Yamashina Canal Park, Kyoto

This one-off, three-day cherry blossom illumination event – created by popular digital art collective Naked to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Kyoto’s Yamashina Ward – is free and requires no prior registration. It’s an ideal last-minute activity for anyone who prefers being spontaneous and isn’t keen on planning their sakura outing ahead of time. For this special occasion, the cherry blossoms and yellow rapeseed flowers at Yamashina Canal Park will be illuminated after sunset to create a mesmerising nighttime spectacle. To enhance your experience, you can rent a Naked Distance Lantern (¥500) to light your walk and contribute to the overall atmosphere. You can also join a workshop and colour your own lantern (¥800). Event-exclusive merchandise will be available, including sakura-shaped picnic blankets that are perfect for enjoying hanami (cherry blossom viewing) picnics. For a fun, interactive experience, try the Naked Flower Fortune Slip, where you select an artificial flower to reveal your fortune. To reach Yamashina Canal Park, take the Tokaido-Sanyo Line from Kyoto Station (about five minutes on the Special Rapid service) and get off at Yamashina Station. The park is about ten minutes’ walk away.