyama, is classified as a cultural heritage of Japan and is built as with high and low multi-storey terrain. In the center of this park is a giant weeping cherry tree, accented with night light when in full bloom. You can continue walking with the large Chion-in temple located just north of this park