BEAUTIFUL UNEXPECTED CHERRY BLOSSOM TRIPS

Cherry blossom season is soon upon us, ready to take our breath away! And while Washington DC and Kyoto are cherry blossom meccas, we curated a basket of unexpected cherry blossom trips, each with its own special charm.

Japan, a country beautifully obsessed with cherry blossoms, aka sakura, has many other cities that are awash pink and white when the time is right, including one that is home to the oldest known sakura tree -- over 2,000 years old.

Cherry blossoms are among springtime’s greatest joys. They are symbols of renewal, offering hope for a fresh start and a brighter more beautiful future. This was especially powerful right after the tsunami that devastated parts of Japan in 2011, as brilliantly conveyed in the award-winning documentary Tsunami & the Cherry Blossom.

These beautiful pink and white blossoms bring hope and joy to places you might not immediately consider, in Europe and the US as well. Check out our cherry blossom travel bucket list below.

PARIS, FRANCE

Although it is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Paris is not the place that comes to mind when we think about cherry blossoms. But think again! Pockets of cherry trees add their blush throughout the city.

From a small square in front of the Notre Dame Cathedral to hidden corners of the Marais, to the profusion of les fleurs de cerises at the Jardin des Plantes, you will be pleasantly surprised. Parc de Sceaux, just outside of Paris, plays host to the closest thing France has to a cherry blossom festival in early to mid April.  

HIROSAKI, JAPAN

Revel in a sea of cherry blossoms in Hirosaki Park, in Hirosaki, on the island of Honshu, Japan, where you’ll find over 2,500 trees in bloom. Hundreds of these cherry trees were planted well over 100 years ago.

The cherry blossoms in Hirosaki Park are particularly beautiful because of the special ancient pruning technique used in cultivating the trees. Typical cherry blossoms have 3 to 4 floral buds, but the cherry blossoms in Hirosaki Park have 5 to 7, making them way more lush and plush.

The setting, surrounded by mountains, with  a gorgeous old castle, castle standing guard, will pretty much guarantee you gorgeous photos, wherever you shoot. Check out the Hirosaki Sakura-Mitsura Cherry Blossom Festival, typically held in late April to early May.

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK

Copenhagen celebrates when the 200 cherry blossom trees planted in Langelinie Park bloom, thanks to Denmark’s diplomatic partnership with Japan.  Check out the Copenhagen Sakura Festival, April 28-29, 2018. This year it will be extra special, with exciting events to celebrate the 150th Anniversary year of Japan-Denmark diplomatic relationship.

JERTE VALLEY, SPAIN

Cherry blossoms in Spain? Who knew? It turns out that cherries are a very important crop in this country. Some consider Spanish cherries to be among the best in the world. Spain’s Jerte Valley boasts over 2 million cherry trees! When they are in bloom, primarily with white blossoms, the valley looks as if it’s covered in snow.

If you venture to the valley in late March to early April, you’ll find breathtaking cherry blossoms as far as the eye can see. Now close your eyes and just imagine the scent….

JINHAE, SOUTH KOREA

South Korea loves its cherry blossoms! Each year, the Jinhae district of Changwon City, on the south-eastern coast, hosts one of the largest cherry blossom festivals in the world. It’s

a 10-day celebration of spectacular events -- especially unique at night.

The Yeojwacheon Starlight Festival, for example, is an evening event where Yeojwacheon Stream and Romance Bridge are decorated with illuminations and laser lights. This nighttime event is a must-see -- a totally different cherry blossom experience.

Sokcheonhang Port Multimedia Fireworks on the Sea is another nighttime event that brightens the night sky.

Find tour information here.

Read more about New Blossoms all this week on BeautifulNow. And check out more beautiful things happening now in BN Wellness, Impact, Nature/Science, Food, Arts/Design, and Travel, Daily Fix posts.

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IMAGE CREDITS:

1. Image: by Janne Räkköläinen. “Paris.” Paris, France.
2. Image: by twiga269 ॐ FEMEN. “Printemps aux Tuileries.” Paris, France.
3. Image: by Daisuke K. Cherry blossoms in Hirosaki Park. Honshu, Japan.
4. Image: by Jenny Lopez. “Closer look.” Hirosaki Park. Honshu, Japan.
5. Image: by Alex Berger. “Bispebjerg Kirkegård - Cherry Blossoms.” Copenhagen, Denmark.
6. Image: by Mr Hicks46. “Cherry Trees in Bloom.” Jerte Valley, Spain.
7. Image: by Gadjo Dilo. Jinhae Gunhangje Festival. Jinhae, South Korea.
8. Image: by Gadjo Dilo. Jinhae Gunhangje Festival. Jinhae, South Korea.
9. Image: by Quattro Photo. “Hirosaki Cherry Blossoms.” Hirosaki Park. Honshu, Japan.
10. Image: by Guilhem Vellut. “Cherry blossoms @ Parc Georges Brassens @ Paris.” Paris, France.
11. Image: by Taichiro Ueki. Cherry Blossoms at night. Tokyo, Japan.