From the Gardens of Golden Gate Park:

Celebrate the Magic of Sakura Season this Spring

We are excited to announce the arrival of cherry blossom season at the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park. Each spring, the garden’s beloved sakura transform the landscape with delicate shades of pink and white, offering visitors a fleeting and beautiful welcome to the season of renewal.

The Japanese Tea Garden is home to approximately 60 cherry trees, primarily Yoshino cherries (Prunus × yedoensis, mostly ‘Akebono’), along with Kwanzan cherries and Prunus serrulata ‘Mount Fuji’. Yoshino cherries are typically the first to bloom, creating a soft, snowy canopy of pale pink-tinged white flowers.

They are followed by the richer pink, double-flowered Kwanzan cherries, extending the bloom season into spring.

Cherry blossoms—known as sakura—hold deep cultural meaning in Japan and around the world. For more than a thousand years, people have gathered for hanami, or “watching blossoms,” to appreciate both the beauty and the fleeting nature of the blooms. Their brief flowering period reflects the Japanese concept of mono no aware, recognizing the poignancy and impermanence of life.

Bloom timing at the Japanese Tea Garden depends on weather conditions. In recent years, blossoms have begun appearing from mid-March into April, with some trees continuing into May. Because the peak display is short-lived, visitors are encouraged to plan ahead and monitor bloom updates on the Gardens’ social media channels. Starting March 9, advance reservations are required to visit the Japanese Tea

Garden for sakura season—a small change that makes a big difference in helping everyone enjoy this magical time of year. Reserve a time at gggp.org/cherryblossoms. Timed tickets are complimentary for San Francisco residents, veterans, Museums for All participants, and Gardens members. Each reservation provides a 60-minute arrival window; once inside, guests may stay as long as they wish until closing at 6 p.m. Reentry is not permitted.

For additional flexibility visitors are encouraged to purchase the Gardens Pass. The Gardens Pass allows visitors to arrive at any time to experience cherry blossoms at the Japanese Tea Garden and includes unlimited visits to the Conservatory of Flowers and San Francisco Botanical Garden for three days upon initial redemption.

The Japanese Tea Garden offers one of the most exquisite settings in San Francisco to enjoy cherry blossoms, inviting visitors to stroll among pruned pines, serene ponds, and historic pathways while experiencing the ephemeral blush of spring. For the quietest experience, guests are encouraged to visit early on Tuesday or Thursday mornings when the garden opens at 9 a.m. Light rain can also provide a particularly peaceful and atmospheric viewing.

Cherry Blossoms at the Japanese Tea Garden – Season runs March-April, peak bloom varies based on weather. Open daily, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Last ticket entry at 5:30 p.m.

Japanese Tea Garden, Golden Gate Park, 75 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr.

Timed entry reservations required for all visitors. Free for Museums for All participants, veterans, Gardens of Golden Gate Park Members, and San Francisco residents