Road Trip to Explore the Cherry Blossoms of Southern Kyoto Prefecture

The Sewaritei area is located north of Iwashimizu-hachimangu Station (Keihan Main Line), immediately after crossing Goko-bashi Bridge. The cherry blossom tunnel stretches for approximately 1.4 kilometers in a narrow area sandwiched between the Kizu River and Uji River. These two rivers merge with the Katsura River shortly after their confluence, changing their names to the Yodo River and flowing through Osaka. In spring, the Sewaritei bank offers a breathtaking experience of walking through the tunnel of cherry blossoms. In this season, Sewaritei Sakura Festival is held, featuring food, drinks, and many other attractions. It is a very popular hanami (cherry-blossom viewing) spot for people of all ages, from children and young people to the elderly. Additionally, the observation tower of the Sakura-deai Visitor Center offers a spectacular view of the long cherry blossom carpet. It's also enjoyable to simply relax in the spacious grassy area.

This friendly, old-fashioned Japanese restaurant specializes in traditional saba-sushi (mackerel sushi), and can be foudn just in front of Iwashimizu-hachimangu Station on the Keihan Line. Located at the foot of Ishimizu Hachimangu, a National Treasure, Asahi-ya has been in business for over 100 years. The restaurant serves its specialty, mackerel bouzushi (""stick"" sushi) using carefully selected top-quality mackerel from northeastern Japan, rice and vegetables from Yawata, and other fresh seafood ingredients. Take-out is also available.

Nagaoka Tenmangu is a shrine in Nagaokakyo City, Kyoto Prefecture, not far from Kyoto City and close to Uji—the region of Kyoto famous for matcha green tea—and the famous Otokuni Bamboo grove. Nagaoka-Tenmangu is also known as "Mikaeri-tenjin" (a shrine that's "hard-to-leave"), and was dedicated to Sugawara-no Michizane, a Japanese scholar, poet, and politician of the Heian era (794–1185). It is said that Michizane was posted to Dazaifu City (the military and administrative centre of Kyushu at the time), on his way to which he visited the location where the shrine currently stands, and was reluctant to leave. The entrance path to the main hall is lined with hedges of approximately 150-year-old Kirishima azalea trees, which bear distinctive dark red flowers which will be in full bloom beginning in late April, when they create an azalea tunnel. The Kirishima azaleas are also designated by Nagaokakyo City as a protected species. At Nagaoka Tenmangu Shrine there is beautiful scenery to be enjoyed all year round, from cherry blossoms in the spring, lotus flowers in the summer, and Autumn foliage light-up events illuminating Nagaoka Tenmangu Shrine's Japanese garden, Kinkei-en. Next to the Hachijoga-ike Pond there is also a restaurant, Kinsuitei, where you can enjoy the beautiful scenery together with cuisine made using freshly picked young bamboo shoots in the springtime, or other traditional Kyoto cuisine during other times of the year

Located in Muko City in the Otokuni Bamboo Grove area of Kyoto Prefecture, Muko shrine is an ancient shrine founded in 718 and is said to be a shrine for good harvest, academic achievement, and traffic safety. Originally, there were two shrines on Muko Mountain、and they were later combined into one shrine and given the name “Muko shrine” that it goes by today. The main shrine, built in 1422 (Oei 29), was built in the “Sangensha Nagare-zukuri” style (three-bay wide structure with a gable roof) and has been designated as a national important cultural property. A gentle cobblestone slope extends from the entrance gate to the main shrine. In spring, cherry blossoms are in full bloom on both sides of the over 200m path and in fall the changing autumn leaves turn the path into a colorful tunnel of red and orange. What’s more, in April every year the "Sakura Festival" is held with events such as flower arrangement exhibitions, koto and drum performances, and bonfires are lit at night to create a different way to experience the cherry blossom from the daytime. In addition, the "Fire Festival" is held in October where Gomagi wood is burned to pray for a disease-free life and happiness.

Kirin-en is a Chinese restaurant that's been in business for over 50 years. It serves tan tan ramen noodles, a dish that has the distinction of winning the inaugural “Kara-1 Grand Prix” held by Muko City in 2012, a competition to determine Japan’s best super spicy dish. Kirin-en's noodles have enjoyed unwavering popularity ever since. With the rich, deep flavor of the sesame and niku miso (minced meat fried in miso) amid the searing heat of the spices, it has a superb taste.