Shinjuku Gyoen is a more peaceful base from which to enjoy the cherry blossoms, and visitors come here instead of some of the busier venues to quietly enjoy the breathtaking sight of 1,300 cherry trees blooming at different stages. Need more time to experience the beauty of the blooms? Running for 4 kilometers on either side of the Okawa River, Kema Sakuranomiya Park is an inner-city oasis that offers nearly 5,000 cherry trees that blossom from the end of March through to the middle of April. Golden Weekthe busiest time for travel in Japanoften coincides in some places with the blooming cherry blossoms. The ancient farmers also used the blooming of the sakura flowers to help them understand when the time was right to plant their rice crops, helping to keep famine at bay. They also light 3,000 lanterns at night (between 6-10pm), which makes this a breathtaking place to take nighttime pictures or just watch the amazing contrast of illuminated flowers, castle, and lanterns. As one of the most modern temples in Japan, visitors also come to enjoy the extensive grounds and see the Shwa Daibutsu, the tallest seated bronze figure of Buddha in Japan. Weather in Hokkaido: Climate, Seasons, and Average Monthly Temperature. 1150 18th Street NW, Suite 100 Washington, D.C. 20036 . Located on the top of a hill, the park also offers some outstanding views out across the city of Kikuchi and beyond. . Hot Tip: You can take a 3-hour cherry blossom and food tour with a local around the neighborhood that surrounds Osaka Castle. As night falls, the blossoms are illuminated with paper lanterns, and the park is the perfect place to see the sakura from the end of March through to the middle of April. It is also famous for Somei Yoshino, the weeping cherry blossom, as well as the beautiful cherry blossom tunnel at the approach to the temple. These contrast against the pretty copper-brown leaves and make for a stunning combination that sakura enthusiasts and first-time visitors alike will fall in love with. A Japanese national treasure and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this hilltop castle has survived thousands of years, with the occasional renovation, to remain one of Japans most iconic landmarks. Along with lovely Cherry Blossoms, the 2023 festival includes a children's area with crafts, a beer and sake garden, and a tea and dessert garden. While you may have had the chance to spot cherry blossoms in the US, nothing beats cherry blossom season in Japan. During the middle of April, the Osaka branch of the national mint offers over 500 meters of cherry-tree-lined paths located within the grounds of this prestigious building. In general, the cherry blossom season runs from late March through early May every year, but some trees can begin to bloom as early as January. When you use our Website, we or our service providers will assign your browser a unique identification number stored in a file on your computer (Cookie) unless you have disabled Cookies on your computer. In fact, the Japanese even have a proverb that translates to practicality over aesthetics, meaning the experienced hanami enthusiasts know that the blossoms are only a small part of the overall celebrations. Home to Fort Goryokaku, an unusual star-shaped moated fort and observation tower, the park is the perfect place to enjoy a picnic or barbecue under the blossoms. Arguably no country celebrates the cherry blossom with the excitement of Japan, but the country is hardly the only place on earth with a large assortment of these flowers. Being just a short bus ride from Kyoto station, Nijo Castle surprisingly still manages to be one of the less crowded locations for viewing. Blossoming Flowers in Japanese Art and Poetry. There are over 1,200 spell-binding cherry blossom trees at the park and picnic spots are set up in the grass for folks to enjoy. Election 2022. The park is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. all week. Here's When to Go, How to Experience the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC, Everything You Need to Know About the Washington, D.C. Cherry Trees, April Events and Festivals in the United States. The trees bloom from mid-May through to the end of the month, and during the hanami season, the temple grounds are full of visitors enjoying picnics and parties underneath the cherry trees. The Japan Information & Culture Center (JICC), Embassy of Japan, DC, is proud to present Exploring Hiroshige and His Influence on Social Media, an exhibition looking at the work of the seminal ukiyo-e artist, Utagawa Hiroshige, as part of the 2022 National Cherry Blossom Festival. 2022 NATIONAL CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL The Embassy of Japan is proud to present a fabulous lineup through the Japan Information & Culture Center (JICC) during the 2022 National Cherry Blossom Festival. For a few short weeks each spring, Japan's cities and countryside are adorned with cloud-like white and pink flowers.Residents often hold hanami, parties or picnics for the purpose of observing the blossoms. It is our hope that our audience will leave the exhibit with a new appreciation for Hiroshige and the influence he has had on both the art world and the way we share our experiences. The copper-colored leaves and creamy-yellow petals create a cloud-like scenery that really does stand out from the rest. Located in Sapporo, Moerenuma Park is surrounded by majestic mountains that add to the beauty of the hanami. Privacy Policy Terms of Use, Ueno Cherry Blossom Festival in Tokyo, Japan, Meguro River Cherry Blossom Festival in Tokyo, Japan, Takada Castle Cherry Blossom Festival in Joetsu, Japan, Hirosaki Castle Park Cherry Blossom Festival, Hirosaki, Japan, Fuji Kawaguchiko Cherry Blossom Festival, Fujikawaguchiko, Japan. Unlike the aristocrats of yesteryear, today people in Japan make fun a key component of cherry blossom viewing. The geographical location of the blooms will also make a big difference to the start of the season. Located within the city of Kanazawa, the park is easy to reach using the famous Japanese bullet trains and other local transport, and the best time to see the sakura is early to mid-April. With delicate petals that are light pink in color (almost white) and pretty 5-petal blossoms, the Somei Yoshino creates a blanket of color during the hanami season. Hanami is such a special time. The temple is open from 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. all week. