Top 5 places to see the world's best cherry blossoms
No matter where you are in the world, it’s always nice to enjoy the view of cherry blossoms when they are in season. Here are some of the best places in the world to see the beautiful flowers in bloom.
1. Arakurayama Sengen Park, Japan
This scenic gem in Yamanashi shines in April when cherry blossoms are in full bloom, complemented by a classic five-storey pagoda from the Arakura Fuji Sengen-jinja Shrine and majestic views of Mount Fuji in the distance.
2. Kungsträdgården, Stockholm, Sweden
While Stockholm is lined with pink trees every spring, Kungsträdgården is where you can see the flowers form a cotton candy canopy over the entire park. In mid-April you can also stroll through the stands and get some snacks from the annual Japanese festival taking place at the site. Expect the peak around mid-to-late April.
3. Jerte Valley, Spain
Located between Salamanca and Cáceres, the valley has two million white cherry trees that create a stunning, snow-like panorama. As the locals tell it, Valle del Jerte comes to life every March in three stages: despertar el valle (the valley wakes), cerezo en Flor (cherry trees in bloom), and lluvia de Pétalos (shower of flower petals).
4. Washington DC, US
Cherry blossoms first arrived in DC in 1912 as a gift from Japan. To commemorate the occasion, the city celebrates the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival, allowing visitors to enjoy the sea of pink and white from the 3,000-plus trees around the Tidal Basin from late March to mid-April.
5. Pingba, Guizhou, China
According to local media, the region boasts more than 500,000 cherry trees along with azalea and apricot trees. When they blossom in late March to early April, the aerial view of the region shows a lush display of white-pink petals covering the county.
Click through the gallery above to see the cherry blossoms at these spots.
Will you be visiting any of these places? Let us know in the comments.