It’s that time of year again! Beautiful white and pink buds begin to blossom and spread joy around the world!
Cherry Blossoms, known in their homeland as “Sakura”, are Japanese trees that symbolize Spring. To some, they are like clouds: big, white, and fluffy….but then they disappear. The length of their stay depends greatly on the weather and temperature, so people are eager to see them when they are at their best.
During this season, many Japanese people participate in “Hanami”, which is the combination of “Hana” meaning “Flower” and “Mi” which means “To See”.
Many people, especially youth and young adults, will set up a picnic under these gorgeous trees, and spend the day talking, eating, drinking, observing, and having a grand time embracing nature and the wind which carries the delicate scent of Sakura. (Sounds nice, doesn’t it?)
Now, if you don’t have a ticket booked to Japan this year, don’t worry! Japan has been generous in sharing these trees with various cities worldwide, and Toronto has received quite a few over the last 60 years. So if you’re eager to see them up close and in-person, I got you covered!
In this article, I’ll tell you the best places to view them (as some places only have a handful or it’s not a place to relax), along with how you can can plan and prepare for a more authentic hanami!
Where To See Sakura
There are so many places in the city to see a Sakura tree. But if you want a real experience, it’s best to visit places that not only have more trees, but also have space for you to sit down and take your time. Thus, I have only included locations with at least 25 trees and are dedicated parks.
For those of you who don’t mind visiting a neighbourhood or business area for a glimpse of these trees, you can also visit:
1. High Park
Location: 1873 Bloor St W, Toronto
Closest Station: High Park
The biggest natural park in Toronto is also the biggest place to see cherry blossoms. Over 60 years ago, Japan gifted Canada over 250 trees as thanks for accepting refuge Japanese during WWII. There’s a lot to do in this park! There’s playgrounds, dog parks, and when I went way back, a small zoo. If you don’t care to stay in just one spot, or would like to hike around, this is definitely the choice. But just be warned, it will be extra crowded during this time.
2. Centennial Park
Location: 151 Elmcrest Rd., Etobicoke
Closest Station: Renforth Station (Go Transit)
Centennial park is said to have the 2nd biggest collection of Sakura, as they have 200 trees planted! You can find them lined up on Rathburn Road, and avoid the crowds at High Park!
3. Trinity Bellwood Park
Location: 790 Queen St W, Toronto
Closest Station: St. Patrick/Osgoode
Trinity Bellwood Park is a flat patch of land in the middle of busy Toronto. This is a popular and chill spot for millennials, especially during holidays like Victoria day. It’s very easy to get to, and lots of places near by to grab a bite. But best of all, with all the flat land, it’s a perfect picnic spot! There’s also 70 Sakura trees planted here, so you won’t have to fight as hard to get close to them.
4. Birkdale Ravine
Location: 1100 Brimley Rd., Scarborough
Closest Station: Ellesmere
If you only plan to be out for a handful of hours, or you’d like to take a more scenic nature walk/hike, then this may be the place you seek. The full trail is 5.5km (1-2 hour), however, the 45 Sakura trees are split and can be seen at both ends of the trail: just off Ellesmare Road, next to the Birkdale Community Centre, and near the entrance at Pomeroy Street and Lyon Heights. However, it may be worth it to spend time in this little escape from the city, and take a moment to stand on the bridge and watch the river flow.
5. Broadacres Park
Location: 35 Crendon Dr., Etobicoke
Closest Station: Kipling Station
Broadacres Park has over 100 Sakura trees that can easily be seen from Elderfield Crescent. However, the area lacks paved pathways near the trees, so people have said to be careful. It’s not as popular or known as a lot of the locations on this list, so if you just want to enjoy the Sakura in peace, this is a great place to visit.
6. Toronto Island Park
Location: Centre Island
Closest Station: Go To Union Station and follow the Path To Queens Quay Station. Take a Ferry.
There are only 30 Sakura trees planted here, but, similar to High Park, there is a lot to do and see around Centre Island. Definitely come for a picnic under the flowers, but also take a boat or ride, spend some time in the amusement parks. If you didn’t prepare any food, don’t worry! They got you covered. So enjoy the ferry ride, check out the Sakura trees (located at the south end of the bridge near the fountain), and take in the rest of the island!
7. University of Toronto
Location: 1265 Military Tr., Scarborough (By Humanities Wing or Roberts Library)
Closest Station: St. George
You don’t have to be a student to walk on campus and enjoy their scenery. If anything, U of T is just like any other building in Toronto, and as long as there’s no fence, it’s pretty much publicly accessible. There are 70 trees planted here. And while you may think a lot of students will gather to watch, trust me, most of them are too occupied with classes and finals to really spend time enjoying the scenery they past by everyday.
