Springtime in Washington, DC, means one thing: Cherry Blossoms. Signaling the start of warm weather and dubbed the nation’s greatest springtime celebration, the capital hosts the National Cherry Blossom Festival annually. More than 1.5 million people gather to enjoy cultural and art programming provided through NCBF during this scenic time.
City Cruises is delighted to be a sponsor at the 2026 National Cherry Blossom Festival, which will run from March 20th to April 12th and include tons of fun events for you to enjoy during this joyous, time-honored tradition.
混雑や観光客の流入を避けながら、美しい桜を眺めるチャンスはたくさんある。そのひとつが、私たちと一緒に乗船することです！桜の季節には様々なクルーズをご用意しておりますので、大切な方やご友人と息を呑むような景色やお祭りをお楽しみください。
One of our favorites is the Cherry Blossom Premier Brunch Cruise. Treat yourself to a historical tour of Washington, DC, while observing some of the most iconic landmarks in the country, like Old Town Alexandria, the National Harbor, and the Washington Monument. These sites provide a stunning cherry blossom backdrop for Instagram-worthy posts. Sit back, relax, and enjoy a cocktail or mimosa while cruising all of DC’s amazing sights.
What to Do During the 2026 National Cherry Blossom Festival
The National Cherry Blossom Festival this year kicks off on Saturday, March 21st, with its signature Opening Ceremony — a tribute to the longstanding friendship between the United States and Japan, and features artists with ties to both countries.
A parade will be held on Saturday, April 11, 2026, along Constitution Avenue. Onlookers will enjoy colorful helium balloons, marching bands from across the country, elaborate floats, and celebrity entertainers. These performances and celebratory music will help usher in the arrival of spring in Washington, DC.
The Blossom Kite Festival held on March 28th is a day of family fun. All ages can enjoy a day of traditional Japanese music, activities, competitions, and performances.
Celebrate spring at Petalpalooza, April 4th, with a full day of live music and activities for all. This all-day event brings art and music to multiple outdoor stages, family-friendly activities, roaming entertainers, and a cashless beverage garden along the banks of the Anacostia River. Finish the night with a spectacular National Cherry Blossom Festival Fireworks Show set to music starting at 8:30 pm.
春に向けて街が活気づく中、このエリアで他に楽しめることをお探しの方は、以下をご覧ください。 WhereverFamilyがお薦めする "Explore Washington, D.C. During Cherry Blossom Season with These 6 Tours "をご覧ください。
ワシントンDCに桜が咲くまでの魅力的な裏話
The capital’s first Cherry Bloom festival took place in 1935, but the seeds for it were planted decades earlier when Eliza Scidmore, the first female board member for National Geographic, visited Japan and fell in love with the beauty of cherry blossom trees. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the nation’s capital were adorned with such beauty every Spring, she had wondered aloud. When Scidmore’s sentiment fell on deaf ears among the city’s elite, she wrote a passionate letter to Helen Taft, the wife of President Taft. The first lady, having previously lived in Japan, was familiar with the beauty of the flowering trees and embraced Scidmore’s idea. Then she set the wheels in motion. Mrs. Taft felt that not only would Cherry Blossom trees serve as a lovely beautification to the Capital, but also as a bond of America’s friendship with Japan, where the Cherry blossom is an iconic part of that country’s cultural heritage.
Soon after, Dr. Jokichi Takamine, a chemist from Japan, visited DC and offered the cherry trees to the First Lady. They arrived at their destination, but the Department of Agriculture quickly discovered that the trees were infested with harmful insects and needed to be destroyed. Japan then made a second donation, and on March 26, 1912, the new cherry tree saplings arrived and were planted along the Tidal Basin. That day, the first lady, Helen Taft, and Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese Ambassador, planted two cherry saplings on what is now Independence Avenue. The First Lady presented Viscountess Chinda with a bouquet of “American Beauty” roses at the conclusion of the event. What eventually sprouted from this simple ceremony is The National Cherry Blossom Festival, which is now a treasured national tradition.
In the spirit of gift-giving, in 1952, the United States National Park Service reciprocated the gesture and shipped budwood from the same cherry tree descendants back to Japan — to help restore the original grove when parent stock for Washington’s first trees had fallen in decline in Tokyo near the Arakawa River during World War II. This symbolized the cycle of giving and friendship.
