Mar 4, 20233 min read

Enjoying Cherry Blossoms Across the World

Cherry Blossoms are the symbol of the unofficial start of Spring. Commonly found in East Asia, but especially in Japan, these beautiful, soft pink flowered trees are such a sight to see on a sunny Spring day. If you haven’t seen cherry blossom trees, you may wonder what all the hype is about.

Sakura, the Japanese word for cherry blossoms, are considered to be the national flower of Japan. With Japan and its people deeply rooted in tradition, the cherry blossom trees are highly sought after and treasured by Japan.

History

Did you know there were a few attempts made to bring the cherry blossom trees to the USA? A female pioneer and world traveler by the name of Eliza Scidmore had seen the beauty of the sakura trees during her trip to Japan. She proposed to Washington D.C. officials to bring the trees to the city, but she was shut down for years.

In a separate attempt, sakura trees were delivered to Seattle, but once they arrived and were inspected, it was discovered the trees were infested with insects and nematodes. However, finally on March 26, 1912, 3,020 trees of twelve different varieties arrived in Washington D.C. and planted around the Tidal Basin.

The first Cherry Blossom Festival in 1935 was a small gathering of civic group members. It wasn’t until the following year when the festival became an annual celebration to commemorate the gift from the Japanese to the Americans.

Tradition

One thing, out of the list of many, that I love about Japan is the way they honor and hold true to their traditional customs. Every year without fail, usually from the end of March to early May, you can see sakura trees blooming all throughout Japan. With the blooming of the sakura tree comes the yearly tradition of “hanami” or “flower-viewing” in English.

Hanami is a gathering of friends and family under the sakura tree, as viewers take in the beauty of the flowers. I’ve participated in hanami with friends when I lived in Japan and it’s always a special experience. Think of it as a picnic in the park or area full of sakura trees, while eating, drinking and enjoying nature’s gifts. It’s a way to welcome the start of the Spring season. Some of my favorite locations to view sakura flowers are Nagoya Castle, Bampaku park, and Osaka Castle.

Sakura Across the States

The best way to find out when peak bloom for the sakura trees in your local area is to visit your state’s national park website. Many states all have annual Cherry Blossom festivals filled with food, musical performances, and vendors.