The moment we’ve been waiting for is here: Spring has officially sprung. From Japan’s stunning sakura to Sweden’s blankets of bluets and pansy-filled parks, here’s some inspiration if you’re hoping to see some of the world’s most beautiful flowers this season.
Japan
Japan’s cherry blossom season is not only legendary but part of the culture. The blush-colored blooms represent opportunity, optimism, and the transience of life. For the Japanese, cherry blossom season is a time to bid winter goodbye, picnic in the parks, and practice hanami, the Japanese art of springtime flower watching. Festivals take place across the country from March through May, but some of the best places to experience the sakura in Japan are the Shibuya Canal in Tokyo, Nakijin Castle in Okinawa, the Kamo River in Kyoto, Mount Yoshino in Yoshinoyama, Himeji Castle, and spots in the north like Tohoku and Kakunodate.
The Takato Castle Ruins Park is reputedly one of the three best locations to see cherry blossoms in Japan, along withHirosaki Castle and Yoshinoyama.
When to Go
Late February through late May, with the last two weeks of March and the first two weeks of April being peak season
Netherlands
Head to Holland for a spring bloom to remember. Beyond the world-famous tulips, you’ll find crocuses, daffodils, cherry blossoms, rhododendrons, hyacinths, magnolias, and fields of wildflowers in bloom. Some of the most popular spots to take it all in are the famous Keukenhof Gardens, the tulip fields of Noordoostpolder and Bollenstreek (flower bulb region), Cherry Blossom Park in Amstelveen, and North Holland, anywhere from Egmond to Kop van Noord-Holland, Zuid Holland, and Zeeland. Look out for flower parades, or Bloemencorso as they’re locally known, that take place in various towns across the Netherlands throughout the spring season.
When to Go
Late March through May
U.S. National Parks
Searching for a superbloom? Thanks to a very wet fall and winter (especially in California), many of the U.S. National Parks are predicted to experience an explosion of color this spring. In California, the most famous spot of all for an epic superbloom, Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve, Death Valley National Park, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Yosemite National Park, and Joshua Tree National Park are good places to target for a flower-focused trip this spring. Elsewhere, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee, Mount Ranier National Park in Washington, Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, and Acadia National Park in Maine are likely to deliver a colorful show, too.
When to Go
March through late June
England
England’s magnolias, azaleas, and blossoming fruit trees are already bursting into bloom, a bit early too, while the beloved daffodils, bluebells, rhododendrons, wisteria, and snowdrops are soon to follow. With a changing climate, this season is predicted to be a bit more drawn out than usual, meaning more time for you to explore the blossoming British countryside. Some of the best places in the country to see the spring bloom are The Lake District’s bluebell-coated woods in late April through early May and London, where places like Kew and Kensington Gardens, St. James Park, and Hyde Park deliver mesmerizing scenes of wildflowers, tulips, orchids, cherry blossoms, and gorgeous golden daffodils.
When to Go
March through early May
Sweden
Springtime in Sweden is a sight to behold, as much for the flowers as for the springtime celebrations that color the months from early February through June. After a long winter and dark days, the country awakens, with flowers blooming in turn from south to north. The countryside becomes blanketed in bluets, poppies, and marguerite daisies, while the city parks and country gardens fill with orchids, cherry blossoms, daffodils, and purple pansies. Some of the best places to experience a Swedish spring include Lapland’s Sarek National Park in northern Sweden, a wildflower hotspot, the island of Gotland off Sweden’s east coast for orchids, and Stockholm’s parks and gardens like Kungsträdgården, where the annual cherry blossom festival takes place each April.
When to Go
Early February through June, with March through May being the peak season.