In 1954, the rededication of this lasting friendship between nations was commemorated on the 100th anniversary of the first Treaty of Peace, Amity, and Commerce, with the presentation of a 300-year-old Japanese Stone Lantern to the City of Washington. This lantern is one of two; the other remains in Ueno Park in Tokyo, Japan. The Japanese Stone Lantern weighs approximately two tons and stands eight feet high. The lighting of this lantern officially opens The National Cherry Blossom Festival every year.
チェリー・ブロッサム・ウォッチ
Cherry blossom season is one of the busiest times of the year in Washington, DC, which can make driving and parking throughout the city quite challenging. You can expect traffic to become heavier during peak bloom. Many people try to take pictures while driving slowly – often referred to as “diginecking,” and curbside drop-offs and taxis exacerbate the congestion even further. Take advantage of the Cherry Blossom Water Taxi to alleviate the headache of being stuck in a car and view the blossoms while cruising along the Potomac River.
ワシントンの桜の開花ピークは例年4月4日。しかし、例年よりも開花時期が早まっている。1921年以降、平均すると開花のピークは7日早くなっている。今年の予想はまだ確定していない。開花は3月最終週から4月第1週頃を予定している。開花状況や天候についてはこちらをご覧ください。
シティークルーズとのパートナーシップによる今年の全国桜まつりは、日米の変わらぬ友情の絆と再生の精神の証です。そして何よりも、毎年恒例の桜の季節は、自然の美しさを祝う祭典として愛されている。一年に一度のこの伝統行事を、ぜひ最前列でお楽しみください！
Exploring Washington, DC, and its surrounding areas by boat offers an exceptional and enjoyable experience, made even more convenient by the ease of water taxis. Take our Potomac Water Taxi, for instance. With routes connecting DC, Maryland, and Virginia, you can effortlessly and safely explore the region while cruising along the Potomac River on a narrated sightseeing tour with your personal guide. Whether you choose the Georgetown-Alexandria route, the Georgetown-Wharf route, or the Washington Monuments route, every detail is taken care of for you, ensuring a seamless and memorable adventure.
FAQs – Cherry Blossoms in Washington, DC (2026)
ワシントンDCの桜の見頃は？
開花のピークは通常3月下旬から4月上旬。正確な時期は天候によって毎年異なる。国立公園局は、訪問者が旅行を計画するのに役立つように、毎年開花予報を提供しています。
桜の名所は？
人気のスポットは、タイダル・ベースン、ナショナル・モール、イースト・ポトマック・パークなど。3,000本以上の桜の木に囲まれたタイダルベイスンでは、ジェファーソン記念館などのランドマークを背景に、象徴的な景色を楽しむことができる。
桜の季節に何かイベントはありますか？
はい！全米桜祭りは毎年開催され、凧揚げフェスティバル、全米桜パレード、花びらパルーザ、文化パフォーマンスなど、さまざまなイベントが行われる。フェスティバルは通常、桜の開花がピークを迎える数週間にわたって開催される。
桜を見るには入場料が必要ですか？
お花見は無料です。ただし、お祭りによっては入場料が必要な場合やチケットが必要な場合があります。
桜を見に行くのに最適な時間帯は？
早朝や平日は一般的に人が少なく、穏やかな時間を過ごすことができる。日の出や日の入りの時間帯に訪れると、写真撮影に最適な素晴らしいライティングが楽しめる。
お花見にはどんな服装で行けばいいの？
D.C.の春の天候は不安定なので、重ね着をしよう。散策する場所が広いので、歩きやすい靴をお勧めする。
夜桜はライトアップされていますか？
通常、夜桜のライトアップは行われない。しかし、全国桜まつり期間中の特別イベントやインスタレーションでは、夜間のライトアップが行われることがある。
桜の下でピクニックはできますか？
一部のエリアではピクニックが許可されているが、樹木を傷つけないようにし、後片付けをすること。ほとんどの公共エリアでは、焼き肉や飲酒は禁止されている。
桜はいつまで咲いているのですか？
開花のピークは通常数日間だが、気象条件によっては開花期間全体が1～2週間続くこともある。
元の投稿日2023年2月14日
Springtime in Washington, DC, means one thing: Cherry Blossoms. Signaling the start of warm weather and dubbed the nation’s greatest springtime celebration, the capital hosts the National Cherry Blossom Festival annually. More than 1.5 million people gather to enjoy cultural and art programming provided through NCBF during this scenic time.
