Top 10 places to see cherry blossoms around the world

The Mercury News (Tns)
Tuesday, March 21, 2023 9:56 a.m. | Tuesday, March 21, 2023 9:56 a.m.

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A cherry blossom tree that has begun to bloom is seen, Monday, March 20, 2023, along the tidal basin in Washington, on the first day of the National Cherry Blossom Festival.

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A family walks among cherry blossom trees that have begun to bloom, Monday, March 20, 2023, along the tidal basin in Washington, on the first day of the National Cherry Blossom Festival.

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Visitors wearing face masks to help curb the spread of the coronavirus walk under a canopy of the cherry blossom in full bloom in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, April 10, 2022.

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People enjoy the cherry blossoms at night in Taipei, Taiwan, Monday, Feb. 27, 2023.

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People stop on a bridge to take pictures of the cherry blossom over a river in full bloom Friday, April 1, 2022, in Tokyo.

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A Japanese white-eye, also known as Mejiro, drinks the nectar of a cherry blossom in Tokyo, Japan, Wednesday, March 23, 2022.

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Members of the traditional Japanese ensemble Taiko Masala, perform during a preview of the Sakura Matsuri festival at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden in New York, Tuesday April 22, 2014.

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A detail of a cherry blossom in winter at Curitiba, Brazil.

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The Eiffel Tower from Champs de Mars park in spring with cherry blossom, in Paris.

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Tourists travel on a ferry near blooming cherry blossoms on the Okazaki canal covered with cherry blossom pedals on April 5, 2013 in Kyoto, Japan.

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Spring cherry blossoms in full bloom in Vancouver, British Columbia.

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The cherry blossoms in Stockholm’s Kungsträdgården plaza is one of the capital’s main signs of spring.

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. These beautiful cherry trees are native to Japan, where they’ve inspired festivals and celebrations for centuries.

Paris and its cherry trees, which are planted throughout the city, from the Champ de Mars to Montmartre, made the list, as did Stockholm, where the King’s Garden is filled with dozens of cherry trees, a gift from Japan to King Carl XVI Gustaf.

Of course, you can also see beautiful blossoms closer to home, in New York or the nation’s capital. 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?)

Here’s the top 10.

Tripadvisor’s top places to see cherry blossoms

1. Tokyo

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2. Kyoto, Japan

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3. Washington, D.C.

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4. Paris

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5. Taipei, Taiwan

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6. Stockholm

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7. Brooklyn, New York

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8. Seoul, South Korea

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9. Curitiba, Brazil

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10. Vancouver, Canada

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Find the full list and plenty of travel suggestions at www.tripadvisor.com.