Cherry Blossom Festivals Locations Locator Map and Directory

Cherry Blossom Festivals are springtime events that celebrate the blossoming of Japanese Cherry Trees, as well as the peaceful relations between the US and Japan. They are originally derived from the Japanese custom of Hanami ("flower viewing"), a period set aside during the spring to enjoy the beauty of of flowers. Today, there are dozens of Cherry Blossom Festivals (also called "Sakura Matsuri") throughout the US and Canada. 2012 marks the centennial of the 1912gift of Japanese cherry trees from Tokyo City to the city of Washington, DC. Mayor Ozaki donated the trees in an effort to enhance the growing friendship between Japan and the US, which tragically would take a turn for the worse in WWII. Regardless, Cherry Blossom festivals around the country commemorate this event each year, typically coinciding with the March or April blooming of cherry trees. The most famous Cherry Blossom festival is the National Cherry Blossom Festival on the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC. Other notable US festivals include the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival in Japantown, San Francisco); International Cherry Blossom Festival in Macon, GA; the Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival of Greater Philadelphia; and the Brooklyn Botanical Garden's Sakura Matsuri.