The Best U.S. Cities to See Cherry Blossoms
Most of us think of Japan as the primary destination to see the beautiful “Sakura,” a.k.a. cherry blossoms, in person. But there are many gardens, parks, and city streets where you can view these gorgeous pink beauties all across the United States.
[Photo above by Arno Smit on Unsplash]
So if it’s not in the cards (or budget) for you to take a trip to Japan, consider these 14 cities right here in the U.S.. Some of the places on this list are well-known for viewing cherry blossoms, and some might surprise you, like they did us.
Where To See Cherry Blossoms in the United States
Washington, D.C.
The most well-known place to see cherry blossoms in the U.S. is Washington D.C. The National Mall Tidal Basin is encircled with 3,000 cherry trees that were gifted by the Mayor of Tokyo in 1912 as a symbol of friendship between Japan and America.The Mall is a national treasure and is where most of the city’s cherry trees are located. The Tidal Basin, surrounded by these iconic blooming trees, is one of the most picturesque locations for a stroll in the states. You can check here for D.C.’s 2023 cherry blossom peak bloom forecast, which also gives dates for all of the different stages of bloom.
Portland, Oregon
Tom McCall Waterfront Park is located in downtown Portland along the Willamette River. The park skirts the Japanese American Historical Plaza, which was built in 1990 to honor the 120,000 Japanese Americans who were forcibly relocated and incarcerated in internment camps during World War II. In addition to the park’s 100 cherry trees, you’ll find works by Japanese American poets engraved in granite stones throughout the rest of the Plaza.
The Japanese Garden can be found at Washington Park. Considered “the crown jewel of Portland,” this 410-acre park is located just a couple of miles west of downtown and has several varieties of cherry trees along with much Japanese culture to appreciate. Indicative of traditional Japanese gardens, the layout is carefully planned to offer stunning views at every turn. There are many other gardens and attractions here as well, including a forestry museum, amphitheater, arboretum, tennis courts, soccer field, picnic areas, acres of wild forest with miles of trails, and public art. And don’t forget to stop by Umami Cafe during your visit.
And that’s not all. Portland’s got a few more spots to see cherry trees, including Laurelhurst Park, The Quad at Portland State University, Hoyt Arboretum, and Mount Tabor Park.
Los Angeles, California
We’d be remiss in not including our former home, Los Angeles, in this list. There are several places you can find “some” cherry blossoms throughout the massive county of L.A., but none are quite as impressive as the collection at Descanso Gardens. According to their website, there are over 1,000 cherry blossom trees within the 150 acres that makeup the Gardens – including Yoshino, Shirofugen, and a variety of other species. Given the size of the space, there are plenty of pathways to explore, and benches and picnic areas where you can sit and enjoy the scenery. Located just 15 miles northeast of downtown in La Cañada Flintridge, Descanso Gardens is hands-down our top recommendation for seeing cherry blossoms in Los Angeles.
San Francisco, California
One of the best places to see cherry blossoms in San Francisco is Golden Gate Park. With an estimated 2,000 trees of various species throughout the park, there are many different areas where you’ll find them. The most popular is The Japanese Tea Garden, containing the highest concentration of cherry blossom trees, at approximately 200-300. Golden Gate Park is also home to The San Francisco Botanical Garden, where you’ll find another opportunity to enjoy the beautiful pink and white blossoms. Another wonderful location to see cherry blossoms in San Francisco is the Cherry Blossom Festival held in Japantown. 2023’s festivities will take place over two weekends – April 8-9 and 15-16.
San Diego, California
The Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park is the go-to place to enjoy cherry blossoms in San Diego. This urban cultural park is one of the city’s top attractions – right up there with its stunning coastline and delicious climate. Nestled within the park, the JFG is aptly touted as a “living, breathing work of art,” and it represents a long-standing bond between San Diego and its sister city, Yokohama, Japan. Featuring koi ponds, water features, traditional architectural structures, stone designs, and amazing vistas, visitors can also participate in various cultural activities and performances during the annual Cherry Blossom Festival.
