The top 10 places to see cherry blossoms around the world in 2026

It's time to think pink. After months of bleak winter weather, spring is ready to explode in the northern hemisphere with a riot of cherry tree blossoms.

While plenty of seasonal blooms stir souls – like the purple crocuses announcing spring's arrival – no flowering plant inspires admiration like the cherry tree. For centuries, people have celebrated their cotton candy canopies as a sign of rebirth and a meditation on life's transience.  

Festivals from Seoul to Sweden delight in the tree's arboreal opulence, but peak bloom (when roughly two-thirds of a tree's flowers unfurl) doesn't always align with pre-planned events. 

Timing depends on local temperatures, sunshine and precipitation levels – and once petals appear, they only last an average of 10 days. 

Stay on top of this year's weather to guestimate when you should travel – and aim for a trip that straddles predicted peak dates rather than banking on a single, perfect day. In 2024, an unusually warm spring triggered peak bloom in Washington, DC, on March 17, while in 2025, peak bloom arrived on March 28 – a reminder that forecasts aren’t facts. 

Here are the best destinations to see cherry blossoms in 2026, including important dates to improve your chance of catching this year's ephemeral splendor.

1. Kyoto, Japan

Amsterdam has tulips, Vermont has autumn leaves and Japan has cherry blossoms: a seasonal nature show with cultural cachet. People across Japan have celebrated spring's cherry blossoms, or sakura, since at least the 8th century, enjoying the delicate display in a tradition called hanami – which translates to "flower viewing." Groups gather beneath blooming trees for hanami, often picnicking while enjoying the petals. Ensure you bring some sakura mochi (rice cakes filled with red bean paste) to the party; the chewy treat is a flavorful cherry on top of the sweet scenery.

There's no shortage of petal-tastic destinations throughout Japan, particularly abundant in the Kansai region. The hottest hanami spot is arguably Maruyama Park in Kyoto, where crowds gather for all-day hangs that transform into sake-soaked soirees. For picture-perfect landscapes, Mt Yoshino is tops. Around 30,000 cherry trees turn the mountain into patchworks of pink, with the Yoshino Ropeway – an aerial tram – zipping visitors up slopes to pine over petals. 

Travel between Kyoto and Mt Yoshino with a five-day Kintetsu Rail Pass, connecting Kyoto to Nara (with access to Mt Yoshino) and Osaka – another city saturated in seasonal splendor.

When to go: According to the Japan Meteorological Corporation, Kyoto’s trees will flower around March 25 and peak by April 2. Elongate the season by traveling north to Sapporo, where petals won’t likely peak until April 30.

2. Washington, DC

The US capital might be best known for hard-line politics, but every spring, the city softens with the arrival of arboreal blossoms. Washington's seasonal traditions date back to 1912, when Tokyo's mayor gifted the city 3000 cherry trees as a symbol of American-Japanese friendship. 

Now, the city celebrates the floral show for an entire month at the National Cherry Blossom Festival, featuring parties and performances planned around peak bloom. For commanding views, trace the popular, two-mile promenade around the pink-hued Tidal Basin. Plan an early morning or twilight visit – or prepare to brave large crowds. 

The National Arboretum is a peaceful alternative, with 40 cherry tree sites spread across 450 acres. Cycle or stroll along the Arboretum's three-mile self-guided route to see the foliage.

When to go: The National Cherry Blossom Festival is set for March 20 to April 12, but festivities don't always align with peak petal season. This year’s petals are predicted to peak from March 28-31. Keep an eye on the National Park Service's Bloom Watch for updates as the season draws near.

3. Macon, Georgia

In mid-March, this sleepy southern town springs to life as buds erupt from 350,000 Yoshino cherry trees – roughly 92 times the number of cherry trees in DC. The petal proliferation has earned Macon the title "Cherry Blossom Capital of the World," along with a satirically soulful anthem honoring the annual flowering – Cherry Blossom Party Time.

Spring visitors can participate in a stacked list of events, including pageants, performances, a wiener dog race and a parade, though the best way to experience the blooms is along the Cherry Blossom Trail. The drive zig-zags to areas with high concentrations of cherry trees, passing public fountains and storefront windows dyed pink for the occasion.

When to go: Macon's International Cherry Blossom Festival paints the town pastel from March 20 to March 29. Statistically, blooms tend to pop around March 23. Check the Bloom Cam – a live stream of local cherry trees – to see the petals progress in real time.

4. Vancouver, Canada

Vancouver's love affair with cherry blossoms began after WWI, when mayors from Kobe and Yokohama, Japan, presented 500 cherry trees to the Vancouver Park Board – a celebration of Japanese Canadians who served in the war. Now, roughly 43,000 cherry trees bloom all over town, inspiring hanami from Stanley Park to Mount Pleasant and beyond.

Petal season overflows with events thrown by the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival (VCBF). Join guided walks to uncover branch-bound splendor in various neighborhoods. Relax under 100 Akebono cherry trees during the annual Big Picnic. Stroll through David Lam Park to see flowers illuminated at night, or pedal to petals around a DIY cycling tour using a VCBF map. The festival's most joyous event is perhaps mid-April's Sakura Days Japan Fair – a two-day jamboree in VanDusen Botanical Garden, with ikebana (flower-arrangement) classes, sake tastings and stands selling Japanese-inspired food and gifts.

When to go: The Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival takes place March 27 to April 12. The Sakura Days festival is set for April 11 and 12. For info on flowering trees, visit VCBF's Blooming Now page, updated by photo-snapping Cherry Scouts throughout spring.

5. New York, New York

This concrete jungle isn't all gray sidewalks. Verdant parks abound across New York City's five boroughs, and by April, 40,000 ornamental trees splash green spaces with wreaths of fuschia, ivory and coral. In Manhattan, the most splendid display pops along Riverside Park's aptly named Cherry Walk and Central Park's Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir – a reflecting pool circled by a 1.58-mile bridle path.

