One of the best times to go to Japan is during spring, which happens sometime around March and can last until May. It’s this time of the year when the famous cherry blossom trees bloom, blanketing the parks and streets in the prettiest, softest shades of pink for both locals and tourists to marvel at.
Now, suppose you don’t have a Japanese visa yet, and you want to catch sight of these gorgeous soft pink petals with your own eyes. There are actually countries where Filipino citizens can witness the blooming cherry blossom trees without applying for any visa.
Pro-tip: Always check for cherry blossom or sakura forecasts before booking your flight!
These are the visa-free countries for Filipinos who want to experience cherry blossoms:
Philippines
Just in case you aren’t aware of it yet: Yes, we have cherry blossoms in our motherland, so you don’t need a visa. You don’t even need to ride a plane! The most popular cherry blossom spot in the Philippines is way up at Sakura Park in Atok, Benguet where its high altitude lets the trees thrive and bloom. As for the best time to visit the park with a higher likelihood of seeing the cherry blossoms? It’s advised to visit in early March until April.
Sakura Park is in Paoay, Atok, Benguet.
Taiwan
Cherry blossom season or spring in Taiwan happens in different areas and at different times. It can start in late January, and you can catch it in Taipei and Nantou; then, by February, the cherry blossoms will start to bloom in Taichung, Taitung, and Taoyuan. Around March and April, most of Taiwan has cherry blossoms blooming in unison.
Airlines that fly from Manila to Taiwan: Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines, China Airlines, EVA Air, XiamenAir, China Easterns, and more.
South Korea
You don’t need a visa to participate in Jeju’s annual Jeju Cherry Blossom Festival every March. The festival happens in tree-lined venues, including Jeonnong-ro, Jeju City, Jeju National University, and Jangjeon-ri in Aewol-eup. But there’s no need to limit yourself to the festival and its specific areas as the island is abundant with these blushing trees. You can check out Halla Arboretum and the Jeju Sports Stadium too.
Airlines that fly from Manila to Jeju Island: Jeju Air, Korean Air, and Philippine Airlines.
Singapore
Marina Bay Singapore's Gardens by the Bay is the Lion City's national garden and horticultural attraction. During the peak of spring, around March to April, the tourist spot’s Flower Dome is where they hold an annual Sakura event wherein guests can step under canopies of cherry blossoms and take photos.
Airlines that fly from Manila to Singapore: Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines, AirAsia, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and more.
Thailand
You can witness cherry blossom trees in Chiang Mai as its cooler climate makes it an ideal area for the trees to grow. The type of cherry blossoms that coat Northern Thailand with pink petals are the wild Himalayan cherry trees (Prunus cerasoides), which typically flower closer to the end of the year, December, and wither around February.
Airlines that fly from Manila to Thailand: Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines, and more.
Vietnam
You can find cherry blossom trees in the highlands of Vietnam, specifically Da Lat, which also bears the very appropriate name "The City of Eternal Spring." Spring in this part of Vietnam happens around the tail end of January, and as weeks go by, the city is soon coated in soft pink petals. The best cherry blossom-viewing areas in Da Lat you can visit include Hung Vong - Tran Hung Dao Street, Xuan Huong Lake, Tuyen Lam Lake, and Da Quy Slope Cherry Blossom Road.
Airlines that fly from Manila to Vietnam: Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Vietnam Airlines, and more.
Indonesia
Indonesia is not known for its temperate climate which is probably why it's one of the lesser-known countries with cherry blossoms, and you can find these trees at Kebun Raya Cibodas or the Cibodas Botanical Garden. According to the country's government organization Badan Riset Dan Inovasi Nasional, there are seven cherry blossoms or sakura, namely the Prunus cerasoides, Prunus yedoensis, Prunus yamasakura, Prunus lannesiana, Prunus sp, and Prunus arborea dan Prunus costata. These flowers are known to bloom twice a year, first in January to February, then in August to September.
Airlines that fly from Manila to Indonesia: Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines, AirAsia, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and more.
Brazil
Brazil is the only non-Asian country on this list, and there are two cities where you can see the magnificent cherry blossoms. There’s the city of São Paulo, where a Cherry Blossom Festival has been ongoing for four decades, and it annually happens at the beginning of August. There’s also Curitiba, where the trees bloom in August, a month earlier than São Paulo.
Airlines that fly from Manila to Brazil: Ethiopian, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, and more.
* This story originally appeared on Spot.ph. Minor edits have been made by the Preview.ph editors.
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