Places to Go: Cherry Blossoms at Shirakawa-dori

A scenic street in the heart of the Gion area, Shirakawa-dōri lies alongside the Shirakawa canal and is flanked by willow on one side and sakura cherry trees on the other. The buildings that line the canal are high-class restaurants, inns, and teahouses that offer gorgeous riverside dining and Kyoto cuisine. Since it’s slightly off the beaten path it isn’t as crowded as other areas of Gion can get. A popular local shrine, Tatsumi Daimyōjin, is situated at the fork in the cobblestone path, and bridges ove