Kanao is a young girl of short stature, with large, gentle eyes of a pink-lilac color that are framed by thick eyelashes. She has thin black hair, worn tied into a ponytail on the right side of her head that's fastened by a pink and green butterfly ornament that once belonged to her adoptive sister, Kanae Kocho.] She has a straight fringe and two loose, chin-length strands that curve downwards from above each of her ears.

When Kanao reappears after the events of the Entertainment District Arc, her appearance changes as she stops wearing her white cloak, opting to wear only her plain Demon Slayer uniform instead.

Superhuman Eyesight - Kanao possesses extremely sharp eyesight, being able to accurately predict her opponent's next attack and movements by simply observing the subtle shifts of their muscles, joints and the slight movements of their eyes. This allows her to make effective counterattacks and dodges and stay ahead of her opponents. The Upper Moon Two, Doma, comments on this feat and remarks that due to this skill, Kanao may be more skilled than Shinobu.
This ability is enhanced with her Final Form: Scarlet Spider Lily Eyes Breath of the Flower technique.
Full Focus Breath Style - As noted by the other residences of the Butterfly Estate, Kanao has already fully mastered the ability to remain constantly focused in using her Breath Style and was able to master the ability to remain constantly in full focus for over 24 hours.

Breath of Flower (花はなの呼こ吸きゅう Hana no kokyū?) is a breath style derived from the Breath of Water, taught by Kanae, the former Flower Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps.

First Form:
Second Form: Honorable Shadow Plum (弐にノ型かた 御み影かげ梅うめ Ni no kata: Mikage Ume?) - A defensive techniques that deflects attacks using rotating sword slashes.
Third Form:
Fourth Form: Crimson Hanagoromo (肆しノ型かた 紅べに花はな衣ごろも Shi no kata: Beni Hanagoromo?) - A single sword slash that curves and twists.
Fifth Form: Peony of Futility (伍ごノ型かた 徒あだの芍しゃく薬やく Go no kata: Ada no Shakuyaku?) - A graceful flurry of nine consecutive attacks that flow and weave in on themselves.
Sixth Form: Whirling Peach (陸ろくノ型かた 渦うず桃もも Roku no kata: Uzumomo?) A technique used after or during evasion, the user spins around moving with their body weight to deliver an attack.
Final Form: Equinoctial Vermilion Eye (終ついノ型かた 彼ひ岸がん朱しゅ眼がん Tsui no kata: Higan Shugan?) - A focusing technique that raises the users kinetic vision to its maximum, while using this technique the user perceives the world as if it were in slow motion. Usage of the technique however is highly dangerous, as the tremendous strain caused to the eyes ruptured blood vessels and could cause partial or complete blindness.