Where to Experience Cherry Blossom Blooms Outside Japan

Visiting Japan during cherry blossom blooming season is a bucket-list vacation for some. The idea of strolling through Japan’s stunning gardens to see the delicate blossoms in person is a thing of travel legend, but getting the whole family to Japan for this event is not only expensive, but also difficult to plan since Mother Nature is fickle and the bloom is essentially at her whim. Go too early and you might just find bare trees and wait too long, and you might miss all the beautiful landscapes of delicate light pink flowers.

Thankfully, you don’t have to go all the way to Japan to see blooming cherry blossoms (or sakura in Japanese). Destinations much closer to home offer better affordability for a traveling family, which allow for more wiggle room if the weather doesn’t cooperate.

Washington, D.C., is one of the most well-known destinations for cherry blossoms in the United States, and this year the iconic cherry blossoms are expected to be in peak bloom between March 29 and April 1. Assuming nature cooperates with the National Park’s predictions, you’ll be able to catch the bloom a few days before and all the way up to a few weeks after the peak bloom.

Portland, Oregon, is famously known for its beautiful roses, but it’s also home to Portland Japanese Garden where you can see beautiful, Japanese-inspired landscapes. Among these gardens you’ll find plenty of cherry trees where the sakura will be in full bloom this spring. Head to Portland Japanese Garden where you will not only see the beautiful blooming cherry trees, but you’ll also find a peaceful and serene landscape decorated with stone lanterns and wooden bridges nestled among greenery and water features. This spot is often lauded as one of the most authentic Japanese gardens outside of Japan. Book a stay nearby at The Nines hotel for convenient access to the gardens and all of the other great attractions Portland has to offer.

San Francisco may not be a destination that comes to mind for cherry blossoms, but it is home to Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival each year in April. It takes places in San Francisco’s Japantown and is one of the largest Japanese American festivals in the country. Although there is a 128-year-old Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park, the city’s cherry trees aren’t exactly centrally located — you’ll find them spread across the city (more than 4,500 of them). With cherry trees at every turn, it won’t be hard to enjoy the beauty of the sakura bloom during your visit, but you’ll want to visit the festival to enjoy the celebration of Japanese culture, food, art and entertainment.