By Hristina Byrnes | The Active Times
The arrival of cherry blossoms is one of the first true signs that
spring has sprung. The unearthly beauty of these flowers takes people’s
breath away with their majestic colors and refreshing aromas.
Even science confirms it. Flowers have an immediate impact on happiness and a long-term positive effect on moods. A study showed that patients in hospital rooms with flowers needed less pain medication, were less tired and had lower blood pressure. A third collection of research indicated that people’s cognitive performance was better with plants inside.
The
Japanese take the sakura (cherry blossom) season very seriously. For
them, it’s a lot more than pretty flowers. The entire country is
overwhelmed with a kind of jubilee feeling for months. There is a blossom report that
appears to be more important than the weather forecast. But you don’t
have to fly thousands of miles for a unique Hanami (viewing) experience
if you want to have a picnic and relax surrounded by stunning blooms and
colors.
While Japan’s cherry blossoms and
Washington’s festival are the first places that come to mind, Sweden,
Australia, and other locations in the U.S. are not far behind.
Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival, British Columbia
Japan has given Vancouver more than 37,000 cherry blossom trees. No wonder the city gets so into the sakura celebration. Hundreds of blossoms at a time can be found in different parts of Vancouver and its 50 parks. The Cherry Blossom Festival has just begun and will be held until April 17. Two of the favorite spots for pictures are Stanley Park and the Queen Elizabeth public garden.
Hirosaki Park in Hirosaki, Japan
The flower is a symbol of fragility, life, and beauty in Japan. People religiously follow the blossom forecast, which has already reported flowerings. People gather under the beautiful trees for picnics and to enjoy life in general. The Hirosaki Park is one of the most famous places to do that. More than a million people gather every season under the 2,600 trees of different varieties around the park’s 400-year-old castle.
Kungsträdgården Cherry Blossoms in Stockholm, Sweden
The cherry blossoms in the open plaza in the King’s Tree Garden are stunning. There are more than 60 trees that have been planted there since 1998. The peak season is a real feast for locals and tourists alike, who love to go there for a picnic and to enjoy the dazzling sights.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden in New York
The garden has one of the most diverse collections of cherry trees – more than 40 different varieties. The famed Sakura Matsuri Festival,
on April 30 and May 1 this year, draws thousands of people annually.
The Hanami experience in the garden features dozens of performances
celebrating contemporary and classical Japanese culture. You’ll get to
walk along stunningly beautiful trees and colors.
National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C.
The blossoms are expected to peak soon and this year’s festival runs through April 17. This celebration should be on the bucket list of anyone who admires gorgeous flowers. The capital has been celebrating the cherry blossoms since 1912. More than 3,000 cherry trees were gifted by Tokyo’s mayor as a sign of friendship.
State Capitol State Park in Salem, Oregon
Salem is known
as the Cherry City because of the cherry orchards that used to be found
all around the valley town. The city had its first Cherry Festival in
1903. The trees can now be found in the State Capitol State Park. There
are more than 150 Akebono flowering cherry trees lining Capitol Mall in
the city, which is only about 45 miles from Portland.
Himeji Castle in Japan
The castle has been around since the mid-14th century. It is the biggest and certainly most visited castle,
especially during the sakura season, in all of Japan. The structure is
also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which only makes it more attractive.
Surrounded by over 1,000 cherry trees, this is the perfect Hanami
location.
Seoul, South Korea
The best place
to see cherry blossoms in Seoul is the Yeouido Island behind the
National Assembly building. The city is dedicated to its Spring Flowers
Festival, of which the cherry trees are the main attraction. Roads are
closed for all cars, so the 4 million visitors a year can enjoy the
flowers’ beauty undisturbed.
Hamburg, Germany
When people think of cherry trees in Germany, they usually imagine Bonn. But Hamburg is the place where the largest Hanami in the country occurs every year. This is not a surprise, as the city has many residents with Japanese roots.
Jerte Valley, Spain
The more than two million cherry trees in the Jerte Valley form a
beautiful blanket of snow white flowers covering the hills. From far
away, it looks like winter is not over. The region is totally
transformed into an arena for celebrating the Fiesta del Cerezo en Flor with majestic views, exhibitions, and markets. More than 50,000 people attend every year.
Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis, Missouri
This beautiful public garden is mostly known for its more than 7,500 orchids. But it also has more than 200 different cherry trees, 20 of which are of “Centennial varieties.” They are descendants of the trees gifted to the U.S. from Japan in 1912. The Higan cherry trees and their fiery pink blossoms are among the most popular.
Tokyo, Japan
If you’re going to Japan on a cherry blossom exploration, start with Tokyo. There may be a lot of skyscrapers, but you will find many stunning spots in between where you can relax while engulfed in beautiful flowers. Clusters of cherry trees have been planted all over the capital. One of the best spots, the Ueno Park which is one of the country’s oldest public spaces, has more than 1,000 blooming cherry trees.
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
About 2,000 Japanese expatriates live in Amstelveen, a suburban of Amsterdam. So every year when spring arrives, they flock under than 400+ cherry trees, which were donated by the Japan Women’s Club, for a picnic. They are in the Japanese Blossom Park in the Amsterdamse Bos, the park bordering Amsterdam and Amstelveen.
Champs de Mars in Paris, France
Paris is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and cherry trees in the spring are just one of the reasons why. However, the most renowned place to enjoy the stunning blossoms is the Parc du Champ de Mars, in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower. As the weather gets warmer, the lively pink colors burst.
Copenhagen Sakura Festival in Denmark
The Danish capital has its own cherry blossom festival. It started in 2005 when Honorary Consul of Hiroshima gifted the city 200 flowering cherry trees to honor the bicentennial of the famous author Hans Christian Andersen. The event, which is just over a weekend, takes place in Langelinie Park. The trees become and more and more beautiful as they age.
Shanghai, China
About 13 hectares of land in the Gacun Forest Park are covered in cherry blossom trees. More than 10,000 people go there to see the blossoms every season. Shanghai celebrates the flowers in five more locations: Shanghai Botanical Gardens, Chenshan Botanical Gardens, Lu Xun Park, Zhongshan Park, and Tongji University.
Macon, Georgia
Each March, Macon becomes a pink, cotton-spun paradise as more than 300,000 Yoshino cherry trees bloom in all their glory. For 10 days, festival-lovers are treated to one of the most extravagant displays of springtime color in the nation as they visit the town referred to by Congressional Records as the Cherry Blossom Capital of the World. This year’s festival lasts until April 4.
Curitiba, Brazil
Many Japanese expats in Brazil live in Curitiba, and as you would imagine, cherry trees decorate the streets and parks. The Botanical Garden has an amazing collection, making the city the best place in Brazil to witness cherry blossoms. Other famous places include Praça do Japão, Jardim Botânico, Parque Tanguá, Anita Garibaldi Street, Iguaçu Street and Pasteur Street. The best time to see them is in the winter, especially in July.
Cowra in New South Wales, Australia
Cowra’s Japanese Garden is a real gem. It’s actually an exact replica of the first Japanese landscape garden in Tokyo. The best time to see the majestic cherry blossoms there is in September. Hosting a picnic is allowed. Set up under a tree on the grass for the best relaxation around.
San Francisco, California
The Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival is gaining more and more popularity in recent years. San Francisco's Japantown
is one of only three remaining Japanese enclaves in the country. Cherry
trees are everywhere. This year the event, April 9-10 and April 16-17,
will celebrate its 49th year. More than 200,000 people attend the
incredible display of the color and grace of the Japanese culture.
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