For the city's most popular blossom destinations, plan a trip to the outer boroughs. More than 200 cherry trees planted at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx are visions in pink, with azaleas and magnolia trees matching their magnificence. Find just as many trees at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, particularly pretty along the Cherry Esplanade, where 76 trees bloom in unison like a floral ballet. 

For fewer crowds, snake through Brooklyn's Green-Wood Cemetery. The permanent residents – including Leonard Bernstein and Louis Comfort Tiffany – won't make a peep while you marvel at their graveyard's 172 cherry trees.

When to go: Expect trees to bloom between late March and early May; many peak around mid-April. Excellent resources for planning excursions include Brooklyn Botanic Garden's Cherry Watch, New York Botanical Garden's Bloom Tracker and Central Park Conservancy's blossom guide. 

6. Paris, France

Bouquets of blooms make Paris particularly romantic in springtime. Kanzan cherry trees in the Jardins du Trocadéro frame the Eiffel Tower, rising across the Seine River, in wine-colored wonder. More cherry trees in the Jardin des Tuileries turn the outdoor sculpture garden into a museum-worthy exhibit mere steps from the Louvre. Flowers also vie for attention at the Jardin des Plantes, a botanical garden, and along the Promenade Plantée – an elevated park that zips across the 12th arrondissement.

For a dreamy blossom date, take a 45-minute trip outside the city center to Parc de Sceaux, with its flora-fringed château reminiscent of Versailles. As winter loosens its icy grip, around 150 cherry trees begin showing their stuff – an open invitation for picnics beneath petals.

When to go: The appearance of buds in early to mid-March may stir anticipation, but most petals won’t burst open until early to mid-April. 

7. Valle del Jerte, Spain

Roughly 1.5 million cherry trees sprinkle Spain's western Extremadura region, renowned for its sweet cherries, a summertime delicacy. Stone fruits won’t ripen for a few more months, but blushing petals make a journey to this valley worthwhile, especially if you stay in centrally located Cabezuela del Valle. Flowers turn hillsides milk-white for roughly two weeks – stunning to behold with the snow-capped Gredos mountains in the background. The Fiesta del Cerezo en Flor (Cherry Blossom Festival) celebrates the season with markets, tastings and more culinary-centric events. Don't worry if you can't make peak bloom – watching falling petals dance across the valley is equally breathtaking.

When to go: The region’s annual festival begins on March 20 and runs through May 3. Petals usually arrive between late March and early April; expect them to rain from treetops until May. Visit the region’s cherry blossom blog for more info. 

8. Stockholm, Sweden

After winter's dark days, Stockholm's Kungsträdgården (King's Garden) wears spring blossoms like a crown. In 1998, the city planted 63 cherry trees along this central plaza, creating two pedestrian allées where visitors can revel in the regal display overlooking a reflecting pool. The park is also a lovely place for a fika – the Swedish custom of taking a break to enjoy coffee, sweets and, in this case, the botanical bounty. Alfresco seats at Tehuset, a café under the park's south-side elms, are particularly inviting. 

For more pastel-and-pastry combos, beeline to Bysistorget – a square in Stockholm's Södermalm district lined with restaurants, cafés and, of course, cherry trees. 

When to go: Stockholm's official Cherry Blossom Day usually takes place at the end of April, when family-friendly workshops and performances in Kungsträdgården honor Japanese culture – but expect to see trees blooming mid-month. Check Visit Stockholm for updates. 

9. Jeju Island, South Korea 

Between March and April, cherry blossoms (called beotkkot) turn treetops throughout South Korea into pillows of petals. The 10-day festival in Jinhae is the most popular, with two million spectators ogling a collection of 360,000 trees. Gyeonghwa Station Cherry Blossom Street is Jinhae's scene stealer: cherry trees along a retired railroad line form a picturesque pink tunnel. 

There's also the capital city Seoul, home of the Yeouido Spring Flower Festival, which takes place in its eponymous park. More than 1600 cherry trees bloom along the Han River, complemented by gardens flowering with azaleas and forsythias. 

For Korean-centric trees rivaling Japan's ubiquitous Yoshino species, sail to Jeju Island – home of the king cherry tree, which evolved locally to produce snow-white petals so plump they look like popped corn. Join crowds across the island for the annual Jeju Cherry Blossom Festival, bursting along tree-studded roads like Jeonnong-ro (dubbed Cherry Blossom St) in Jeju City. 

When to go: Unofficial forecasters speculate that Jeju Island's trees will bloom between March 27 and April 2, coinciding with festivities. Jinhae will probably bloom around April 2 to April 9; Seoul should follow with arboreal splendor from April 5 to April 9. The Korean Meteorological Administration typically releases its official blossom predictions in early March. 

10. Yangmingshan National Park, Taiwan

Cherry blossom season starts early in Taiwan, where buds appear around late January. Join hikers in Yangmingshan National Park, accessible from Taipei, to see several cherry tree varieties blooming along mist-laden trails. 

For the prettiest displays, plan a visit around the annual flower festival, when azaleas and peach blossoms join the scenery across mountainside gardens. The show is especially striking around the park’s Flower Clock, a colorful earthwork for horticulture heads. 

Petals are only part of the park’s dynamic landscape, gushing with waterfalls and hissing with volcanic features. Before heading back to the city, make time for a soak in one of Yangmingshan’s hot springs – perhaps around Lengshuikeng, known for its sulphur-rich waters. If cherry blossoms don’t revive your soul after a long winter, a steamy soak should do the trick. 

When to go: Blossoms linger through April, but early birds catch the best blooms. Time your visit during Yangmingshan’s festival, from February 2 to March 15.