Every spring, Japan celebrates the famous Cherry Blossom Festival as thousands of trees come into bloom. However, you don’t need to travel to Japan to see the beautiful display. It turns out the US has its own version of the National Cherry Blossom Festival. The following are the five best places in the US to celebrate the blossoming of the cherry trees

1. Cherry blossoms in The National Mall, Washington, DC

Each year, more than 1.5 million visitors head to the nation’s capital to celebrate the National Cherry Blossom Festival. The three-week-long event is held as more than 3,000 trees come into bloom in the National Mall.

The festival came into being after the planting of two cherry trees, gifted by Tokyo, in West Potomac Park in the US in March 1912. Fast forward to now and the cherry blossom trees surround the Tidal Basin reservoir. Meanwhile, the festival has grown to coincide with other events throughout DC. The celebrations spill over into restaurants and bars and even whole neighborhoods go pink with special offerings.

The peak time to view the blossoming cherry trees in the National Mall is estimated to be from March 22 – 27, 2022.

2. Japanese Friendship Garden in San Diego, California

Besides its gorgeous beaches, San Diego also celebrates the blossoming of the cherry trees. Here, the trees are found in the Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park. During mid-March, the garden’s Cherry Blossom Week also features a variety of events. Meanwhile, these include live performances and a children’s arts and crafts area. The event also features stalls by local merchants and a beer and sake garden at the Inamori Pavilion.

Here, it is estimated that the peak time to view the cherry trees in bloom is from March 11 – 13, 2022.

3. Blossoming cherry trees in New Haven, Connecticut

New Haven’s Wooster Square is the site of the city’s annual Cherry Blossom Festival, held in April each year. The city welcomes the blooming of the Yoshino Japanese cherry trees in the square. The event also features live performances and a family and children’s activity area. Meanwhile, food vendors and local artisans sell their wares.

The estimated peak time for viewing the blossoming cherry trees in New Haven is around April 24, 2022.

4. Sakura Matsuri Festival, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, NYC

Each year, the cherry trees blossom at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden (BBG) from mid-March to late April. In fact, the garden’s website has a “Cherrywatch” map that reveals the latest updates on the bloom status.

BBG’s Flowering Cherry Collection features 26 species and cultivars from Japan throughout the garden. The trees are located in the Cherry Cultivars Area, The Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden, the Cherry Walk and the Cherry Esplanade. Moreover, each year, BBG puts on a Sakura Matsuri weekend festival to celebrate, just like in Japan. Besides the blossoming trees themselves, the festival celebrates Japanese culture through music, dance, art and food.

The estimated peak for blossoming cherry trees here is from late March or early April through mid-May.

5. Central City Park in Macon, Georgia

The Macon, Georgia International Cherry Blossom Festival is held each year in Central City Park. Meanwhile, the event celebrates the more than 350,000 Yoshino cherry trees that give the town a glorious pink hue. The 10-day festival has a number of events, including a food truck gathering, a pasta dinner and a Fiesta Ball. Moreover, residents and visitors can follow Macon’s Cherry Blossom Trail, starting from the Visitor’s Center.

The Macon, Georgia estimated peak cherry tree blossom time is from March 18 – 27, 2022,

If you can’t travel to Japan to see the celebrated cherry blossom trees, enjoy one of these equally lovely local celebrations in the US.