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The Best Places to See Cherry Blossoms Around the World in 2025
If you’re searching for the best places to see cherry blossoms, you’ll want to aim for Japan, the global standard for sakura viewing, or check out festivals worldwide that celebrate these stunning, yet brief, pink and white blooms, representing new beginnings. However, there are lots of other spots around the world that also showcase gorgeous cherry blossoms.
Check out our 2025 guide for the best places to see cherry blossoms globally, including peak bloom predictions, so you can perfectly time your spring trip, whether you’re heading to iconic Tokyo spots or somewhere new for a traditional hanami celebration.
Hi there! I’m Emily, a travel writer with a passion for exploring the great world we live in. I love to share my travel wisdom where possible to ensure people can truly make the most of the time when they visit places. One of my most memorable trips was Rio De Janeiro in Brazil, that city has some of the most wonderful, crazy energy!
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In a Hurry? Here's our Key Info for This Article
- Japan remains the top destination, with iconic viewing in Tokyo (late March) and Kyoto (early April).
- The most famous North American display is in Washington D.C. around the Tidal Basin, peaking near the end of March.
- Newark, New Jerseys Branch Brook Park holds the largest collection of cherry trees in the United States, with over 5,000.
- European highlights include Spains Jerte Valley, where over two million fruit-bearing cherry trees bloom white in early spring.
- Visitors can enjoy a second bloom by traveling to the Southern Hemisphere (e.g., Australia) during their spring months of August to October.
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Cherry Blossoms in Japan
Japan is totally the top spot for cherry blossoms and this cherry blossom season should be no different! Thanks to its old-school tradition of celebrating those quick-to-bloom flowers, usually kicking off in late March and lasting into early April, depending on the area, and nothing beats seeing Mount Fuji framed by those beautiful blooms.
Tokyo (Late March to Early April 2025)
Tokyo turns into a pink dream during cherry blossom season, with the Japan Meteorological Corporation predicting the first blooms around March 21 2025 and peak bloom near March 28. You can check out popular spots like Ueno Park’s blossom tunnels or rent a boat at Chidorigafuchi Park with lots of places even lighting up the trees for a super cool night view. You will find that Tokyo offers some great cherry blossom tours to dive into!
Kyoto (Late March to Mid-April 2025)
If you want to see some awesome cherry blossoms in 2025, Kyoto is probably your best bet; its old temples and cool traditional buildings make for an absolutely perfect setting for those delicate flowers. They’re expected to hit peak bloom right around April 7 2025, which is usually just a little later than in Tokyo.
For a super-scenic hanami experience, you’ve got to check out the Philosopher’s Path, which is a lovely stone walkway along a canal packed with cherry trees. Later, Maruyama Park becomes the place to be, with a huge, illuminated weeping cherry tree for evening parties. Don’t forget the amazing views at Kiyomizu-dera Temple and the Arashiyama district for a great mix of nature and history and lastly, go attend an authentic Japanese tea ceremony while you’re there!
Osaka and Hiroshima (Late March to Early April 2025)
You can snap some amazing spring photos at Osaka Castle Park where around 4,000 cherry trees surround the cool old castle, and you can also get a uniquely Japanese blossom view on Hiroshima’s Miyajima Island by seeing the famous floating torii gate mixed with hillside blooms, with both spots likely hitting peak bloom in early April 2025.
“In Japan, the cherry blossom represents the fragility and beauty of life. It’s a reminder that life is overwhelmingly beautiful but also tragically short.”
– Homaro Cantu
Experience Japan’s Cherry Blossom Season
Heads up! You should book your 2025 Japan cherry blossom trip right now to snag your hotel since it’s a super busy time, and our partner has special trips that let you chase the bloom all the way from the south to the north.
North American Cherry Blossom Destinations
When it comes to cherry blossoms, North America has its own cool spots, with Washington D.C.’s Tidal Basin being the most famous since those trees were gifted by Japan way back in the day.
Washington D.C. (Late March to Early April 2025)
The National Park Service thinks D.C.’s 3,800 cherry trees will hit peak bloom sometime between March 28-31 2025 and you have to check out the Tidal Basin for the classic photo op with the blossoms framing the Jefferson Memorial, plus there’s the whole National Cherry Blossom Festival from March 20 to April 13 2025 with parades and Japanese cultural events, because that whole area just turns into a pink dream.