8. York University
Location: 4700 Keele St., North York
Closest Station: York University
As someone who has lived in the area my whole life, I always feel like York U is neglected when it comes to many things, including this…but that may be great for you! York University has 250 trees that were planted between 2003 and 2007, which means they are quite mature and big! It’s also a wonderful place to sit down and relax. Crowds? Cars/Traffic? Kids? Noise? You won’t have to deal with any of that here. Most trees can be found south of Calumet College (The Pond Rd & Shoreham Drive), and east of Tait McKenzie Centre (Thompson Road).
How To Enjoy Hanami
Hanami is the official word for celebrating cherry blossom. It usually refers to setting up a blanket, having a picnic, bringing some drinks, and just enjoying the scenery. If you want to enjoy Hanami the way Japanese people, here are some tips:
Tip #1: Plan Ahead
Sakura season or not, a Picnic isn’t something you just decide to do the day of or day before. It does require planning and preparation. Who’s coming with you? Are you buying food or bringing your own? What supplies do you need (cups, plates, napkins)? How do you plan to get there? Do you require a tarp, sunscreen, umbrella, or other protective materials? Keep in mind that you are in a park, so you may have to lose your spot just to use the washroom if you aren’t prepared.
Tip #2: Buy or Pack Suitable Food
I’m sure you all have an idea of what would be considered picnic food, but for most of us, a picnic may only be a couple hours. In Japan, lunch boxes are used by everyone, kids and adults. They will be filled with healthy food that can be safely eaten hours later and at room temperature.
Common foods will include rice, salads or steamed veggies, hotdogs, sandwiches, boiled or fried eggs, etc. They will also have thermoses for miso soup or tea.
On top of that, convenience stores will also have many convenient Japanese foods, such as onigiri (rice balls), sushi, pan (bread) and meat buns, etc. You can buy some of these foods at Asian markets like Sanko Trading, Heisei Mart and Sandown Market, or maybe preorder/pick up some snacks and desserts at local cafes from this list!
Tip #3: Take The TTC
I choose to be a bus user for various reasons, main being that the TTC is cheap and easy. But on top of that, I can’t tell you the number of complaints I hear from drivers who have to drive downtown or around the city. It is not fun. The traffic is horrible, and free parking is rare. There’s also the risk of getting a ticket or being towed.
On top of that, some places like High Park have banned cars around Sakura season. If you plan to go to Center Island, it’s just a lot easier taking public transit the whole way than ditching your car half way. I think it’s always a fun experience to go from the business of the city on the transit, and then transport to a scenic and calm area!
Tip #4: Arrive Early
Sakura season will be quite busy and crowded, more so at it’s peak, and especially on weekends or holidays. Thus, if you really want to land a good spot near the flowers, you will need to arrive pretty early.
Maybe not 2am early like shoppers for iPhones, but you definitely want to beat the crowd. Some even recommend showing up around 6 so you can see the morning sunrise as well.
Otherwise, I would say 8-10am is early enough to beat many bus riders or parents who have kids to get ready.
Tip #5: Be Smart With Your Spot
Yeah sure, you could pick a great spot right in the middle of the best sights, but be alert. Make sure there’s no signs against loitering, and definitely don’t be so close to the paths and traffic that you and your friends have people walking past you every minute. Be close but not too close. You should also consider things like the kind of shading you’ll get all day, and if you’re in an area where pets or kids may populate.
Tip #6: Bring Blankets & Sweaters
Keep in mind that Cherry Blossoms bloom in the Spring. It is not summer just yet!
And if you’re a true Torontonian, you know that the weather could go from hot to cold in an hour. From T-shirt weather at noon to jacket weather when the sun goes down. I know we’ve all got caught out when the weather drops and we weren’t prepared.
So if you do plan to spend the day comfortably, as opposed to shivering and begging your friends to go home cause you were the only one who forgot to pack a sweater, then don’t be dumb. Pack a thick sweater or a light jacket, maybe a scarf and a hat as well. Even if you don’t end up using it, you’ll never regret having it when you need it.
Tip #7: Turn Off The Phones
Chances are, you’re probably quite attached to your phone. Whether you choose to be, or you have to be cause of school, work and life, it’s really hard to put the phone down. If you’re a busy person, it may has been ages since you just sat in a park and just took it all in. Even if sitting there and doing nothing can be a little boring at the time, you may regret not just lying down, feeling the crisp air on your sky, and looking up at the Sakura and the clouds in the sky. For this day, allow yourself to unplug, and truly enjoy this moment with your friends and family.
Conclusion
Sometimes, it’s good to enjoy the simple things in life, so I hope this spring, you’ll take a moment to admire these foreign flowers.
The pandemic was a reminder that we really don’t know what the future will hold, or when it will be our last time to do or try something (many places closed down), so take advantage.
Grab some friends, bring some food, and get some fresh air under the cherry blossoms.
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