City Cruises is delighted to be a sponsor at the 2026 National Cherry Blossom Festival, which will run from March 20th to April 12th and include tons of fun events for you to enjoy during this joyous, time-honored tradition.
混雑や観光客の流入を避けながら、美しい桜を眺めるチャンスはたくさんある。そのひとつが、私たちと一緒に乗船することです！桜の季節には様々なクルーズをご用意しておりますので、大切な方やご友人と息を呑むような景色やお祭りをお楽しみください。
One of our favorites is the Cherry Blossom Premier Brunch Cruise. Treat yourself to a historical tour of Washington, DC, while observing some of the most iconic landmarks in the country, like Old Town Alexandria, the National Harbor, and the Washington Monument. These sites provide a stunning cherry blossom backdrop for Instagram-worthy posts. Sit back, relax, and enjoy a cocktail or mimosa while cruising all of DC’s amazing sights.
What to Do During the 2026 National Cherry Blossom Festival
The National Cherry Blossom Festival this year kicks off on Saturday, March 21st, with its signature Opening Ceremony — a tribute to the longstanding friendship between the United States and Japan, and features artists with ties to both countries.
A parade will be held on Saturday, April 11, 2026, along Constitution Avenue. Onlookers will enjoy colorful helium balloons, marching bands from across the country, elaborate floats, and celebrity entertainers. These performances and celebratory music will help usher in the arrival of spring in Washington, DC.
The Blossom Kite Festival held on March 28th is a day of family fun. All ages can enjoy a day of traditional Japanese music, activities, competitions, and performances.
Celebrate spring at Petalpalooza, April 4th, with a full day of live music and activities for all. This all-day event brings art and music to multiple outdoor stages, family-friendly activities, roaming entertainers, and a cashless beverage garden along the banks of the Anacostia River. Finish the night with a spectacular National Cherry Blossom Festival Fireworks Show set to music starting at 8:30 pm.
春に向けて街が活気づく中、このエリアで他に楽しめることをお探しの方は、以下をご覧ください。 WhereverFamilyがお薦めする "Explore Washington, D.C. During Cherry Blossom Season with These 6 Tours "をご覧ください。
ワシントンDCに桜が咲くまでの魅力的な裏話
The capital’s first Cherry Bloom festival took place in 1935, but the seeds for it were planted decades earlier when Eliza Scidmore, the first female board member for National Geographic, visited Japan and fell in love with the beauty of cherry blossom trees. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the nation’s capital were adorned with such beauty every Spring, she had wondered aloud. When Scidmore’s sentiment fell on deaf ears among the city’s elite, she wrote a passionate letter to Helen Taft, the wife of President Taft. The first lady, having previously lived in Japan, was familiar with the beauty of the flowering trees and embraced Scidmore’s idea. Then she set the wheels in motion. Mrs. Taft felt that not only would Cherry Blossom trees serve as a lovely beautification to the Capital, but also as a bond of America’s friendship with Japan, where the Cherry blossom is an iconic part of that country’s cultural heritage.
Soon after, Dr. Jokichi Takamine, a chemist from Japan, visited DC and offered the cherry trees to the First Lady. They arrived at their destination, but the Department of Agriculture quickly discovered that the trees were infested with harmful insects and needed to be destroyed. Japan then made a second donation, and on March 26, 1912, the new cherry tree saplings arrived and were planted along the Tidal Basin. That day, the first lady, Helen Taft, and Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese Ambassador, planted two cherry saplings on what is now Independence Avenue. The First Lady presented Viscountess Chinda with a bouquet of “American Beauty” roses at the conclusion of the event. What eventually sprouted from this simple ceremony is The National Cherry Blossom Festival, which is now a treasured national tradition.
In the spirit of gift-giving, in 1952, the United States National Park Service reciprocated the gesture and shipped budwood from the same cherry tree descendants back to Japan — to help restore the original grove when parent stock for Washington’s first trees had fallen in decline in Tokyo near the Arakawa River during World War II. This symbolized the cycle of giving and friendship.
