Enjoy their fleeting beauty while you can.
Spring is here, bringing with it the highly anticipated cherry blossom season—one of the most captivating sights in nature. Between mid-March and mid-April, cherry trees across the United States burst into soft pink blooms, signaling the start of spring festivals nationwide.
Cherry blossom festivities aren’t limited to the United States, either. Countries around the world—from Canada to Japan to New Zealand—celebrate these short-lived, pink blooms with lively events. Alongside the flowers themselves, these festivals often highlight cultural performances, traditional cuisine, and artistic showcases.
If you want to make the most of this special season, it’s worth exploring cities renowned for their cherry blossom celebrations. Whether you’re walking beneath the blossoms at Washington, D.C.’s Tidal Basin or taking in the festivities in Vancouver, each destination offers its own memorable way to experience this natural spectacle. Here are 30 places around the globe where you can admire the fleeting beauty of cherry blossoms.
Tokyo is flooded with thousands of tourists every March, eager to see the centuries-old cherry blossom trees bloom across the pink city. Visit Asukayama Park to take in local contests and eat some great food, or pay to enter Koishikawa Korakuen, one of the oldest parks in Tokyo and home to the "weeping" species of cherry tree.
Where to stay: The Park Hotel's spring sale offers discounted views of Tokyo Tower at night.
The National Cherry Blossom Festival in DC is the largest festival in the US. The National Park Service runs the festival from March 20th until April 14th, updating peak bloom times on its website. Visitors can enjoy fireworks, the Cherry Blossom Parade, and an opening ceremony that includes a live performance of Sailor Moon.
Where to stay: Hotel Hive offers stunning city views that are walking distance from the tidal basin.
Blossoms in Paris start blooming as early as the first week of March. Catch these beauties by the Shakespeare & Co bookstore, home to the oldest trees in Paris. Visiting France in April? The "pink whale," a massive tree in the Jardin des Plantes, is the last to flower in late April, signaling the end of the season.
Where to stay: In between the Jardin des Plantes and Jardin Luxembourg is the Hotel des Nations St. Germain, a boutique hotel that provides breakfast with your stay.
Busan, the second largest city in South Korea, experiences an earlier bloom thanks to its balmy climate. Starting in late March, tourists flock to Hwangnyeongsan Ring Road, a nearly 2-mile stretch of old trees with views of Namcheon beach. Visiting earlier in the day means taking advantage of the nearby mountain observatory.
Where to stay: Hotel Haeundae offers centrally located suites starting at $88.
Since 1968, Hamburg has celebrated its sister city, Osaka, with classes, performances, and fireworks coordinated by Japanese clubs around the community. Though the peak bloom of the 5,000+ cherry blossoms happens in late April, events usually take place in May, after the trees turn green.
Where to stay: Le Meridian Hotel's lakeside location offers panoramic views of the blossoms from $134.
The Copenhagen Sakura Festival, every last weekend in April, is two days of food, music, and art. The event offers two stages of performances and classes underneath the sprawling trees in Langelinie Park. Lucky lottery winners can even win a trip to Tokyo to witness the original bloom themselves!
Where to stay: The 71 Nyhaven Hotel's riverside location and rustic touches are the definition of Hygge.
For more than 100 years, Salem has held events to celebrate its cherry tree orchards and the Japanese influence in Oregon. Throughout the month of March, local businesses hold their own events to mark the bloom, including traditional dinners at Oregon wineries and a display of 30 parasols designed by Salem artists.
Where to stay: The Oregon Garden's own resort features private patios overlooking the botanical gardens and fireplaces for chilly nights.
The Jerte Valley in the Extremadura region of Spain is home to over 2 million cherry trees. In late March, the rural valleys are covered in white petals for 10 days--their dry season makes this one of the shortest blooms in the world.
Where to stay: Built into the valley's forest is the Hospederia Valle del Jerte, a modern hotel with a pool, restaurant, and 360-degree views of the wild flower bloom.
Macon's 10-day Cherry Blossom Festival started in 1952 when William Fickling Sr. realized that the trees in his background were similar to the ones covering Washington, DC's naval basin. Fickling began growing the trees around his neighborhood and gifting them to his friends and co-workers. Now the town celebrates its nearly 350,000 cherry trees in late March with an annual pageant, fair, and concert.
Where to stay: The 1842 Inn has period furniture and a bar service around the parlor's fireplaces.
