Think of spring and your mind instantly flutters to vibrant cherry blossom. The fascinating pink-hued flowers that you must’ve seen in countless Japanese and Korean shows symbolize renewal and beauty and are a visual delight to many.
Cherry blossom season is a season of joy and new beginnings and is given cultural importance in countries like Japan and South Korea.
The vibrant pink flowers are so enchanting that they are on the bucket lists of many travelers, and we totally get why! If they’re on your bucket list too, here’s everything you must know about them!
Cherry Blossom: All That You Must Know!
What Is Cherry Blossom?
Cherry blossoms are the flowers of trees in the Prunus genus, particularly the Japanese cherry tree (Prunus serrulata). In Japan, they’re known by the name of sakura.
While pink and white are the most common and well-known types of a cherry blossom flower, you can also find them in shades of yellow and deep pink.
The cherry blossom season typically lasts only for a few weeks. This makes the blooming season a much anticipated event throughout the world, after all, who would want to miss out on such a visually delightful phenomenon?
However, these blossoms aren’t just known for the aesthetic appeal they add to landscapes. They are celebrated through poetry, art, as well as culinary dishes like sakura pickles, sakura-infused desserts, sakura tea, and many other food items.
Cherry Blossom: Where To See Them In Asia?
While there are certainly cherry blossoms in certain parts of Europe like the Netherlands, France, Germany, Belgium, and others, the cherry blossom season in Asia is a whole different ball-game (Asians take the season quite seriously)!
Cherry Blossom season begins by mid-March in most Asian countries like Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and lasts till May.
Each region in these countries might have their own smaller cherry blossom seasons where they are in full bloom.
For example, Hokkaido in Japan experiences the season in late April and early May, while certain parts of Taiwan experience the pink bloom starting from January or February itself!
Japan
Japan is the best place if you wish to get a true sakura-viewing experience, and there’s no argument about that!
The Japanese cherry blossom season is one of the most anticipated phenomena and people from all over Japan (and the world) flock to get a glimpse of the pale pink cherry blossom flower.
Hokkaido, Osaka, Tokyo, Fukuoka, Nara, and Fukushima are some of the most well-known places for a good cherry blossom viewing experience.
In fact, the Japanese value the blossom so much that they practice a tradition called Hanami. It is a tradition of observing the sakura by having an outdoor party beneath the sakura trees with your friends and family.
People mostly carry homemade bento boxes and sake and sing karaoke and play fun games to celebrate the cherry blossom.
Best time to visit: Mid-March to May
South Korea
Japan’s neighbor celebrates the pink blossoms just as much as Japan. Locally known as beot-kkot, these blossoms blanket the lush green landscapes in hues of pale pink and white for a few weeks.
Many neighborhoods host vibrant festivals that include street food, live entertainment, and shopping during this time to attract more and more visitors.
Jeju Island, Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Gwangju, Incheon, and Daejeon are some of the best places to experience cherry blossoms in South Korea.
Many people dress up in the traditional hanbok garment, hang out with their family and friends, and get their pictures clicked beneath the cherry blossom tree.
Best time to visit: March to April
Taiwan
Taiwan is the third place on our list of some of the best Asian countries to visit for a cherry blossom experience. This South Asian country witnesses this phenomenon from as early as late January and it lasts all the way till April.
Different regions in Taiwan experience the peak blooming season at different times during this 4-month period. Aowanda, Baoshan, Taipei, and Taoyuan are some of the best places in Taiwan where you can view the sakura in full bloom.
Overall, Taiwan is a comparatively lesser-known cherry blossom place for tourists, and is a good alternative to Japan which can get especially crowded and pricey during peak sakura season.
Best time to visit: February to March
Cherry Blossom In India
If you’re thinking that these mesmerizing flowers only bloom in the above mentioned Asian countries, you are quite wrong.
India also has many places where you can experience the cherry blossom season in its full swing. The season for viewing these pale pink blossoms begins early in India – it starts from November and lasts till January or February. Here are some of the most famous places to see cherry blossom in India:
Shillong
Meghalaya’s capital city is best known for its cherry blossom season that might even give Japan’s sakura season a run for its money!
The hill station gets engulfed in pretty pink hues starting from November and the sight is no less than a dream. The Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival attracts plenty of locals and tourists alike to Shillong and occurs every year in November.
Darjeeling
Darjeeling in West Bengal, most famous for its Darjeeling tea, is also home to some of the most beautiful cherry blossoms in the country.
The Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park and Batasia Loop are some of the most well-known places to spot the pink blossoms.
Kohima
North East of India is blessed with multiple cherry blossom havens and Kohima is one of them. The capital city of Nagaland experiences this season in the autumn (November onwards).
Japfu Peak and Pulie Badze Wildlife Sanctuary are top places in Kohima to view the cherry blossoms. If you visit the city in late November, you can also witness the Hornbill Festival that usually takes place in December.
Baramulla and Srinagar
Kashmir experiences its own cherry blossom season but in March and April after the snow has receded. Baramulla and Srinagar are some of the best places in Kashmir to experience the pink blooms against the hilly, alpine backdrops of this enchanting state.
The Mughal Gardens, Badamwari Garden, and Shalimar Bagh are popular places to visit in Srinagar to view pink and white cherry blossoms.
Pink Trumpet Trees In India
A common sight in most Indian metropolitan cities are the pale pink trees that start blooming in January. While they are often confused with cherry blossom trees, they are actually called Pink Trumpet trees (Tabebuia rosea).
The pink trumpet trees are ornamental trees planted in many metropolitan cities of India. These trees produce trumpet-shaped flowers, mostly in pink color, but can also be found in shades of deep pink, yellow, or white.
These trumpet trees are easy to maintain and grow in tropical climates. This makes them easy to plant, especially along roads and sidewalks to add aesthetic appeal to the landscape.
These pink trumpet trees are common in Kodaikanal, Bangalore, Delhi, and even in Mumbai’s Vikhroli area!
So, if you think that you’ll be witnessing cherry blossoms in Bangalore or Mumbai, sorry to break your bubble but you’d be actually witnessing the pink trumpet trees in full bloom!
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Summing Up
The cherry blossom tree brings with it a sense of renewal and new beginnings, making it an important part of many cultures across Asia.
Apart from Japan’s famous sakura blossoms, these flowers also bloom in countries like China, Taiwan, and South Korea.
India too, experiences these pale pink blossoms in some of its North Eastern and Northern states, however, the country also has its own ‘cherry blossom’ in the form of pink trumpet trees!
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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q1. What Months Are Best For Cherry Blossoms?
In many parts of Europe and Asia, cherry blossoms are best experienced in the months of March to May.
Q2. Where Is The Cherry Blossom Found In India?
Here are some of the best places in India to visit to see cherry blossom:
- Himachal Pradesh
- Kohima
- Shillong
- Srinagar
- Darjeeling
Q3. Can Cherry Blossom Grow In India?
Yes, indeed! Cherry blossoms can grow in India in some colder parts like the Himalayan terrain and North East India.
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