Where to See Cherry Blossoms in Los Angeles

A trip to Japan during cherry blossom season may be out of reach for most people, but Southern California locals can still appreciate cherry blossoms in Los Angeles and beyond. There are a few hot spots in Los Angeles with beautiful cherry blossom trees to be admired.

What’s So Special About Cherry Blossoms?

Cherry blossoms only bloom for 2-3 weeks a year; they’re a transient beauty, here to be appreciated for only a limited time. Perhaps it’s their short duration that makes them so special. Or perhaps it’s how beautiful they are. Cherry blossoms are also praised for being the first signs of spring.

The practice of viewing cherry blossoms is so common in Japan that there’s even a word for it in Japanese — hanami. And cherry blossom season is called sakura in Japanese.

Are There Cherry Blossoms in California?

Yes, there are hundreds of cherry trees scattered across California, at botanical gardens, and largely donated by Japanese or Japanese-Americans in acts of friendship and peace.

Where to See Cherry Blossoms in Los Angeles

My two best picks for where to see cherry blossoms in Los Angeles are:

• Huntington Library and Gardens in San Marino, CA
• Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge, CA

Both have beautiful Japanese gardens that transport you out of California, into a Sakura wonderland. If you go at peak bloom, you won’t be disappointed.

1. Huntington Library Cherry Blossoms

The Huntington Library and Gardens is in San Marino, California, an incorporated city near Pasadena.

It’s a bit of a pricey garden ($29 for adults on weekends) but well worth it considering how massive it is. (I’ve gone more than ten times now and still haven’t seen everything.)

They have more than 15 themed gardens, and their Japanese and Chinese themed gardens are truly impressive. When you’re there, you feel like you have stepped into another country.

When should you go to see the cherry blossoms at the Huntington Library?

Historically, mid-March is the time to go.

In 2023, I visited on Sunday, March 12, during peak bloom, and the cherry blossom trees were as pink as could be. Just beautiful.

In 2024, I visited on Sunday, March 10, and many cherry blossom trees were blooming as they were near peak bloom.

What’s nice is that nearly all of the cherry blossom trees at the Huntington bloom at the same time, so going at peak bloom means you’ll see the pink trees all over the Japanese and Chinese gardens. It’s a beautiful sight.

Check social media for peak bloom updates. The Huntington Library and Gardens posts what’s blooming on their Instagram account. Follow their account, and start checking daily in late February to early March to see when cherry blossoms will be in full bloom.

Where to stay when visiting the Huntington?

My top recommendation is to stay at The Langham Huntington, Pasadena, which is very close to the Huntington Garden and has similar vibes.

Where are the cherry blossoms at the Huntington Library?

At the Huntington Library and Gardens, you’ll find a cluster of three big cherry blossom trees in the Japanese Garden. Most people are drawn to this cluster. The cherry blossom trees line a small pathway and are very photogenic.

There are also lone cherry blossom trees scattered about the gardens — in both the Japanese and Chinese gardens.

The cherry blossoms are close to the ground so they’re easy to admire.

Tips for avoiding crowds:

• It can get crowded during peak bloom, but just be patient and wait for a lull in the crowds.
• You can also book an early entry time (the earliest for non-members is 10 a.m.) and head straight to the Japanese Garden to see the cherry blossom trees with less people and good lighting.

Don’t forget to check out the other tree blossoms at the Huntington Library! There are other types of blooming trees at the Huntington Library and Gardens, such as magnolia trees, pear blossoms, peach blossoms, apricot blossoms, and Chinese redbud “Avondale,” so definitely wander around and get your money’s worth.

If you look in the bonsai collection in the Japanese Garden, you’ll see a cute plum blossom bonsai tree.

2. Descanso Gardens Cherry Blossoms

Descanso Gardens is just north of Los Angeles, in a city called La Cañada Flintridge. They have a gorgeous Japanese Garden with three different varieties of cherry blossoms.

Most of the cherry blossom trees can be found in the Japanese Garden, but there are also cherry blossom trees in the Promenade. Descanso Gardens has other flowering trees, such as peach blossom trees and magnolia trees.

The gardens are nestled near a mountain with an oak and camellia forest and a lot of walking paths to explore. There is definitely more to see than cherry blossoms alone, so you will get your money’s worth here.

When to go to see cherry blossoms at Descanso Gardens at their peak?

Descanso Gardens has a few types of cherry blossom trees that bloom at different times.

• Their “Pink Cloud” cherry blossoms typically bloom early, in late February.
• Their “Beni Hoshi” and “Akebono” cherry blossoms bloom later, typically in April.

In 2024, I visited on February 24, at the very start of the cherry blossom season, and only four “Pink Cloud” cherry blossom trees were blooming.

I returned on April 13 that same year when the “Beni Hoshi” and “Akebono” cherry blossoms were blooming, and it was a sight to behold.

Cherry blossom trees begin blooming in late February at Descanso Gardens, though only a few trees. To see more cherry blossoms, go in April.

But keep an eye on Descanso Gardens Instagram account and website as they update daily regarding what’s blooming in the garden.

Where to find cherry blossom trees in Descanso Gardens?

You’ll find cherry blossoms in the Japanese Garden and along the Promenade.

