Cherry Blossom in California 2025

California welcomes spring with an array of vibrant blossoms, including the early-blooming cherry trees that begin to flower in March, well before the jacaranda. In cities like San Francisco, San Diego, and Los Angeles, the cherry blossom season is celebrated with festivals that honor their Japanese heritage and pay tribute to the delicate beauty of the pink blooms, which symbolize the fleeting nature of beauty itself.

Cherry Blossom in and Around Los Angeles

From early March to late April, the Los Angeles area comes alive with the stunning pink bloom of sakura. A visit to Descanso Gardens, a botanical haven just 20 minutes from downtown, offers the chance to see hundreds of blooming cherry trees, explore Japanese cultural exhibits, and enjoy origami demonstrations. The family-friendly celebration includes spring-themed crafts for all ages. Daytime tickets are $15 for adults.

The annual Cherry Blossom Festival in West Covina, located in the East San Gabriel Valley, is typically held in mid-April. This celebration welcomes the arrival of spring, with the blooming blossoms symbolizing hope, beauty, and renewal. Visitors can enjoy traditional music and dance performances, browse various vendors, and watch exciting displays of Japanese taiko drumming and martial arts.

Torrance hosts the Cherry Blossom Cultural Festival at Columbia Park, offering visitors a chance to enjoy performances, unique crafts, and delicious food. Free parking and shuttle service are available.

In 2025, the Cherry Blossom Festival will also return to Barnes Park in Monterey Park on April 12-13. The event aims to provide a cultural experience that blends learning, entertainment, and community spirit. Attendees can immerse themselves in Japanese culture by watching traditional dances, listening to taiko drum performances, observing martial arts demonstrations, participating in a tea ceremony, or exploring hand-made crafts and Asian-inspired food. Entry is free.

For those looking to photograph Sakura trees, Lake Balboa in the San Fernando Valley offers a stunning scene. Cherry trees bloom around the reservoir, creating beautiful clouds of pink petals. The Japanese Garden and Grand Park are also excellent spots for cherry blossom viewing.

Cherry Blossom in San Francisco

San Francisco hosts the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival, one of the largest Japanese celebrations in the U.S. Held over two weeks in April, the festival draws over 200,000 visitors, offering a stunning blossom display and an introduction to Japanese culture. The event takes place in San Francisco's Japantown and is free for all.

Post Street, between Laguna and Fillmore Streets, is typically lined with food booths, cultural performances, martial arts displays, live music, and a beauty pageant. The Grand Parade, held on the second Sunday of the festival, starts at City Hall and ends in Japantown. This lively procession features taiko drummers, dancers, and decorative floats celebrating the festival and Japanese traditions in Northern California.

For stunning photos around the city, start at Golden Gate Park, where spring blossoms are in full bloom. A must-visit is the Japanese Tea Garden, where you can enjoy tea in the original ochaya (tea house) or capture the cherry blossoms with the pagoda as a backdrop. The SF Botanical Garden's Temperate Asia Garden also boasts cherry trees set to bloom this spring, and both gardens are free for SF residents.

Cherry Blossom in San Diego

San Diego celebrates the cherry blossom season with its annual Cherry Blossom Festival at the Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park. This event honors the Japanese Hanami tradition, where people gather to appreciate the beauty of blooming cherry blossom trees. Visitors can enjoy new attractions, such as a captivating wall of lanterns and community art displays. Families are welcome to partake in a variety of activities in the children's area, making it a fun-filled day for everyone. For those with a taste for culture, the festival offers an assortment of delicious food and beverages, including options at the popular beer and sake garden nestled in the lower garden.

The Japanese Friendship Garden is home to San Diego's only location of towering cherry blossoms, attracting around 12,000 visitors over the three-day festival. In 2025, the Cherry Blossom Festival will take place from March 13-16. Tickets are available at various prices: $18 for pre-sale single-day tickets, $20 for day-of tickets, and $25 for VIP access.