In 1954, the rededication of this lasting friendship between nations was commemorated on the 100th anniversary of the first Treaty of Peace, Amity, and Commerce, with the presentation of a 300-year-old Japanese Stone Lantern to the City of Washington. This lantern is one of two; the other remains in Ueno Park in Tokyo, Japan. The Japanese Stone Lantern weighs approximately two tons and stands eight feet high. The lighting of this lantern officially opens The National Cherry Blossom Festival every year.
チェリー・ブロッサム・ウォッチ
Cherry blossom season is one of the busiest times of the year in Washington, DC, which can make driving and parking throughout the city quite challenging. You can expect traffic to become heavier during peak bloom. Many people try to take pictures while driving slowly – often referred to as “diginecking,” and curbside drop-offs and taxis exacerbate the congestion even further. Take advantage of the Cherry Blossom Water Taxi to alleviate the headache of being stuck in a car and view the blossoms while cruising along the Potomac River.
ワシントンの桜の開花ピークは例年4月4日。しかし、例年よりも開花時期が早まっている。1921年以降、平均すると開花のピークは7日早くなっている。今年の予想はまだ確定していない。開花は3月最終週から4月第1週頃を予定している。開花状況や天候についてはこちらをご覧ください。
シティークルーズとのパートナーシップによる今年の全国桜まつりは、日米の変わらぬ友情の絆と再生の精神の証です。そして何よりも、毎年恒例の桜の季節は、自然の美しさを祝う祭典として愛されている。一年に一度のこの伝統行事を、ぜひ最前列でお楽しみください！
Exploring Washington, DC, and its surrounding areas by boat offers an exceptional and enjoyable experience, made even more convenient by the ease of water taxis. Take our Potomac Water Taxi, for instance. With routes connecting DC, Maryland, and Virginia, you can effortlessly and safely explore the region while cruising along the Potomac River on a narrated sightseeing tour with your personal guide. Whether you choose the Georgetown-Alexandria route, the Georgetown-Wharf route, or the Washington Monuments route, every detail is taken care of for you, ensuring a seamless and memorable adventure.
FAQs – Cherry Blossoms in Washington, DC (2026)
ワシントンDCの桜の見頃は？
開花のピークは通常3月下旬から4月上旬。正確な時期は天候によって毎年異なる。国立公園局は、訪問者が旅行を計画するのに役立つように、毎年開花予報を提供しています。
桜の名所は？
人気のスポットは、タイダル・ベースン、ナショナル・モール、イースト・ポトマック・パークなど。3,000本以上の桜の木に囲まれたタイダルベイスンでは、ジェファーソン記念館などのランドマークを背景に、象徴的な景色を楽しむことができる。
桜の季節に何かイベントはありますか？
はい！全米桜祭りは毎年開催され、凧揚げフェスティバル、全米桜パレード、花びらパルーザ、文化パフォーマンスなど、さまざまなイベントが行われる。フェスティバルは通常、桜の開花がピークを迎える数週間にわたって開催される。
桜を見るには入場料が必要ですか？
お花見は無料です。ただし、お祭りによっては入場料が必要な場合やチケットが必要な場合があります。
桜を見に行くのに最適な時間帯は？
早朝や平日は一般的に人が少なく、穏やかな時間を過ごすことができる。日の出や日の入りの時間帯に訪れると、写真撮影に最適な素晴らしいライティングが楽しめる。
お花見にはどんな服装で行けばいいの？
D.C.の春の天候は不安定なので、重ね着をしよう。散策する場所が広いので、歩きやすい靴をお勧めする。
夜桜はライトアップされていますか？
通常、夜桜のライトアップは行われない。しかし、全国桜まつり期間中の特別イベントやインスタレーションでは、夜間のライトアップが行われることがある。
桜の下でピクニックはできますか？
一部のエリアではピクニックが許可されているが、樹木を傷つけないようにし、後片付けをすること。ほとんどの公共エリアでは、焼き肉や飲酒は禁止されている。
桜はいつまで咲いているのですか？
開花のピークは通常数日間だが、気象条件によっては開花期間全体が1～2週間続くこともある。
元の投稿日2023年2月14日