Spring is here and it’s that time of the year when beautiful pink and white flowers start blooming. It is one of nature’s most stunning displays that just cannot be missed. The cherry blossoms of Japan are the most famous of them all, however there are many locations across the globe where one can witness this natural phenomena in its full bloom.
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10 Amazing Places To Experience The Beauty Of Cherry Blossoms
Thinking where to start, don’t worry, we got you covered, here’s our list of the top 10 places from around the world to experience cherry blossom trees this year.
1. Tokyo, Japan
In Japan the cherry blossom season is called sakura, a season that turns the city into a dreamy pink paradise. When you say cherry blossom, the first place that comes into one’s mind is Japan. Japan’s capital Tokyo offers one of the best flower viewing experiences that you can ever imagine. The historic temples and gardens provide the perfect backdrop, creating a surreal atmosphere. This is the time of the year when locals and travelers gather for picnics under the thousands of cherry trees.
Peak Bloom Time: March – April
Top Viewing Spots: Ueno Park, Yoyogi Park, Shinjuku Gyoen, Meguro River.
Also Read: Everything You Need To Know About The Cherry Blossoms In Japan
2. Seoul, South Korea
Seoul is one place that knows exactly how to put on great cherry blossom shows, thanks to the popular K-Dramas series. South Korea‘s capital, Seoul, has many photogenic spots that feel like a fairytale during peak bloom. Thousands of cherry trees blooming against a backdrop of mountains makes for a picture-perfect scene. The Yeouido Cherry Blossom Festival brings the city to life with its exhibits, array of street performances and food stalls. A must visit destination to experience those beautiful blooms.
Peak Bloom Time: March – Early April
Top Viewing Spots: Yeouido Park, Han River, Namsan Mountain, Seokchon Lake, Seoul Forest, Seoul Grand Park.
3. Vancouver, Canada
Vancouver celebrates cherry blossoms in spring season with a month-long annual festival that has arts, music, and culinary events to bring the community and its people together. In the 1930s when Japan gifted Vancouver their first 500 cherry trees, they never once thought that it would grow to more than 40,000 trees. The stunning views of the multiple cherry varieties blooming makes Vancouver one of the best places in North America to experience the sakura season.
Peak Bloom Time: March – Late February to Early May
Top Viewing Spots: Queen Elizabeth Park, VanDusen Botanical Garden, Stanley Park.
4. Washington D.C., USA
The cherry blossom season in Washington is brief but its impact is quite huge. Over 1.5 million visitors come in every year to attend the National Cherry Blossom Festival. What started as an exchange of trees between the Japanese and American people is now a significant cultural event that’s well worth checking out. People from all over flock to the water’s edge to enjoy the picturesque display of cherry blossoms and also for some excellent photo opportunities.
Peak Bloom Time: Mid-March – Late April
Top Viewing Spots: Tidal Basin, East Potomac Park, Jefferson Memorial and Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial.
Click Here To Book Your Cherry Blossom Private Bus Tour Of Washington DC
5. Jerte Valley, Spain
Unlike the other places that have pink blooms, cherry blossoms in Spain’s Jerte Valley have all their blooms in white. Over two million white cherry trees bloom with breathtaking landscapes and it is difficult to peel your eyes off. All the slopes of Jerte Valley get covered in a blanket of white flowers during the blooming time. The blooms are an indication of the arrival of spring season. With the bloom comes the medieval markets, music, and open-air festivals to welcome the spring season.
Peak Bloom Time: Mid-March – Mid April
Top Viewing Spots: Villages of Piornal, Casas Del Castañar, Barrado, Cabrero, and the Garganta de los Infiernos Nature Reserve.
6. London, England
The pretty-in-pink season graces London with full bloom, not as major as Japan but definitely cherry blossom here gives some unforgettable spring scene. For people who don’t want to travel halfway across the world to witness the petals in full bloom, this is a great option. From parks to gardens, from pathways to ponds, there are plenty of spots to soak in the magic.
Peak Bloom Time: March – Early May
Top Viewing Spots: Greenwich Park, Regent’s Park, Kew Garden, Noting Hills, Chelsea.
7. Paris, France
Nothing can get more romantic than witnessing the cherry blossom with the Eiffel tower as a backdrop. The city’s pleasant spring weather adds on to the overall experience. There is no designated place to experience the blooms but you can spot the blooming trees as you walk across the street, in the gardens and in front of the carousel. During the bloom time, Paris receives a lot of tourists as everyone wants an Instagram-worthy picture in the city of love.
Peak Bloom Time: Last week of March and first week of April
Top Viewing Spots: Jardin des Plantes, Montmartre, Parc de Sceaux, Square Gabriel-Pierné, Luxembourg Gardens.
8. Stockholm, Sweden
Sweden’s Stockholm has proved that flowers can bloom even in northern climates. However the blooms last only for a few weeks, so make sure to be there at the right time to catch the best of it. With events like graduation ceremonies, concerts, food, music and traditional dance performances happening under the pink ceiling, the whole place is bustling with life during this time. Once can for sure see the Swedish-Japan cultural exchange which adds to the overall viewing experience.
Peak Bloom Time: Mid-March to late April
Top Viewing Spots: Kungsträdgården, Rosendal’s Garden on Djurgården Island, Bysistorget på Södermalm.
9. Yuantouzhu, China
Yuantouzhu, a land surrounded by water on three sides, has at least seventy types of cherry flowers in full bloom during the spring season. The sight of the fully bloomed flowers along the water side is a sight to behold. A boat ride along Taihu Lake will give good views of the pink and white flowers. The annual Yuantouzhu International Cherry Blossom Festival is the right time to enjoy the activities and the blooms. Make sure to plan a visit during this time.
Peak Bloom Time: March to late April
Top Viewing Spots: Sino-Japanese Friendship Oriental Cherry Plantation, Akura Valley, Lovers’ Valley, Changchun Bridge, Renjie Garden, Ten-mile Fragrant Lane, Yuantouzhu Park.
10. Auckland, New Zealand
Cherry blossom season is very short and sweet in Auckland. The bloom lasts only for a few weeks before they are blown away from a storm or fall to the ground. But for the few weeks they are there, it is a blizzard of pink and white blooms everywhere. Unlike the other places, the blooms start in September and last for a period of about four weeks.
Peak Bloom Time: Mid to late September
Top Viewing Spots: Cornwall Park, Auckland Botanic Gardens, Fairview Road, and Aston Norwood Gardens.
Conclusion
With so many places to see cherry blossoms across the globe, your viewing experience is going to be a great one. As spring is already here, start planning your visit at the earliest and do let us know which is your pick in the comments below.
FAQs
Yes, we can witness cherry blossom in India, especially in places like Sikkim, Ziro Valley, Shillong, Mawphlang and Darjeeling.
With around 300,000–350,000 Yoshino cherry trees, Macon in Georgia has the most cherry blossoms in the world. It is popularly known as the “Cherry Blossom Capital of the World.”
Both cherry blossom and sakura are the same. The word ‘sakura‘ is basically the Japanese word for cherry blossom and this word is a national obsession and a symbol of the country’s rich culture and history.
