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Early last week, I visited Daigoji's vast complex of temples. Daigoji has a huge number of cherry trees and was the site of an enormous hanami (flower-viewing) party thrown by medieval warlord/ruler Hideyoshi Toyotomi. He had over 700 trees planted for the occasion and entertained 1300 guests.

Ninnaji's sakura bloom later than most others in Kyoto. Known as "Omurozakura" (named after the Omuro school of Buddhism practiced at the temple), the branches of these dwarf trees are overloaded with blossoms. Combined, these characteristics make the five-storied pagoda look like it's floating above clouds.

(Swipe for more) Kiyamachi is a bustling stretch of restaurants, bars, and other nightlife establishments beside a very beautiful tree-lined canal criss-crossed with bridges.

Walking down the center of a 1.4 kilometer tunnel of sakura trees is an impressive sight, but I love the side view shown here: branches hanging in an almost impossible way over the grassy slopes.

Hiranoya's moss-covered thatched roof nearly blends in with the emerging leaves behind it. About a 20 minute walk from Arashiyama's main drag, I made the journey especially for the delicious house specialty "shinko" dumplings, hand-twisted and served with a generous amount of black sugar kinako and a bowl of matcha (swipe for a pic).

Brilliant yellow canola flowers and blossoms line the Yamashina Canal, creating quite a dramatic combination. The bridge spanning the canal is a great viewpoint as well.

The weeping cherry tree that arches gracefully over Kyoto's Sannenzaka is a favorite of tourists and photographers. This beautiful historic area attracts large numbers of people, especially during sakura season. I usually avoid it for that reason, so this is actually my first year seeing it in bloom!

Kamishichiken is the oldest of Kyoto's five remaining geisha districts, and has close ties with the nearby Kitanotenmangu Shrine. (The green roof in the center of this sketch is the east gate). Just as I was snapping pictures of my completed sketch, one of Kamishichiken's maiko "photobombed" me, much to my delight! Can you spot her? She's on the left.

Showers of pink ume blossoms falling on green moss at Jonangu, framed by tsubaki (camellia). This was my second visit this season, in part because the sketch I started there didn't feel finished. I decided to add more of the ume (plum) trees' signature gnarled branches, which is one of the many reasons I like them even more than sakura. Their fragrance is also amazing. I don't know why it's not a more popular scent... of anyone can recommend ume blossom-scented products please do!

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