Where to see cherry blossoms in Los Angeles

Witness the springtime bloom at the La Cañada Flintridge garden during monthly guided tours (Mar 12, Apr 9, May 14 at 11am, 1pm). As for those beautiful pink-flowering trees, you’ll want to head to the Japanese garden. Make sure to check the garden’s bloom status before you secure your reservation; as of late March, cherry trees in the Japanese garden have hit peak bloom.

It’s tough to pick a favorite themed area at the Huntington, but the Japanese garden makes a pretty strong argument for the top spot—especially during cherry blossom season. Look to the rose garden-adjacent entrance as well as the steps near the ceremonical teahouse to see “Pink Cloud” cherry trees and the not-a-cherry-but-still-pinkish Japanese “Momo” peach tree. The path around the Chinese garden is dotted with blossoms, too, as well as look-alikes such as the flowering peach. Check in with the Huntingon’s exhaustively detailed bloom map before your visit (they already passed peak bloom as of mid-March).

Set a course for this Palos Verdes landmark to spot some blossoms this spring. While there’s no sign yet this year of the annual cherry blossom festival or docent-led tours, you should still be able to easily spot them on your own—specifically by the rose garden and the adjacent amphitheater lawn (blossoms were spotted around the gardens in early March, though now it’s tulip season). Just make sure to have a reservation before you go.

This popular lake and picnic spot in the Valley springs to life each March as cherry blossoms color the path around the lake’s perimeter (and just to be clear, since the neighborhood is also called Lake Balboa, you’ll find the actual lake just inside of the corner of Victory and Balboa Boulevards, north of the L.A. River).

The lake sits just down the block from another key blossom spot: the Japanese Garden, a recycled oasis that’s fed by the water reclamation plant next door. You’ll need a reservation to visit right now, which become available 10 days in advance (and book up pretty quickly).

Get a taste of Japanese culture at this East San Gabriel Valley celebration. Scope out an afternoon of dance and taiko drumming while snacking on local bites.

Plaza West Covina, 112 Plaza Dr, West Covina. Apr 23 noon–6pm; free.

Spend an afternoon underneath the cherry blossoms as dancers and Japanese folk musicians perform alongside a craft fair at this annual Pan-Asian celebration.

Columbia Park, 4045 190th St, Torrance. Apr 3 11am–4pm; free.

This year’s event has been canceled, but expect it to return in 2023.

Head to Huntington Beach’s blossoming cherry tree grove
for a festival stocked with food vendors as well as drum, dance and musical performances by ensembles from around Southern California.

Huntington Beach Central Park, 18000 Goldenwest St, Huntington Beach.

This year’s event has been canceled, but expect it to return in 2023.

While Monterey Park may be best known for its concentration of Chinese culture, the city honors its Japanese influences with this free fest featuring drums, martial arts, a tea ceremony and handmade crafts.

Barnes Park, 350 S McPherrin Ave, Monterey Park.