The ancient city of Wuxi holds one of the longest festivals in the world. From March 1 until May 1, the home of the Grand Buddha offers online and in-person events centered around Turtle Head Isle Park. The start of the season is signaled by eight ancient fishing boats sailing into its famous lake.
Where to stay: The Radisson Blu's affordable Wuxi outpost is built within a traditional Chinese garden and features live performances in its restaurants.
The Southern Hemisphere experiences its cherry blossoms from August to October, with Auckland's peak season stretching the whole month of September. Cornwall Park offers face painting and orchestra concerts on Cherry Blossom Sundays starting in late September.
Where to stay: M Social boasts free breakfast and the longest bar in the city, but stay for the harbor views and unlimited movies.
The Japanese Society of Sweden holds Cherry Flower Day in Kungsträdgården Park in late April, despite cold weather holding off peak bloom until May. Food and clothing stalls surround the central fountain, where visitors can watch fashion shows and traditional dances.
Where to stay: Walking distance from both Old Town and the Central Station is the Scandic Continental, a modern hotel with a rooftop bar and a highly regarded breakfast menu.
Several parks around London are home to the cherry blossom bloom in late March, peaking around the same time as the magnolia tree. The pink blends make for a beautiful picnic in Greenwich Park, home to a rose garden and cherry tree tunnel.
Where to stay: Live your Notting Hill dreams at the London House Hotel, a townhouse walking distance to parks and Prince William's Palace.
Amsterdam Forest is home to 300 cherry trees blooming in early April. Though the annual festival was cancelled this year, city officials urge residents to visit the Bloesempark area and see the trees, donated by the Japanese Women's Club. Cherry blossoms were also planted along a section of Amsterdam's famous canals, turning the river water pink with its petals.
Where to stay: The Hotel Estherea opened in 1940 in a series of row homes along the Amstel, staying in the same family for generations. Come for the stunning decor and boutique service, stay for the canal views.
Thailand's hot climate means cherry blossom season is reserved for the cool season. Northern Thailand sees natural blooms from late December to mid-February, but tourists can enjoy locally farmed coffee at Khun Chang Kian Highland Agriculture Research Centerand view a small collection of the pink trees in popular Chiang Mai.
Where to stay: Nestled in a bamboo grove, steps from central Chiang Mai, is the De Naga Hotel, a nature retreat with mountain views and a relaxing pool.
Chiune Sugihara Sakura Park in Lithuania's capital holds over a dozen cherry trees planted in the diplomat's honor. On his 100th birthday, the city opened the park to thank him for helping 6,000 Jews escape Europe during the Holocaust. Now, the Negris Riveroverlook is a scenic spot for picnics, walks, and celebrations every May.
Where to stay: The Novotel Vilnius' old town location is perfect for a spring walk to nearby parks, and the sauna is perfect for colder nights.
Just like Lithuania, Michigan's cold temperatures set the peak season for mid-May. The Traverse City website advises visitors to start on the southern edge of the city, farther from the water and protected from colder winds, to see the best flowers.
Where to stay: A Breath of Heaven is a rustic log home and bed & breakfast on 10-acre grounds with stellar reviews. One reviewer even wrote that her stay, "sparks joy"!
The 40,000 cherry trees planted around Vancouver's rivers and parks have already started blooming! The warm weather this year has turned the city every shade of pink, a week before its Cherry Blossom Festival even started. For nearly a month, this Canadian city celebrates its diverse residents with tours, a haiku contest, and a jazz concert that winds through the tree-lined paths.
Where to stay: The Blue Horizon's award-winning, eco-friendly hotel attracts guests with mountain-side views and proximity to parks and cultural centers.
Jinhae, a four-hour bus ride from Seoul, is home to the largest cherry blossom festival in South Korea. The 10-day celebration, held the first week of April, features a light festival for night viewing, the annual opening of the Korean Naval Academy, and dozens of cherry blossom-themed foods. The nature-filled city, dotted with mountains and surrounded by coastline, is known for being family-friendly, so you can bring the kids!
Where to stay: Score free breakfast and dinner at the closest hotel to the festival itself, the Best Louis Hamilton Hotel.
Charles River Park, the division between urban Boston and college town Cambridge, is home to several varieties of cherry trees, including the rare "weeping" species. The long bloom time spans from March to May, with peak season stretching into the month of April. Local Brookline High School throws a weekend festival for the Japanese community with traditional foods and dances.
Where to stay: The Omni Parker Hotel's historic past and location to trendy Faneuil Hall granted it over 4,000 5-star reviews on TripAdvisor.
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