An aerial photo of a park in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, China, where the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. China may not be on Tripadvisor's list but it is also a great place to see the flowers in spring time. – AFP
Sure, tulips are lovely, and roses sublime. But the pale pink froth of sakura – or cherry – blossoms is extraordinary. Tripadvisor recently ranked the best spots around the world to see these blossoms – and it’s hardly surprising that two Japanese cities top the list.
(Left) People walking along the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC, surrounded by beautiful blooming cherry blossoms. – AP
These beautiful cherry trees are native to Japan, where they’ve inspired festivals and celebrations for centuries.
Paris, France and its cherry trees, which are planted throughout the city from the Champ de Mars to Montmartre, made the list, as did Stockholm (Sweden), where the King’s Garden is filled with dozens of cherry trees, a gift from Japan to King Carl XVI Gustaf.
You can also see beautiful blossoms in the United States, in New York or the nation’s capital, Washington, DC.
Cherry blossoms at Chidorigafuchi Park in Tokyo. — Dreamstime/TNS
But if you’re planning a trip to a more far-flung location, bear in mind that March and April are peak viewing season for many of these destinations – unless you’re bound for Brazil, where the cherries bloom in July and August. (How did we not know that Curitiba and Sao Paulo are famous for their cherry trees?) – Tribune News Service
Top places to see cherry blossoms, according to Tripadvisor:
- Tokyo, Japan
- Kyoto, Japan
- Washington, DC, United States
- Paris, France
- Taipei, Taiwan
- Stockholm, Sweden
- Brooklyn, New York, US
- Seoul, South Korea
- Curitiba, Brazil
- Vancouver, Canada
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Portland, Oregon, US