Japanese Garden: There are lines of cherry trees in front of a beautiful red bridge in the Japanese Garden. When I visited in late February these trees hadn’t bloomed yet. When I returned in April, the area was completely transformed and looked so beautiful during peak bloom.

Promenade: There are also a few large “Pink Cloud” cherry blossom trees near a white stone bridge in the Promenade, which makes another great photo opportunity.

Don’t forget to check out the other flowering tree blooms at Descanso Gardens! You’ll find several peach blossom trees in the rose garden as well as a beautiful saucer magnolia tree, among others, around Descanso Gardens, which bloom early in February and March.

3. South Coast Botanic Garden Cherry Blossoms

South Coast Botanic Garden is a garden built atop a former landfill in the Palos Verdes Peninsula. There are several cherry blossom trees in South Coast Botanic Garden, but I felt very underwhelmed upon visiting, and would rank this garden my least favorite spot for viewing cherry blossoms in Los Angeles.

I think I felt underwhelmed because South Coast Botanic Garden doesn’t have a large themed Japanese Garden, and their cherry blossom trees are planted randomly. As I walked around the gardens of South Coast Botanic Garden, I didn’t feel the magic like at Descanso or Huntington whose Japanese gardens are truly immersive. It just felt like, “oh, here’s a tree.”

Where to find cherry blossom trees in South Coast Botanic Garden?

The cherry blossom trees are scattered about in the amphitheater and Sakura Meadow. There is one very large, beautiful cherry blossom tree at the entrance of the amphitheater, which was the highlight of the garden for me.

The Sakura Meadow sounds promising but was pretty disappointing in actuality. There are only a few cherry blossom trees here, planted far apart. When we visited three were done blooming while the others either hadn’t started blooming yet or were barely starting to bloom. Perhaps we simply went at the wrong time.

When to go to see cherry blossoms at South Coast Botanic Garden at their peak?

I think because there are three different varieties of cherry blossoms at South Coast Botanic Garden (“First Lady,” “Pink Cloud,” and “Taiwan Cherry”), and they all bloom at different times, it’s hard to pinpoint the best time to go.

In that case, anytime you go during late February or March, some will be blooming, and some won’t.

4. Japanese Friendship Garden in San Diego Cherry Blossoms (Bonus)

If you’re interested in taking a day trip out of Los Angeles, I’d recommend visiting the beautiful Japanese Friendship Garden in San Diego. I was lucky enough to visit this year during Sakura season, and I can’t say enough how magical it is.

Where to find cherry blossom trees in San Diego’s Japanese Friendship Garden?

There is an upper and lower garden at the Japanese Friendship Garden, and you’ll find nearly all of the cherry blossoms in the lower garden. To get there, simply follow the paved path from the admissions booth that winds down the stairs and down a hill toward the lower garden.

The upper garden has things to see, too, of course, such as a pagoda full of wisteria and a collection of bonsai trees.

In the lower garden, you’ll see more than cherry blossoms. Look out for the koi ponds, waterfalls, and beautiful bridges. But the cherry blossoms, when in peak bloom, are truly a stunner. There are two long rows of cherry blossoms that can be seen from far away.

It can get crowded, especially in the middle of the day, when I went, but be patient for lulls in the crowds.

Also, look up! The garden is near San Diego’s airport and you’ll often see airplanes taking off or landing.

When to go to see cherry blossoms at San Diego’s Japanese Friendship Garden at their peak?

It varies year to year, but expect to see cherry blossoms in March or early April. Follow the garden’s updates online or on social media for the latest updates.

In 2024, I visited on April 3 and was lucky enough to catch the cherry blossoms at peak bloom. I think, though, they normally bloom earlier, but this year had them blooming a bit late.

Every year, a cherry blossom bloom update notification bar appears at the top of the San Diego Japanese Friendship Garden’s website with a percentage of how many trees have bloomed.

Where to stay in San Diego to visit the Japanese Friendship Garden?

You can stay near Balboa Park or a little farther out, by the ocean at Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina. Another top recommendation is Embassy Suites by Hilton San Diego Bay Downtown.

Where I stayed: I stayed by the ocean, next to the airport, at TownePlace Suites San Diego Airport/Liberty Station. It was a little out of the way, but I liked that it was quieter.

Attend a Cherry Blossom Festival in Southern California

There are several cherry blossom festivals hosted around Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego. Note that while all of these festivals celebrate Japanese culture and cherry blossoms, two of them (starred with an asterisk) won’t have any real cherry blossom trees to admire at the festivals.

• Japanese Friendship Garden’s Cherry Blossom Festival at the Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park, San Diego
• Torrance Cherry Blossom Cultural Festival at Columbia Park in Torrance, CA
• West Covina Cherry Blossom Festival at the Plaza West Covina*
• Huntington Beach Cherry Blossom Festival at the Huntington Beach Central Park
• Monterey Park Cherry Blossom Festival at Barnes Park in Monterey Park, CA*

I wish cherry blossom season lasted a little bit longer, but I’m thankful I was able to see quite a few blossoms this year.

Map of Cherry Blossoms in Los Angeles and Beyond

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Guide to the Torrey Pines Hiking Trails in San Diego

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