7 places to see the best cherry blossoms around the world in 2024

21.02.2024 - 23:25 / lonelyplanet.com

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. 

Plenty of seasonal blooms inspire awe, like purple crocuses announcing spring's arrival and daffodils, those gold-star perennials. Still, no flowering plant stirs the soul quite like cherry trees – with their shock of fleeting petals forming cotton-candy canopies – a sign of rebirth and a meditation on life's transience.

Celebrations from Japan to Spain's Jerte Valley delight in the arrival of cherry blossoms, but timing a trip to see the actual petals can be tricky. Blossoms last for roughly 10 days, and peak bloom (when approximately 70% of trees flower) doesn't always align with pre-planned events – it depends on local temperatures, sunshine and precipitation levels.

Here are the best destinations to see cherry blossoms in 2024, including important dates to increase your chances of catching the ephemeral splendor.

Amsterdam has its tulips, Vermont has its autumn leaves and Japan has its 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 hours to enjoy the petals, often while picnicking. (Ensure you bring some sakura mochi to yours – the chewy treat is a cherry on top of the sweet scenery.) 

There's no shortage of petal party destinations throughout Japan. For historical pedigree, visit Jindai Zakura – the nation's oldest cherry tree, rooted on the grounds of the Jissoji Temple for over 2000 years. Then there's Maruyama Park in Kyoto, where crowds gather for buzzy hanami day-hangs that become sake-soaked soirees. If you’re looking for picture-perfect pink landscapes, Yoshino is tops. Around 30,000 cherry trees turn Mt Yoshino into a pink patchwork, with aerial trams zipping visitors up slopes to pine over petals.

When to go: According to the Japan Meteorological Corporation, Yoshino's trees will flower around March 25 and peak by early April. If you’re willing to wait, trees in northern areas like Sapporo will peak by early May.

The US capital might be best known for hardline politics, but every spring, the city softens with the arrival of arboreal blossoms. Washington's spring 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 spectacle for an entire month at the National Cherry Blossom Festival, featuring parties and performances planned around peak bloom. 

For the most scenic views, take to