It was just reported that Washington DC’s cherry blossoms are slated to peak March 17-20 – earlier than normal. For those who can’t make the DC blossoms, or simply want to travel from bloom to bloom, here is a list of six cities with cherry blossom experiences throughout the spring.
Travelers can celebrate the National Cherry Blossom Festival in DC by booking the Picture Perfect Cherry Blossom Package at luxury hotel The Jefferson through April 30, 2018. The experience includes deluxe overnight accommodations in one of the classically designed rooms, breakfast for two each morning at The Greenhouse on-property, a cherry blossom coffee table book and 10% off a personal photography session with Flytographer for a 2018 keepsake. Guests can add to the experience by sipping on the cherry-themed cocktail at Quill, in honor of founding father Thomas Jefferson and the third most common tree grown on his Monticello estate.
The National Cherry Blossoms Festival, is an annual springtime affair. To kick of the season of the blossoms in style, the freshly renovated Fairmont Washington, D.C., Georgetown is ushering in the warmer weather with A Very Cherry Experience. With the package, guests will enjoy the hotel’s celebrated Cherry Blossom Afternoon Tea for two. Served at the hotel’s Loggia which overlooks the courtyard’s blooming cherry trees, the special Afternoon Tea features an exclusive tea blend, the Fairmont Cherry Almond, and Cherry Blossom-inspired fare curated by Executive Chef Jordi Gallardo. In addition, the package includes champagne for two and luxurious accommodations at the iconic hotel. Rates for the Very Cherry Experience Package start at $219 per night based on double occupancy and availability; Package available through May 31.
Sofitel Washington DC Lafayette Square is kicking-off Cherry Blossom season with the National Cherry Blossom Festival Package. With an incredible location for capturing all of the festival’s colorful wonders, the package includes luxury accommodations, a welcome “Blossomtini” cocktail at the Opaline Bar and Brasserie, a Cherry Blossom candle votive created by Bernardaud - the oldest and highly reputable porcelain maker founded in 1863, and an Official Cherry Blossom Commemorative Swarovski crystal floral pin by Mindy Lam for the first ten reservations booked. Rates for the National Cherry Blossom Festival Package start at $279 per night; Package Available March 18 - April 16.
Fort Worth, TX: Japanese Spring Festival From April 28-29, 2018, the Fort Worth Botanic Garden will host their annual Spring Festival in their Japanese Garden. The Fort Worth Japanese Garden was completed in 1973 and has winding paths through landscapes surrounded by 7.5 acres of blossoming cherry trees, Japanese maples, magnolias, bamboo, bridges, and ponds that are home to 1,200+ Koi fish. In partnership with the Japan-America Society of Dallas/Fort Worth, the Spring Festival will feature Japanese music, Sakura dancers, sword and martial arts demos, bonsai and ikebana displays and activities for kids such as kimono dress-up, Japanese story time, origami, calligraph and koi fish feeding.
Setouchi Region: Under-the-Radar Blossoms in Japan
Cherry blossom season is carefully monitored by weather bureaus for “Japan’s Cherry Blossom Front.” Starting at the end of March, tourists and locals alike flock to Japan’s parks and landmarks and indulge in “Hanami” (flower viewing and picnicking). While hundreds make their way to Tokyo and Kyoto, others prefer a more under-the-radar destination and head, instead, to the Setouchi Region of Japan and its prefectures to view some of the most stunning cherry blossoms away from the hectic crowds.
New York: Sakura Matsuri Cherry Blossom Festival
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden annually hosts the Sakura Matsuri Cherry Blossom Festival highlighting the best of Japanese culture in the midst of gorgeous pink-petal trees. The event includes Japanese tea room, an art gallery, a flea market and entertainment such as Taiko drummers, samurai sword masters and dance parties. The Brooklyn Botanic Garden runs the festival during the two days of the blossoms’ most picturesque peak, though visitors are invited to enjoy the phenomenon between mid-March and late April.
Stockholm: Cherry Tree Blooms in a Medieval Park Every year the city of Stockholm, Sweden celebrates the blooming cherry blossoms at the city’s Kungsträdgården (King's Tree Garden), where 63 Japanese cherry trees were planted in 1998 in the park’s northern section. A visit to the blooms have become a yearly spring tradition for locals and visitors who picnic, stroll or sit beneath the line of cherry trees in the park dating back to the Middle Ages.
Hamburg: Japanisches Kirschblütenfest
The city of Hamburg, a sister city of Osaka, Japan, celebrates Japanisches Kirschblütenfest, an annual festival in May dedicated to Hamburg’s large Japanese population and the 1960s planting of cherry trees along the banks of Alster Lake. In 1968, the city started the festival, which includes spectacular fireworks, the election of a “Cherry Blossom Princess” and Japanese Culture Day with food stalls, educational exhibits and martial arts performances.