Branch Brook Park, Newark (Early to Mid-April 2025)
Don’t forget about Branch Brook Park in Newark, New Jersey, because it actually has way more cherry trees than D.C. (over 5,000!) and is the largest collection in the US. Plus they throw an awesome Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival in early to mid-April with concerts, bike races, and a 10K run right among the flowers.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden, New York (Late April to Early May 2025)
Check out the Brooklyn Botanic Garden where they’ve got over 200 trees (26 different kinds!) in the Cherry Esplanade and Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden, which is super pretty and becomes a pink hallway and they throw a big Sakura Matsuri festival with Japanese performances. This spot usually hits peak bloom in late April to early May, while up in Canada, High Park in Toronto has the most incredible show.
Vancouver and Victoria, Canada (2025)
Vancouver is covered in blossoms with more than 40,000 cherry trees (a lot were gifted by Japan way back in the 1930s!) and their Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival runs from March 26-April 28 2025, featuring cool guided walks and picnics.
While Victoria has a super long season lasting from late February all the way through May thanks to its milder weather. Get this: Macon, Georgia has a wild 350,000-plus cherry trees, which is way more than D.C. and hosts its International Cherry Blossom Festival from March 21-30 2025.
European Cherry Blossom Destinations
Even though Europe might not be as famous for cherry blossoms as Asia or North America, it still has some really cool places to check them out, especially since they’re often set against charming, historical backdrops.
Jerte Valley, Spain (Late March to Early April 2025)
You have to hear about Spain’s Jerte Valley in the west, which totally turns into a white sea when its incredible 2 million-plus cherry trees all bloom at the same time. These are actually grown for their fruit, giving you a beautiful but different kind of show, and their annual Cherry Blossom Festival (March 21-April 13 2025) is packed with regional food, music, and cultural happenings.
Kersenbloesempark, Amsterdam (April 2025)
For something unique, Amsterdam’s Cherry Blossom Park in Amstelveen has 400 trees, all gifted by the Japanese Women’s Club. Every single tree is named after a woman, half with Dutch names and half with Japanese names, with peak bloom usually happening around April.
Stockholm, Sweden (Late April to Early May 2025)
Central Stockholm’s Kungsträdgården (King’s Garden) explodes in pink every spring when its 63 Japanese cherry trees bloom and blow everyone away. The annual Cherry Blossom Day (April 27 2025) features Japanese shows, workshops, and food. The pink flowers against the old-school Stockholm buildings a really awesome sight for pictures.
Paris, France (Late March to Early April 2025)
If you’re in Paris, you can find charming spots to see the cherry blossoms near Notre Dame, at Parc de Sceaux, and in the Jardin des Plantes; they usually bloom from late March into early April and just make the already magical city even more romantic.
Cherry Blossoms Across Asia
Even though Japan is the most famous place for cherry blossoms in Asia, a bunch of other countries have equally stunning shows with their own cool cultural twists.
Seoul, South Korea (Late March to Early April 2025)
South Korea’s cherry blossom season usually kicks off in late March and lasts through mid-April. You need to hit up Yeouido Park in Seoul for the annual Spring Flower Festival when its 1,600 trees are totally covered in blooms. However, there are some other great spots for those amazing city skyline views include Gyeongbokgung Palace and Namsan Park.
Taipei, Taiwan (February to March 2025)
Taiwan is ahead of the game because their cherry blossom season starts super early as some areas see blooms as soon as January, and near Taipei, Yangmingshan National Park has different kinds of trees blooming back-to-back from February through March. You can get a unique view on the Alishan Forest Railway as the train rolls through the flower-covered mountains.
Wuhan, China (March 2025)
Wuhan University is super famous for its amazing cherry blossom show, with over a thousand trees all over campus. East Lake Cherry Blossom Park is also a great spot with more than 10,000 trees, with the whole thing usually hitting peak bloom in mid to late March.
Cherry Blossoms in the Southern Hemisphere
Since the seasons are flipped down south, people who love cherry blossoms can actually see them twice a year by hitting up the Southern Hemisphere during their spring.
Melbourne and Sydney, Australia (September to October 2025)
Near Melbourne, the Dandenong Ranges host the annual Cherry Blossom Festival at the Alowyn Gardens in September, while in Sydney, the Auburn Botanic Gardens Cherry Blossom Festival usually pops off in August. This gives you a chance to see the flowers bloom when the Northern Hemisphere is having summer.
