Cherry blossom travel is surging on both sides of the Pacific. Washington, D.C.’s National Cherry Blossom Festival drew 1.6 million attendees in 2024 and generated $202 million in visitor spending in the District alone. Average stays ran 3.9 nights, and most overnight visitors booked hotels.
Japan set an all-time record with 36.9 million international visitors in 2024, and then smashed a monthly record in April 2025 with about 3.91 million arrivals—momentum powered by sakura season and a weak yen.
In Washington, the National Park Service confirmed peak bloom on March 28, 2025, squarely in the typical late-March to early-April window. There are about 3,800 cherry trees in the park today, most of them Yoshino.
Key stats: Cherry Blossom Tourism
- 3.91 million foreign visitors in April 2025 — a new monthly record for Japan, driven in part by sakura season.
- During the cherry blossom window, tourist spending in Japan jumped 50%, with transactions rising 43%.
- The 2025 hanami season is projected to pump ¥1.39 trillion (~US$9.4 billion) into the Japanese economy.
- Japan hit 10.54 million foreign arrivals by March 2025, the fastest start to a year ever recorded.
- In 2023, around 63 million people traveled within and to Japan to enjoy cherry blossoms, spending ~¥301 billion (~US$2.7 billion).
- In March 2024 alone, 3.1 million international visitors came, up ~70% from the year before, thanks to bloom timing.
- Washington, D.C.’s National Cherry Blossom Festival draws ~1.5 million visitors annually, generating $100+ million in spending.
- Across Japan, 63 million people (tourists + locals) take part in sakura celebrations each year.
- Some prefectures see visitor increases of 150–180% in bloom season vs baseline weeks.
What are the headline cherry blossom travel numbers?
- D.C. festival attendance (2024): 1.6 million; $202 million in District visitor spending; stays averaged 3.9 nights.
- Japan inbound (2024): 36.9 million visitors; April 2025: ~3.91 million in a single month.
- D.C. peak bloom (2025): March 28; peak most often occurs late March–early April.
- D.C. tree count: roughly 3,800 within National Park Service areas around the Tidal Basin and East Potomac Park.
- South Korea’s Jinhae Gunhangje (2024): ~3 million festival visitors after 4.2 million the year prior, reflecting bloom-timing sensitivity.
- Japan’s hanami economy (2025): estimates around ¥1.39 trillion (~US$9B), a new high.
How big is cherry blossom tourism globally?
The clearest demand signals come from Japan and the United States. Japan’s 2024 total of 36.9 million visitors set a national record, and March–April 2025 delivered unprecedented monthly inflows as travelers chased peak bloom.
In Washington, D.C., the festival has rebounded beyond pre-pandemic levels: 1.6 million attendees in 2024, edging past 2019, and $202 million in District spending. City tourism reached record overall visitation and spending again in 2024
South Korea’s flagship Jinhae festival illustrates how closely attendance tracks bloom timing: a late bloom in 2024 coincided with a drop to ~3 million visitors from 4.2 million in 2023.
When do cherry blossoms actually peak?
Peak bloom in D.C. is officially when 70 percent of Yoshino blossoms are open. The most likely window is the last week of March through the first week of April. In 2025, D.C. peaked March 28.
Japan’s bloom begins in the south in late winter and rolls north into May. In 2025, widely followed forecasts placed full bloom around Tokyo March 30 and Kyoto April 5, with northern areas following in April–May.
Sample 2025 peak timing snapshots
| Location | 2025 peak/forecast reference |
|---|---|
| Washington, D.C. | Peak bloom March 28, 2025 (NPS confirmed) |
| Tokyo | Forecast full bloom around March 30, 2025 |
| Kyoto | Forecast full bloom around April 5, 2025 |
| Hokkaido (Matsumae) | Forecast full bloom early May 2025 |
Where do travelers go for cherry blossoms?
- Japan: Tokyo, Kyoto, and nationwide “sakura front” destinations; inbound hit 3.91 million in April 2025 alone.
- United States: Washington, D.C., with about 3,800 trees under NPS care and peak bloom late March–early April.
- South Korea: Jinhae Gunhangje in Changwon, attracting millions in strong years.
What is the economic impact of cherry blossom season?
- D.C. 2024: $202 million in visitor spending in the District tied to festival travel; 77 percent of D.C. overnights used hotels.
- Japan 2025: economist Katsuhiro Miyamoto estimates ~¥1.39 trillion (about US$9B) nationwide economic impact from hanami season, up more than 20 percent year over year.
- Spending patterns: card-transaction data showed a 50 percent surge in inbound spending during 2024 sakura weeks, with some prefectures seeing two-fold increases in weekly inbound flow.
Cherry blossom travel impact snapshots
| Market | Latest indicator |
|---|---|
| Washington, D.C. | 1.6M attendees; $202M District spend; 3.9-night average stay (2024) |
| Japan | 36.9M visitors in 2024; 3.91M in April 2025; hanami impact ~¥1.39T in 2025 |
| South Korea (Jinhae) | ~3M festival visitors in 2024 vs. 4.2M in 2023 (bloom timing effect) |
How is climate and infrastructure affecting the experience?
D.C.’s peak has trended earlier over the long term, and 2025’s March 28 date arrived amid a warm March. A major Tidal Basin seawall project is also reshaping visitor flow while protecting trees for the long run; NPS still expects broad public access during bloom.
In South Korea, late 2024 blooms dampened some festival crowds, underscoring how weather shifts can swing attendance. Japan’s forecasts now update frequently each spring to help travelers hit the moving target.
Practical planning takeaways for 2026
- Book early for Japan’s March–April peak and consider secondary cities that still track the sakura front.
- For D.C., aim for the last week of March into early April, and check the NPS Bloom Watch updates before you go.
- In Korea, monitor Jinhae festival dates against the forecast—attendance swings with bloom timing.
FAQ: Cherry blossom travel
When did D.C. peak in 2025?
March 28, 2025, per the National Park Service.
How many cherry trees are there around D.C.’s Tidal Basin?
About 3,800 within the National Park Service areas.
How big is the festival’s economic impact in Washington?
An estimated $202 million in District visitor spending in 2024.
How strong is Japan’s sakura-season demand now?
Record-setting: 36.9 million visitors in 2024, and a record 3.91 million arrivals in April 2025.
What about South Korea’s biggest cherry blossom festival?
Jinhae drew about 3 million visitors in 2024, down from 4.2 million in 2023 due to later blooms.
Sources
- Executive Office of the Mayor, District of Columbia — Mayor Bowser and the National Cherry Blossom Festival Announce Estimated 1.6 Million People Attended 2024 Festival, Exceeding 2019 Numbers
- U.S. National Park Service — Bloom Watch
- U.S. National Park Service — Cherry Tree Types & Locations
- The Washington Post — D.C.’s cherry blossoms reach Stage 6 of bud cycle, bursting into peak bloom
- The Washington Post — D.C.’s cherry blossoms will be in peak bloom March 28–31, Park Service says
- Nippon.com — Japan Sets New Record with 36.9 Million International Visitors in 2024
- The Japan Times — Japan’s tourist arrivals soared 28.5% in April to hit record 3.91 million
- The Japan Times — Hanami season to have record ¥1.39 trillion economic impact on Japan
- Visa — Beyond the Bloom: How the Sakura Season Created an Economic Boost to Japan
- Asia News Network — South Korea’s local festivals disappoint as cherry trees blossom late
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