Cherry blossom season has arrived. And while Japan reigns supreme as the place to spot the blooms, Tokyo can get pretty crowded this time of year.
So why not take it from the travel pros and check out the blossoms off the beaten path. From Europe and Asia to the U.S. and Canada, here are five cities to visit for their cherry trees.
New York, New York, United States
The city that never sleeps is known for its bright lights and mammoth skyscrapers, but New York is also a haven for green spaces. The Brooklyn Botanical Garden is home to over 200 cherry trees of 42 different species. Flowering cherries bloom from late March or early April through mid-May, attracting tourists from all over the world. The Cherry Blossom Festival (known as Sakura Matsuri in Japanese) is held the last weekend in April, with different activities and performances celebrating Japanese culture. You can also walk through the cherry blossoms in places like Central Park, the New York Botanical Garden and Confucius Plaza in Chinatown.
Vancouver, Canada
You may not expect it, but Vancouver is a great city to see the sakura. From 3 to 29 April, the city hosts their annual Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival. Vancouver’s collection includes over 40,000 cherry trees throughout the city. Some of the best places to view cherry blossoms are at Burrard Station, Stanley Park, West 22nd Avenue, West 16th Avenue and West 7th Avenue (but the city boasts over 2,600 sites to see the blooms). The official cherry-viewing map will clue you in on where and when to expect prime viewing of the blossoms.
Paris, France
Take the romance up a notch by scheduling your trip to Paris during cherry blossom season. This is when the historic city is blanketed in pink. And while you can find the blossoms at popular tourist attractions (think Eiffel Tower, Disneyland Paris and Notre-Dame), we think it’s better to escape the crowds and head to Parc de Sceaux. Located just south of Paris on the French countryside, it’s only a 40-minute train ride outside the city. In April, when flowering season is at its peak, you can find Japanese expats picnicking there with homemade sakura onigiri (cherry blossom rice balls). Of course, when in France, it may be easier to bring red wine, camembert and baguettes for your picnic.
Jerte Valley, Spain
Jerte Valley is located near Caceres, a town about three hours west of Madrid. During cherry blossom season, the towns of Jerte Valley offer a free bus that will take you on a tour of the cherry trees. The area boasts more than 200 cherry trees, blooming every year from late March to mid-April (depending on the weather). Like a scene from a movie, white-and-pink blossoms cover the valley, making it one of the area’s best-kept secrets. Besides watching cherry blossoms, there are a lot of outdoor activities you can try here including cycling, horse riding, hiking, fishing, and paragliding.
Stockholm, Sweden
This northern capital is known for stunning street scenes and the practice of fika (a coffee break with pastry). If that’s not reason enough to visit, then head there for the cherry trees. Cherry blossom season in Stockholm is usually in April, when you can find rows of blooms greeting you as you walk around Kungsträdgården (King’s Garden). Wind down at one of the outdoor cafés in the park and enjoy a kanelbullar (Swedish cinnamon bun) with a cup of coffee. As dusk falls, slowly make your way over to Gamla Stan for the best sunset view in the city.
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