British Columbia
Canada
cities
Japan
Vancouver
Under the Cherry Tree in Vancouver
4/13/2025The Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival is one of the largest and most popular cherry blossom festivals in Canada. With over 43,000 cherry trees across the city, the festival celebrates the beauty of these stunning trees through various events and activities. There's no single cluster where cherry blossoms can be seen. Instead, these stunning trees are everywhere blooming in every corner. As someone who fell in love with Vancouver many years ago, I was very excited to visit my favourite city again when an opportunity presented itself and capture the beauty of cherry blossoms.
My adventure began right downtown, at the Waterfront Station, where cherry blossom trees stood tall and wide, their delicate pink petals bright against the blue sky. The park's tranquil atmosphere made it the perfect spot to soak up the sun and appreciate the beauty of the blossoms.
Another great stop to see the blossoms was at the Burrard Station. There was a party set up nearby that day with music and balloons, but I was too tired to go there in the evening as I had already logged 25,000 steps.
As I explored the city, I discovered that the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival is more than just a celebration of cherry blossoms – it's a way to connect people from all walks of life. Especially in such a beautiful weather.
Stanley Park is a great place to see many cherry trees... and many people. If you crave more solitude, go elsewhere: the festival's interactive map should help you find cherry trees throughout the city.
In 1980, the city of Vancouver received a gift of 34 Somei Yoshino cherry trees from the city of Kobe, Japan, as a symbol of friendship. Not as many as Washington, DC received from Japan in 1912 (3,000), but enough to start a good tradition. Since then, Vancouver has continued to cultivate and celebrate these beautiful trees, which have become a beloved part of the city's landscape.
The Japanese cultural tradition of hanami, or "flower viewing," is where people gather to appreciate the beauty of the cherry blossoms and celebrate the fleeting nature of life.
Did you know that the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival was offered a home at VanDusen Botanical Garden in 2008, where a new cherry tree grove was planted in dedication to the festival's blossom benefactor, the Honourable Dr. David C. Lam? I didn't go that far, but I've added this place to my bucket list if I happen to visit Vancouver again in early April.
The next morning, I went to the Waterfront Station again and discovered that most of the blossoms fell off due to heavy rain that night. I felt privileged to be in the right place at the right time to experience the magic of cherry blossoms in my favourite city.
As the Japanese poet Kobayashi Issa once said, "Under a cherry tree, there are no strangers." The cherry blossom's nature reminds us to seize the moment and appreciate the beauty around us.
0 comments