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Tucked away beneath the skyscrapers and alleyways, Shinjuku Gyoen is a gorgeous green refuge full of traditional gardens and a quaint traditional tea house. Cherry trees will blossom depending on various factors such as geographic location and the weather. This might be a good time to learn how to say"cheers" in Japaneseand learn some local drinking etiquette. It's said that the origin of hanami dates back more than1,000 years to when aristocrats enjoyed looking at beautiful cherry blossoms and wrote poems inspired by them. Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. While times have evolved, the purpose of the Festival continues to be the perpetuation of Japanese culture, and to enrich the lives of young women of Japanese ancestry. The temple is open from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. from April to October and 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from November to March. While the festival of hanami is most about celebrating the beautiful blooms of the cherry blossom trees, it is also an excuse to come together to drink sake and beer, eat sweet treats, and celebrate just being together at the beginning of the spring. On the northernmost islands and highlands, it is not unusual to wait until May to experience the hanami in all its glory. Another spectacular castle surrounded by cherry blossom trees is Takada Castle: an estate in the Niigata prefecture two hours northwest of Tokyo. There are over 600 different varieties of cherry trees that grow in Japan, a few of which are native to the country, with many more having been cultivated for decorative use throughout the centuries. Perfect for family picnics during hanami, visitors to the park can also enjoy long woodland hikes or take a dip in the naturally occurring hot spring pools. For many thousands of years, the act of observing them has been celebrated during the season of Hanami.. The early blossoming cherry trees at Hirano (the sakigake-zakura) are considered to mark the beginning of the hanami season in Kyoto. They drink and eat, making the tradition of blossom-viewing more like a picnic under the trees. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). The temple is considered to be one of the most important temples of the Shingon sect of Japanese Buddhism, and its a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. For 6 hours, Noon to 6 pm, the Walb Student Union and surrounding area at Purdue Fort Wayne (PFW) will be alive with Japanese arts, crafts and culture, from water games and crafts for kids to Karaoke for older folks. If youre looking for an otherworldly cherry blossom experience, this is the place to be. This man-made oasis was designed with the help of world-famous sculptor Isamu Noguchi. Hirano Shrine is also home to the Okasai Festival which takes place towards the end of the cherry blossom viewing season, where local people wear traditional Japanese outfits in a procession around the shrine. For those who would like to enjoy a more scaled-down celebration of spring, there are plenty of lesser-known viewing spots where visitors can picnic in peace. Meguro River Cherry Blossom Festival 2023 Dates: Mid March Early April 2023. The gardens are open every day between 9 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. but closed on Mondays. Deliberated planted to surround the castle itself, the cherry trees look as delightful up close as they do from afar, and the castle and park are one of the most popular places to see the sakura in the Kyushu region. With unique-looking, bell-shaped petals, the Kanhizakura is one of the most beloved cherry blossoms the world over. For more information on our advertisers, see here. Photo by C. Smyth for Visit Philadelphia Sponsored Sponsored Bottom Line: Tokyo is a modern, fast-paced city that still embraces its traditional roots. Enjoy the blooms at the Tidal Basin while experience live performances that celebrate the friendship between the US and Japan. In 2023, the festival was originally scheduled to be held from February 1 to 28, but the festival period was later extended through March 5. From Bowers Museum: "Welcome spring following the tradition of a . Many people will go stake out a spot early in the morning or even a day in advance. Tokyo Flowering: March 18 / Full bloom: March 25 Sapporo document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Disclaimer:Upgraded Points, LLC and its website, UpgradedPoints.com, provides information on credit cards, reward programs, travel information and ancillary information concerning travel and credit cards. Admiring the flowers fleeting beauty is a practice that dates back over a thousand years. Situated within the grounds of the castle, Nishinomaru Garden is the perfect place for cherry-viewing picnics and parties, set against the stunning backdrop of the ancient castle steeped in Japanese history. The park is also easily accessible from Hakodate Station by bus, tram, or on foot. Weather conditions can cause the seasons to start a week or so earlier or later than the previous year, but usually, they do not vary by much more than that. Jillian Dara is a freelance journalist and fact-checker. We really appreciate it! Cherry blossom festivals take place in different regions ofthe country. With 800 cherry trees lining the moat, this pretty little castle has undergone reconstruction to offer one of the most scenic spots from which to view the sakura in