Mount Yoshino
吉野山
Japan's top cherry blossom destination, with about 30,000 mountain cherry trees covering the slopes. Together with Kinpusenji it forms the World Heritage 'Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range.'
Mount Yoshino is divided into Shimosenbon, Nakasenbon, Kamisenbon and Okusenbon, from the foot to the summit. The cherry trees bloom in order of altitude, and the blossoms can last about three weeks. The view of 'a thousand cherry trees at a glance' is spectacular. At the top is Kinpusenji, the head temple of the Shugendo mountain religion. Zao-do is the second-largest wooden building in Japan. There are also Yoshimizu Shrine and Chikurin-in. From Yoshino Station on the Kintetsu line, take the cable car or walk up the mountain, and buses run to Kamisenbon. From Nara, it takes about 1.5 to 2 hours with a transfer at Kashihara-jingu-mae. During cherry blossom season the crowds are enormous, so it's best to leave early on a weekday morning.
Opening hours
Open all day; Kinpusen-ji 08:30–16:30
Nearby sights
- Asuka Village & Ishibutai Kofun
- Kashihara Jingu
- Fujiwara Palace Site
- Omiwa Shrine
- Hase-dera (Sakurai)
- Muro-ji
- Chugu-ji
- Horyu-ji