Spring in the Bay Area brings a slew of captivating flower blooms, from tulips at Golden Gate Park to the almond blossoms throughout Central California. Cherry blossoms are up next, with peak bloom time usually happening in March and April. Here’s a rundown of our favorite places to spot the cherry blossoms in San Francisco and surrounding areas.
Where to see cherry blossoms in San Francisco
Golden Gate Park
Your first stop should be Golden Gate Park which will be alive with endless spring blooms. Here’s where to go…
Japanese Tea Garden
A no-brainer is the Japanese Tea Garden, where you can sip tea in the original ochaya (tea house) or snap photos of the cherry blossoms with the pagoda as a backdrop.
On March 10th, 2025, the Japanese Tea Garden posted an update on Instagram that the cherry blossoms and plum blossoms are starting to bloom, and will be at their peak from late March to early April. You’ll also likely see the bright fuschia azaleas blooming throughout the grounds.
SF Botanical Garden
SF Botanical Garden’s Temperate Asia Garden also has a few cherry trees that are set to bloom this spring, and both gardens are free for SF residents. Get bloom updates on their Instagram at @sfbotanicalgarden — they’ve recently confirmed blossoming tulips and daffodils, as well as the end of magnolia season.
Lindley Meadow
Finally, make sure you make a visit to Golden Gate Park’s Lindley Meadow near 30th and JFK Drive, because you’ll find 7 more cherry trees there.
Japantown
Outside of Golden Gate Park, a visit to Japantown is definitely in order. The neighborhood is dotted with plenty of cherry trees, but you can start at Japantown Peace Plaza (currently under construction) or the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California (JCCCNC). The JCCCNC’s cherry trees were vandalized a few years ago, but after the community raised tens of thousands of dollars to replace them, the center was able to plant four new cherry trees that are treasured by the neighborhood.
NorCal Cherry Blossom Festival
Top it off with a day well-spent at the 57th annual Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival, which is coming to San Francisco from April 12-13 and 19-20, 2025. The event features traditional music and dance performances, crafts, origami, bonsai displays, and plenty more.
Presidio
Keep your eyes open for more cherry blossoms throughout San Francisco, because you’re likely to stumble across them in residential neighborhoods, gardens, and other local green spaces such as the Presidio and the Palace of Fine Arts.
More places to see cherry blossoms in the Bay Area
If you really want to make the most of cherry blossom season, it’s worth taking a look beyond San Francisco as well. The Bay Area has a number of Japanese-style gardens and cherry tree groves that are absolutely breathtaking this time of year.
South Bay
Hakone Estate and Gardens
The Hakone Estate and Gardens in Saratoga cover 18 acres and date back over a century. Look out for Hanami at Hakone, a springtime cherry blossom night viewing event from March 20 – April 11, 2025. You’ll see the delicate blossoms lit up with strategically-placed lighting, transforming the garden’s 45 cherry trees into otherworldly pale-pink lanterns.
Japanese Friendship Garden
San Jose’s Japanese Friendship Garden was inspired by the Korakuen Garden in San Jose’s sister city of Okayama, and you can find cherry trees blooming on the shores of its 3 ponds.
Cupertino
Cupertino will host their annual Cherry Blossom Festival on April 26-27, 2025, but you can also pay a visit to the festival grounds at Memorial Park to see if you can find any cherry blossoms before then.
Woodside
Finally, Woodside’s Filoli Estate & Gardens is a must during the springtime. Look for a field of over 1 million daffodils; tens of thousands of tulips; flowering trees including cherry, apple, and pear; and the estate’s characteristic wisteria bloom.
East Bay
San Ramon
San Ramon is an essential stop for anyone wanting to see some cherry blossoms, as the city has numerous blooms to witness around town. Visit Rancho San Ramon Community Park or take a drive down Bollinger Canyon Road for a few cherry tree groves that will be absolutely beautiful this spring.
UC Berkeley
You can also head across the Bay Bridge to the UC Berkeley campus to see a robust grove of cherry blossoms at the western entrance. You might catch some magnolia trees still in bloom while you’re at it.
Hayward
Finally, the lovely Hayward Japanese Gardens are lovely to visit all year round. The 3.5-acre space has a few cherry trees dotted around and the humble garden is considered a local hidden gem.