Spring is the season when cities burst into colour. If you want to see cherry blossoms at their best, three destinations stand out: Tokyo, where hanami is a national tradition; Washington, DC, with its century-old gift from Japan; and Paris, where blossoms frame parks and monuments. This guide covers when to go, where to look and how to plan around a bloom that only lasts a short time.
One rule applies everywhere: blossom dates move by a week or two from year to year with the weather, so keep your plans flexible and follow the official bloom forecasts as your trip approaches.
Tokyo, Japan: the home of hanami
Hanami – picnicking and strolling under the blossoms – is one of Japan’s best-loved traditions. In central Tokyo the trees usually reach full bloom in late March or early April.
Where to see the blossoms
- Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden – about 900 cherry trees of around 70 varieties, so something is in bloom from early to late spring. Adult admission is ¥500. Alcohol is not allowed, and on busy blossom-season days advance reservations may be required, so check the garden’s official website.
- Ueno Park – free to enter, with more than 1,000 cherry trees and one of the liveliest hanami atmospheres in the city.
- Meguro River – about 800 trees line the canal in Nakameguro and are illuminated in the evenings during the local cherry blossom festival.
Popular spots fill up early, especially at weekends, so arrive in the morning if you want a good picnic spot. Hotels also book up quickly in blossom season – compare places to stay in Tokyo well in advance; areas such as Ueno and Asakusa are close to several blossom spots.
Washington, DC: a gift from Tokyo
In 1912 the mayor of Tokyo gave the United States 3,020 cherry trees as a gift of friendship, and the first two were planted on the bank of the Tidal Basin that March. Today the blossoms around the Tidal Basin are the centrepiece of the National Cherry Blossom Festival.
According to the National Park Service, peak bloom – the day when 70% of the Yoshino cherry blossoms are open – most often falls between the last week of March and the first week of April, but it has come as early as mid-March and as late as mid-April. The blossoms typically last only several days, and rain or wind can end the show early, so watch the NPS bloom updates before you travel.
Where to see the blossoms
- The Tidal Basin – the classic walk, past the Jefferson, Martin Luther King Jr. and Franklin D. Roosevelt memorials. Early morning brings softer light and thinner crowds. The seawall around the basin has recently been rebuilt and trees replanted, so check the National Park Service website for any closed sections.
- U.S. National Arboretum – 446 acres with many cherry varieties that bloom at different times, and far fewer crowds.
- East Potomac Park and Hains Point – more trees along the water, and a quieter alternative to the Tidal Basin.
Blossom viewing outdoors is free, and so are the Smithsonian museums – useful on a rainy day. Spring weather in DC can change quickly, so pack layers. See places to stay in Washington, DC; nearby Arlington is also worth a look.
Paris, France: blossoms, gardens and spring light
Cherry blossoms are not as famous in Paris as in Tokyo or DC, but spring in the city is about more than one tree: parks and gardens fill with flowering trees and fresh green, and long walks become a pleasure again.
Where to see the blossoms
- Parc de Sceaux – just south of Paris and reached by RER B, its northern cherry grove (bosquet nord) is the region’s best-known hanami spot, usually blooming in April. In recent years visits to the grove at peak time have required booking a time slot and picnics directly under the trees have been banned to protect them, so check the park’s website first.
- Central gardens – the Tuileries, the Luxembourg Gardens and the Jardin des Plantes are free to enter and at their most colourful in spring.
For a cheap and memorable lunch, pick up picnic supplies from a supermarket or market and eat in a park. If you also plan to visit busy sights, you can compare tickets and tours in Paris ahead of time.
Tips for a spring blossom trip
- Book early, but flexibly – blossom season is high season in all three cities. Choose refundable stays where you can, in case the bloom comes early or late.
- Follow official forecasts – the National Park Service for DC, and Japanese bloom forecasts for Tokyo, are updated as the season approaches.
- Go early in the day – the most famous spots are calmest in the morning.
- Use public transport – Tokyo, DC and Paris all have extensive metro systems, and parking near blossom spots is hard.
- Compare flights – fares rise as the season approaches; compare flights on Trip.com.
In the ToTourist app you can lay out your blossom spots as day plans, reorder them by dragging and see walking times between them, and download an offline map of the city before you fly. Afterwards, the travel journal keeps your notes and photos on your phone. It is free on Android, with no sign-up.
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