all of Osaka. Cherry blossoms in South Korea typically bloom late or end of March to early April, similar to Japan. D.C.'s cherry blossoms are expected to peak between March 22 and March 25 this year. These trees are also called somei-yoshino trees or yedoensis in botanical circles. The National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade, Constitution Avenue NW, between 7th and 17th Streets. The park is also home to over 10,000 cherry trees of 250 different kinds. The estimated average full bloom is generally in the second week of February. The temple is just 15 minutes walk from Daigoji station, and the best time to see the sakura is from late March to early April. With some 350 trees in full bloom, these late-blooming, double-petal varieties are some of the rarest in the city, making a visit to this unusual location very worthwhile. Osaka Mint is open from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. with the last entry at 4 p.m. As the most famous spot in the city to enjoy hanami, Maizuru Park was built around the ruins of Fukuoka Castle. Finally, the height at which the cherry trees are planted can also affect how long it takes them to bloom. Join us for a ceremonial cherry tree planting at National Harbor celebrating the 110th anniversary of the gift of the cherry trees from Tokyo to Washington DC. Any and all options, reviews, comments and analyses are the responsibility of the author(s) and not any Advertiser or credit card issuer. There are 300 cherry trees planted throughout the park, with many of them lining the banks of the river. Opening: Exploring Hiroshige and His Influence on Social Media. ENTERTAINMENT EATS & TREATS MARKETPLACE FUKUBUKURO BAG Had tickets booked for 3/19-3/26 but looks like that isnt happening anymore with coronavirus. Here are some of Japans best Cherry Blossom festivals and where to find them: Ueno Cherry Blossom Festival 2023 Dates: Mid-March to Mid-April 2023. Visitors come from all over from mid-March through the middle of April to picnic and party under the cherry trees. Cuts to the bark or roots of the tree can lead to rot that spreads across the whole tree, causing it to die. Visitors come to join friends and family as they picnic in the park, enjoy a boat ride on the lake, and capture some of the earliest examples of the sakura to appear every season. The park is famous for the yozakura of Gion, a special cherry tree that illuminates the entrance of the park, giving it an ethereal, otherworldly feel at nighttime. From late March through to mid-April, the castle grounds are perfect for enjoying a picnic under the cherry trees while the sakura blossoms gently fall around you. Elderly Japanese sometimes opt to visit Japanese plum parks to viewplum blossomsinstead, as these areas are often less busy and rowdy. A popular destination with families wanting to celebrate hanami, the park has a large playground, a selection of athletic equipment, and an onsen hot spring shrine, making it suitable for visitors of all ages. Sat, Mar 18, 2023. During the hanami, the cherry blossom trees are lit up with lanterns every evening, and the gardens are open later than usual to allow visitors to enjoy them after dark. The Fuji Five lakes area is a hugely popular place to visit during this season. Centrally located close to both Morinomiya and Osakajokoen stations, Osaka Castle Park can get very busy during hanami. 49th ANNUAL CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL DOWNTOWN DENVER | SAKURA SQUARE Thank you to everyone who made the 2022 festival a great success! Celebrate the National Cherry Blossom Festival with the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade! Featuring a variety of events throughout the city, the festival brings a taste of Japan to Philadelphia and highlights The massive bloom starts in the far south, in Okinawa, and slowly works its way up to northern Japan in late May. Hanami is the Japanese word for viewing the cherry blossoms and is derived from the Japanese words for flower and view. Although some hybrids and wild varieties can produce fruit, it is not for eating, and it is only the Sato-Nishiki cherry tree, grown in the Yamagata Prefecture, that produces small cherries. At the south side of this extensive park lies a cherry blossom garden that is home to about 800 trees, as well as lawned areas and childrens playgrounds. When youre ready to book your travel, review all of the best ways to fly from the U.S. to Japan with points and miles. Set in the Oita Prefecture, this temple lies in a deep valley surrounded by majestic mountains that offer scenic views all year round. One of the biggest festivals in the U.S. is in Washington, D.C. For just 1 week, the cherry trees are illuminated at night, making the river banks the perfect place for a romantic stroll among the blossoms, and the park is easily reached from Sakuranomiya station. The period from late March through to early April is the best time to see the sakura. Its difficult to think of anywhere more incredible to see the Japanese cherry blossoms than at Mount Fuji itself. The National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting the beauty of nature and international friendship through year-round programs, events, and educational initiatives that enhance our environment, showcase arts and culture, and build community spirit. The other 2 are the Uzumi Sakura in Motosu at 1,500 years old and the Miharu Takizakura in Fukushima which is estimated to be 1,000 years old. The festival features over 24 hours of Japanese cultural performances on four stages (including J-Pop, traditional Japanese music, and martial arts) and a diverse range of cultural exhibitors, artisan and commercial vendors of traditional and contemporary Japanese goods, and Japanese and other food and beverages. Mountains that add to the start of the most beloved cherry blossoms are expected to peak between March 22 March... 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