Dallas, Texas
The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is known as the best place to see an impressive array of Spring blooms in the South, and among the many blooms – cherry blossoms. That’s right, Dallas. Who knew? The Arboretum is home to Dallas Blooms, the largest annual floral festival in the Southwest. A six-week celebration, from February 25 to April 16, 2023, the festival offers daily activities and events, and an abundant amount of blooming beauty.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
As if Philly isn’t a fantastic enough city, it truly explodes with pink life come Spring, as its thousands of cherry blossoms come into full bloom. There is no better way to celebrate than with the annual Cherry Blossom Festival of Greater Philadelphia. With a variety of events throughout the city, the centerpiece event is the Sakura Weekend, taking place in Fairmount Park on April 15-16. Best of all, it is free and unticketed.
Seattle, Washington
Check out the University of Washington’s central quad to join in on what locals have revered as the definitive sign of Spring since the early 1960s. Dozens of cherry blossoms line the grand lawns and juxtapose the stunning Gothic architecture. Making them possibly the hippest on this list, the UW cherry blossoms have both Instagram and Twitter accounts, and you can follow the “bloom watch” on the live campus cams.
Newark, New Jersey
Don’t sleep on New Jersey when considering places to see cherry blossoms. Branch Brook Park is home to a whopping 4,000 cherry trees – that’s about 1,000 more than Washington D.C., which most consider the country’s preeminent display. Don’t miss this year’s free Cherry Blossom Festival, from April 1 through 16. The highlight will be Bloomfest on April 16th, a day full of events including Japanese cultural demonstrations, live music, children’s activities, a crafters’ marketplace, food and more.
Macon, Georgia
Macon is home to the International Cherry Blossom Festival, which is taking place March 17-26, 2023. And get this – there are over 350,000 Yoshino cherry blossom trees to wow your senses! This near two-week long celebration takes place at many locations throughout the city. Among the many activities taking place you will find parades, live music and entertainment, food, and drink, vendors, and much more. Two of the main locations where these festivities take place are The Cherry Blossom Festival Parade route, which winds through downtown, and Central City Park, where the Cherry Blossom Festival carnival takes place.
Brooklyn, New York
Founded in 1910, The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is a wonderfully serene setting for viewing cherry blossoms. The primary locations of the trees are in the Cherry Esplanade and the Cherry Walk sections of the garden. The annual Sakura Matsui festival takes place in April, though the official 2023 date is yet to be confirmed. The festival features Japanese street food, booths of crafts and souvenirs, traditional and contemporary Japanese cultural performances, such as taiko drumming, tea ceremonies, martial arts demonstrations, and cosplay fashion shows. Visitors can also participate in origami and calligraphy activities.
Boston, Massachusetts
There are a few places in Boston where you can enjoy cherry blossoms. The Arnold Arboretum features approximately 1,500 cherry blossom trees, the park is free and open from sunrise to sunset.
The Boston Public Garden, which is located in the heart of the city has just a handful of cherry blossom trees, but it’s a lovely way to enjoy the city at the same time.
The most spectacular location for cherry blossoms in Boston is The Charles River Esplanade. On a warm day, visitors can kayak down the river and enjoy the stunning riverfront views.
Nashville, Tennessee
The Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival is where you’ll want to be for the best day of viewing cherry blossoms. Mark your calendar for April 15, 2023, for a day of music, dance, martial arts, a roving Japanese candyman, Japanese artwork and anime, Cosplay contests, and Kaminari Taiko.
St. Louis, Missouri
The Missouri Botanical Garden has a 14-acre Japanese strolling garden which includes over 100 varieties of cherry blossom trees. 20 of these trees are cutting from the original trees gifted to Washington, d.c. by the mayor of Tokyo in 1912. Fun fact: The Missouri Botanical Garden is the oldest continuously operating botanical garden in the nation. Founded in 1859, it is a bonafide National Historic Landmark, and an oasis within the city.
In Conclusion
There are even more cities where you can find cherry blossoms in the U.S., but we hope this list gives you a great start with some that are within your reach. Come back after the season and let us know which city you visited from this list (or otherwise) – we’d love to hear!
More Posts About Japan
If you’re a fan of Japanese culture and food, here are a couple of other posts you should read:
11 Must-Try Foods In Japan (That Aren’t Sushi)
Only In Japan: 8 Unusual Things That Are Totally Common In Japan
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