Cherry blossom season is one of nature’s shortest spectacles — peak bloom typically lasts 7-10 days at each location. Japan has the most famous viewing but cherry blossoms also peak in Korea, Taiwan, …
Cherry blossom season is one of nature’s shortest spectacles — peak bloom typically lasts 7-10 days at each location. Japan has the most famous viewing but cherry blossoms also peak in Korea, Taiwan, the U.S. mid-Atlantic, and parts of Europe. We’ve ranked the 8 best destinations with precise bloom timing. Here’s the calendar.
Ranked: top 8 destinations
Detailed picks
Tokyo, Japan
Late March (peak ~Mar 25-Apr 5). Yoyogi Park, Shinjuku Gyoen, the Meguro River canal. Hanami parties everywhere.
Read the full Tokyo, Japan guide →
Kyoto, Japan
Early April (peak ~Apr 1-10). Philosopher’s Path, Maruyama Park, Arashiyama. Most photogenic globally.
Read the full Kyoto, Japan guide →
Seoul, South Korea
Early April (peak ~Apr 1-10). Yeouido Park’s Yunjung-no, Namsan Park. Cherry blossom festivals nationwide.
Read the full Seoul, South Korea guide →
Washington DC, USA
Early April (peak ~Apr 1-15). Tidal Basin. The 1912 Japanese gift trees. Famous Cherry Blossom Festival.
Vancouver, Canada
Early April (peak ~Apr 5-15). Stanley Park, Queen Elizabeth Park. Underrated Western Hemisphere alternative.
Read the full Vancouver, Canada guide →
Bonn, Germany
Mid-April (peak ~Apr 10-20). Heerstrasse cherry tree tunnel. Old Town flower-tunnel photography.
Read the full Bonn, Germany guide →
Hokkaido, Japan (alternative)
Late April-Early May. Northern Japan blooms 3-4 weeks later than Tokyo. Hakodate, Sapporo.
Read the full Hokkaido, Japan (alternative) guide →
Stockholm, Sweden
Late April-Early May. Kungsträdgården park’s flower tunnel. Brief but beautiful Nordic blooms.
Read the full Stockholm, Sweden guide →
A local insider tip
If you want Japan cherry blossoms with the least crowd impact, visit Kyoto in the first week of April but stay in the Yase or Ohara districts (north of the city). The Kibune-Kurama mountain hike has wild mountain cherries away from the crowds, and JR West buses make the trip easy. Most international tourists never make it past central Kyoto.
Frequently asked questions
When is Japan’s cherry blossom season?
Late March through early April for Tokyo and Kyoto. Bloom timing moves north by 3-4 weeks — Hokkaido peaks late April to early May. Climate change has shifted blooms earlier by 5-10 days in the last decade.
How long do cherry blossoms last?
Peak bloom is 7-10 days. Wind and rain shorten the window dramatically. Plan flexible travel dates around the forecast.
Is Washington DC worth visiting for cherry blossoms?
Yes — the 1912 Japanese gift trees at the Tidal Basin are uniquely photogenic. National Cherry Blossom Festival has live music + parade.
When is the cheapest time to visit Japan for cherry blossoms?
Late March (just before peak) and mid-April (after peak in Tokyo, peak in Hokkaido) have 30% off vs peak weekend. Avoid the first weekend of April absolute peak.
What’s the best less-crowded cherry blossom destination?
Hokkaido (late April) and Stockholm (late April-May) get genuine cherry blossom beauty with a fraction of the tourist crush of Tokyo.
Plan your trip
Written by
John Morrison is the founder and lead travel writer at Packzup. Over the past decade he has explored destinations across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania — always self-funded, never on a press trip.