5 things to see and do at the Naked Sakura Festival at Nijo Castle, Kyoto

At the entrance to the Ninomaru-goten palace is the Karamon, an intricate gate adorned with carved lions and brightly coloured decorations. During the festival, this important cultural property of Japan will be the canvas for ‘Sakurabayashi’, a projection mapping display of a cherry blossom snowstorm and blooming sakura.

Walk through the Karamon and you’ll emerge on a path towards the Minamimon gate. The wall along this route is lit up with a sakura illumination that recreates the fluttering movement of cherry blossom petals falling in the wind.

As you make your way through the grounds, you’ll come across the inner moat and the striking ‘Sakura-zukiyoezu’ installation. This display, which means ‘cherry blossom moonlit night’, will illuminate a stretch of the moat’s stone walls with vivid cherry blossom patterns. In addition to the sakura imagery, it will feature projections of golden paintings inspired by the Kano school, which has been creating traditional Japanese artwork since the 1500s.

This display will stretch across 140 metres of the moat and will provide a vivid backdrop for photo opportunities of both the historic stonework and the digital artwork.

There are more than 300 cherry trees of 50 different varieties on the grounds of Nijo Castle, and during this event you can see them like never before.

One of the best places to admire the nighttime cherry blossom is around the Cherry Grove. Here, the ‘Hanakagari no Sono’ installation is a sensory experience that combines sounds, scents and lights to create a unique way to appreciate the iconic flower. Notes of traditional Japanese instruments and floral fragrances will fill the air as lights fluctuate to illuminate the trees, representing the Japanese proverb of ichigo ichie, which translates as ‘once in a lifetime’.

Another area to enjoy the beautiful nighttime cherry blossom is the Seiryu-en garden, which is surrounded by sakura trees. Its display, called ‘Ouka-ranman’, represents a gentle spring breeze blowing through the garden with music, fragrance and lights. Stroll along the paths through the garden to appreciate the beauty of the trees combined with the installation.

Also in Seiryu-en garden, you can see the traditional Koun-tei tea house illuminated in the colours of spring. The pink lights will reflect beautifully in the pond beneath the building.

At its essence, hanami is about sitting back and admiring the cherry blossoms over some food and drink. And Naked Sakura Festival offers you the chance to do that in style at the premium hanami area.

This special package includes a reserved seating area with a great view of the Nijo Castle buildings and the blossoming trees. What’s more, you can also choose from a selection of drinks and snacks to enjoy while taking in the view. These offerings include traditional Japanese sweets from renowned Kyoto tea shop Fukujuen, which are perfect when paired with a cup of matcha.

In addition to the food, drinks and view, there’s a special dramatic performance featuring the character of Tokugawa Yoshinobu, a former shogun of Japan. You can even get a photo with Yoshinobu, plus a special souvenir set including Naked goods.

The premium sakura viewing area set costs ¥9,000 per person and it includes a complimentary snack and beverage set, souvenir and performance, plus entry to the festival, of course. It’s available for three time slots per night (6.30pm, 7.30pm and 8.30pm) and can be booked online.

You won’t go hungry or thirsty at the Naked Sakura Festival, thanks to an Instagram-worthy array of cherry blossom-inspired food and drink prepared by Tokyo restaurant Tree by Naked.

There’s a wide selection of drinks for every taste. Get a caffeine hit with a cup of matcha soy latte, which is made with tea from famous Kyoto tea shop Fukujuen. Alternatively, order a sakura soy chai for a sweet and spicy treat.

Soft drinks are available, too, including a sakura lemonade crafted from lemons soaked in cane sugar and cherry blossoms. For something harder, look no further than the sakura highball, which combines the lemonade’s cane sugar and cherry blossom syrup with whiskey.

If you get hungry, fill up with the chilled yakitori chicken. This dish is made from chicken marinated in white wine vinegar coupled with green onions and topped with a sweet and sour sauce.

You can enjoy the food and drink while checking out projection mapping displays in the Daidokoro-mae dining area. ‘Hanamori no Utage’, which means ‘cherry blossom banquet’, will depict a sakura celebration on the surrounding walls. There’s even an interactive display called ‘Hanadoki’, which shows various types of sakura blooming as you go near it. The variety of sakura featured represent the ones found inside the castle ground, and each viewer will get a different design at random. 

One of the most interactive ways to experience the festival is by renting a Naked Distance Lantern. These handheld lanterns are available in five different patterns inspired by Nijo Castle’s cherry trees and cast a colourful glow as you walk around the site, making you a moving part of the digital art event. It costs ¥500 to rent a lantern.

Another way to get involved with the art displays is by picking up a Naked Hanamikuji (¥500). These omikuji paper fortunes are shaped like flowers, including cherry blossoms, and can be added to an on-site installation. Or you can take your omikuji home with you as a pretty souvenir.

There are plenty of other gift options, too. A delicious choice is the Naked Fuji canele, a dessert made in collaboration with sweets brand Mt Fuji Canele. You’ll get two sakura-flavoured caneles in a limited-edition cherry blossom box for ¥1,400.

If all that wasn’t enough, there’s also a selection of beauty products like aroma oils and bath salts, plus stationery sets, chocolates and towels to take home with you.

Get your tickets to the Naked Sakura Festival here.