Cherry blossom festival season is in full swing, and the Washington D.C. event, described on its website as “spring’s biggest welcome party,” expects swarms of patrons for the March 20 to April 13, 2025, celebration. The festival perfectly coincides with the typical timeframe for cherry trees to bloom in the region and has become a highly anticipated yearly event for plant enthusiasts, gardeners, landscapers, florists, and anyone else who loves the blossoming springtime.
While there are many places to see cherry blossoms across America, the East Coast event is the most prominent, and, according to experts at Japan Rail Pass — a service that offers convenient traveling via train throughout Japan — it’s the top rated in the world. In a recent study, they analyzed TripAdvisor reviews and ratings, Instagram hashtags, and the vibrancy of the flowers in the spring to determine which cherry blossom festivals ranked the highest.
Washington D.C.’s National Cherry Blossom Festival emerged as the number one must-see cherry blossom festival this season. Festivals in Canada, Japan, and Denmark followed, securing spots within the Top 10. Below are further details about the festivals and how their numbers compare to others.
National Cherry Blossom Festival (Washington D.C.)
As we said, Americans (and tourists) look forward to the National Cherry Blossom Festival every year, more so than the other well-known festivals around the world, based on Japan Rail Pass’s findings.
As per their website, the festival first kicked off in 1912 when Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo gifted the United States 3,000 cherry trees, solidifying the friendship between the U.S. and Japan. The free event has since amassed 1.5 million visitors and earned a near-perfect vibrancy score of 8.19/10. Its 13,700 Instagram hashtags have also helped draw visitors and achieve its 4.5 review rating.
Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival (Canada)
The Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival came in a close second, with its flower vibrancy score of 7.52/10. Festival-goers have flocked to the event since its start in 2005, celebrating the breathtaking cherry trees blooming in the city and other enjoyable attractions.
The festival secured some impressive numbers, including racking up 1,000 Instagram hashtags and a review rating of 5 — the highest of those analyzed. The festivities run from March 26 to April 28, 2025, including various workshops and exhibitions to further take in the spring season.
Nihonbashi Sakura Festival (Japan)
The most popular cherry blossom festival in Japan, ranking third on this list, is the Nihonbashi Sakura Festival, which is a two-day event from March 29 to March 30, 2025, as per TimeOut. The cherry blossom festivals in Japan attract many international travelers who enjoy the unique treats and cherry blossom-infused teas that are also offered.
The event scored one of the highest vibrancy scores, 8.02/10, and though it didn’t draw the large number of Instagram hashtags that Washington D.C. and Vancouver did (100 IG hashtags), it locked in a remarkable review rating of 4.
Meguro River Cherry Blossom Festival (Japan)
Next is the Meguro River Cherry Blossom Festival, which occurs along the picturesque Meguro River in Tokyo, Japan. The outstanding views of the city in the spring are hard to turn down and contribute to its 8.11/10 flower vibrancy score.
Visitors are also captivated by the vivid sakura blossoms that cover the town in gorgeous pink and white colors. That, coupled with Tokyo’s lively energy, makes the festival a sought-after event, which reviewers agreed on as it earned a 4.5 rating. According to Japan Travel, the festival takes place between March 20 and April 6, 2025.
Copenhagen Sakura Festival (Denmark)
The world’s fifth most desired cherry blossom festival is the Copenhagen Sakura Festival, held at Langelinie Park in Denmark’s capital. The event has attracted thousands to its grounds since 2008, not only for its colorful cherry blossoms but also its Japanese performances, tea ceremonies, and relaxed environment.
The beautiful displays secured the festival an 8.19/10 for flower vibrancy and a 4.5 review rating. As per the festival’s website, the event will occur on April 26 and April 27, 2025.
Other Cherry Blossom Festivals
Japan dominated the rest of the Top 10, which is no surprise given that the country is one of the more popular destinations during cherry blossom season, with an entire itinerary mapped out in The Times of desirable hotspots.
Others that rank among the world’s best cherry blossom festivals are the Kawazuzakura Festival (February 1 to February 28), the Matsumae Cherry Blossom Festival (April 19 to May 11), the Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival (April 18 to May 5), the Bokutei Sumida Park Cherry Blossom Festival (March 15 to April 13), and the Ueno Cherry Blossom Festival (March 18 to April 6).