Unique Cherry Blossom Destinations
Forget those super crowded spots because there are actually some really cool, unique places to check out the cherry blossoms where you’ll find way fewer people and still get an awesome view.
Istanbul, Turkey (April 2025)
Istanbul’s Emirgan Park, Turkey is pretty cool because it hosts the annual Tulip Festival in April and it happens right when its cherry trees bloom, so you get this amazing, colorful spring show with tulips and blossoms. All set against the stunning Bosphorus.
Shillong, India (November 2025)
For a really unusual sight, the cherry trees in Shillong, up in northeastern India, actually bloom in November. They throw the awesome India International Cherry Blossom Festival with music, food, and culture to celebrate this rare autumn timing.
Practical Tips for Cherry Blossom Viewing
You can usually find cherry blossom forecasts about one to two months before they’re expected to bloom, so check the Japan Meteorological Corporation for Japan, the National Park Service for D.C., and local garden/tourism sites everywhere else, but keep your travel plans flexible because the weather can speed up or delay those blooms!
- Japan Meteorological Corporation for Japanese locations
- National Park Service for Washington D.C.
- Local botanical gardens and tourism websites for other destinations
- Cherry Blossom tracking apps like Sakura Forecast
Photography Tips
Best Times for Cherry Blossom Photography:
- Early morning: Soft light and fewer crowds
- Golden hour: Warm light just before sunset
- Overcast days: Diffused light brings out the delicate pink tones
- After rain: Water droplets on blossoms create magical effects
If you’re taking pictures, try to get the blossoms framing some cool landmarks, zoom in for close-ups of single flowers, or step back for wide shots that show how huge the cherry tree groves are, and a polarizing filter can really help make the sky pop by cutting down the glare.
Avoiding Crowds
Since so many people flock to the popular spots, if you want a more chill and peaceful experience checking out the cherry blossoms, you should definitely look into these other options instead:
Instead of Tokyo’s Ueno Park:
- Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
- Koishikawa Botanical Garden
- Yanaka Cemetery
Instead of Washington D.C.’s Tidal Basin:
- National Arboretum
- Kenwood neighborhood, Bethesda
- Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, Virginia
To easily skip the biggest crowds, just visit during the weekdays instead of the weekend, or show up either really early in the morning or much later in the evening.
Final Thoughts
Cherry blossoms are an amazing reminder to really appreciate beauty while it lasts, encouraging you to be present and mindful. Which is basically the whole vibe of the Japanese concept of mono no aware, or the beautiful sadness of fleeting things. Whether you’re doing a traditional hanami picnic in Japan, visiting the historic trees in D.C., or catching the unique spring blooms in Australia, seeing the blossoms at their peak is a totally unforgettable experience.
As you plan your 2025 adventure, remember that being flexible is crucial because the weather can easily shift the bloom time by a week or more, but with some solid planning and a little luck, you’ll be rewarded with one of nature’s best shows and a perfect reminder of how beautiful and temporary life is.
Cherry Blossom Viewing FAQ
Cherry blossoms typically remain in full bloom for about 7-10 days, though this can vary depending on weather conditions. Rain, wind, and warm temperatures can shorten the blooming period, while cool, calm weather can extend it. From first bloom to the petals falling typically spans about two weeks.
While similar at first glance, cherry blossoms (sakura) and plum blossoms (ume) have several differences. Cherry blossoms typically have a small split or notch at the tip of each petal, while plum blossoms have rounded petals. Plum trees bloom earlier (often in February) and have a stronger fragrance, while cherry blossoms usually appear in March-April with a subtler scent.
Cherry blossom forecasts become increasingly accurate as the bloom time approaches. Initial forecasts released 2-3 months in advance provide general timeframes, while updates in the weeks immediately preceding bloom can pinpoint peak days with reasonable accuracy. However, unexpected weather patterns can still cause shifts of several days in either direction.
For cherry blossom viewing, pack layers as spring weather can be unpredictable. Include a picnic blanket for hanami parties, allergy medication if you’re sensitive to pollen and comfortable walking shoes. In popular destinations, a portable seat cushion can be helpful when park benches are full. Make sure to bring a camera with you to get some great shots of the cherry blossoms.
A: The cherry blossom is a profound cultural symbol in Japan, representing the ephemeral nature of life (known as mono no aware). Its brief but spectacular bloom reminds people to cherish the beauty and fleeting moments of existence. It also signifies spring, renewal, and new beginnings, often coinciding with the start of the fiscal and school year.
