Spring in Japan is a magical time, with cherry blossoms (sakura) painting the country in shades of pink and white. This ...

The Cherry Blossom Festival grew out of this ceremony. In 1927, school children re-enacted the initial planting, holding the first "festival." The celebration was greatly expanded in 1935.

The Usuzumi-zakura cherry tree variety also blooms after the Yoshinos, and the blossoms change from pink to white. In Japan, some Usuzumis are more than 1,500 years old.

See the Blossoms by Boat or Bike Not only can you take a scenic water taxi ride between Old Town Alexandria and The Wharf in Washington, D.C. with City Cruises by Hornblower (from $23 one-way or ...

Branch Brook’s original cherry blossom trees were planted in the 1920s — at one point, 2,500 trees bloomed each year. By 2006, the number had dwindled due to aging trees.