Sakuras, or cherry blossoms, are the national flower of Japan, but they can be found around the world. During spring, these gorgeous pink flowers blossom and create a magical environment that attracts travelers from across the globe. Fortunately, cherry blossoms can be found in Japan, the USA, and even Canada this spring. Find out where to go to experience Sakura season firsthand.
10 Traverse City, Michigan, USA
Travelers don’t need to buy an international plane ticket to experience cherry blossom season. It’s possible to view these beautiful flowers in Traverse City, Michigan, in what is known as the Cherry Capital of the World. Visit the cherry orchards near the Leelanau Peninsula and Old Mission Peninsula from the beginning of May. Take photos with the blossoms and then embark on a wine tasting in one of Michigan’s top wine regions.
9 Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Canada has its own Sakura Season hidden gems that travelers should be planning their trips around. On Vancouver Island in British Columbia, off Canada’s West Coast, the city of Victoria boasts beautiful cherry blossoms from early February into May. The lengthy Sakura Season on Vancouver Island leaves plenty of time for visitors to witness their beauty in a city that is known for its eco-friendly tourism. Head to View Street in the downtown core to view some of the city’s best cherry blossoms. Flower enthusiasts also won’t want to miss the Butchart Gardens during their visit.
8 San Francisco, California, USA
A little further south on the West Coast of the United States, travelers can see cherry blossoms in bloom at the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco. The festival celebrates Sakura Season and Asian traditions from April 8-9 and April 15-16 in 2023. Over the course of these two weekends, the parade and festivities in San Francisco typically bring in more than 200,000 guests.
7 Kinosaki, Japan
Seeing cherry blossoms in the US and Canada is wonderful, but there is nothing quite like experiencing Sakura Season in Japan. In Kinosaki, located in northern Hyogo prefecture, travelers have the chance to stay in a traditional Japanese Ryokan and admire the beauty of the blossoms from the comfort of an onsen (public hot spring). In Kinosaki, it’s possible to see cherry blossoms lining the Otani River from early to mid-April.
6 San Diego, California, USA
San Diego is an unsuspecting place to experience cherry blossom season but for Americans, it’s an accessible option that offers beautiful florals in the spring. At the Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park, travelers can stroll through the gardens admiring the cherry blossoms. There is a Cherry Blossom Festival at the garden on March 10-12 in 2023 which is a fun environment for celebrating the beauty of spring with the local community.
5 Los Angeles, California, USA
Make cherry blossom season a tour of California by hopping up to Los Angeles after visiting San Diego. From February to May, travelers can expect to see the beautiful cherry blossoms at their finest in Los Angeles’ many Japanese and botanical gardens. Some top spots to view Sakura in the spring in Los Angeles include Lake Balboa, the Descanso Gardens, and in nearby San Marino.
4 Shizuoka, Japan
Another fantastic choice for experiencing cherry blossom season in Japan is visiting Shizuoka. Shizuoka is the biggest city in Shizuoka Prefecture and is located on the south coast of Japan with epic views of Mount Fuji. To get the best experience of Sakura Season here, travelers should plan their trip for early February when the Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival takes place. The festival celebrates the earliest blooming cherry trees in eastern Japan, running for the entire month of February.
3 Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
Back to Michigan, travelers can also see the beauty of the cherry trees in bloom in Grand Rapids. A great choice is visiting The Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden at the Meijer Gardens. This is one of the most magical times of year to visit Grand Rapids, and is worth planning an entire trip around: the photos will be spectacular.
2 Dallas, Texas, USA
Texas isn’t known for its cherry blossom season, but surprisingly, this is just another reason to visit The Lone Star State, specifically the city of Dallas. The Dallas Arboretum holds an annual floral festival called Dallas Blooms, which is the biggest in the Southwest USA. At the festival, travelers can expect to see more than 125 Japanese cherry trees blossoming and on display. The Dallas Blooms festival takes place from February 25 to April 16, 2023, and includes musical performances, food, and more.
1 Kyoto, Japan
Perhaps the most famous cherry blossom destination in the world is Kyoto, Japan. Travelers can view the sakura here from the end of March to the beginning of April each year. A Hanami Party for viewing the blossoms, is a bucket list experience to have while visiting. To get the best views and photos of the cherry blossoms, travelers can head to Maruyama-Koen Park, Kyoto Imperial Palace Park, Kyoto Botanical Gardens, and the Kamogawa Riverbanks.