A cherry blossom festival has been held at Hirano Shrine every year since the year 985! It is the oldest annual festival in Kyoto. Food vendors and other stalls line the paths, small lanterns are strung through the trees, and all the bigger lanterns of the shrine add their warm glow to the scene, and over it all hang the branches of many beautiful weeping cherry trees.
- 1 min read
Spring at Hirano Shrine
Celebrate spring at the oldest annual festival in Kyoto
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By Cathy Cawood
Community writer
 alt="Weeping cherry and lanterns
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Weeping cherry and lanterns
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Stalls line the path
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Umbrella under cherry blossom
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Red covered seating
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Orange lanterns
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You can buy crepes here
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Hirano Shrine
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Red wooden lanterns beside the path
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Flowers in the grass
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Plastic blow-up toys
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Lanterns strung through the trees
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Early evening, before the crowds arrive
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Rachel Holmes
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