15 Best Places to See Cherry Blossoms in Toronto: The Ultimate Toronto Cherry Blossoms Guide
Is there anything more magical than strolling through a grove of cherry blossoms? If you are looking for the best places to see cherry blossoms in Toronto, I’ve got the guide for you!
As a huge fan cherry trees and all things pink, one of my favourite times to visit Toronto is in the spring! I visit the city every spring on the hunt for cherry blossoms. These unique blooms captivate people from around the world. So much so that many people travel to cities with cherry blossom trees. Tokyo and Washington, D.C. are top cities, but Toronto is also filled with these beautiful blossoming trees too.
In this guide, I’m sharing the top places to see Toronto cherry blossoms like High Park and Trinity Bellwoods Park. But if you’re looking to escape the crowds of High Park, I’m also sharing my favourite places where you can find cherry trees in Toronto like Centre Island and Edwards Gardens.
Plus, near the bottom I’m sharing a Toronto cherry blossoms map of all the locations!
Quick List of Top Cherry Blossom Locations in Toronto
- High Park
- Toronto Islands
- Trinity Bellwoods Park
When can you see cherry blossoms in Toronto?
Cherry blossom season in Toronto is typically in late April through early May. It all depends on weather. Another thing to keep in mind is that cherry blossoms bloom for about 4 to 10 days.
Best Places to See Cherry Blossoms in Toronto
High Park
Spanning 400 acres, from Bloor Street down to The Queensway, High Park is an incredible park in downtown Toronto. The park is the most popular place to see Toronto cherry blossoms.
Back in 1959, 2000 Sakura trees were gifted to the people of Toronto from the citizens of Tokyo, Japan, in thanks for the city’s support of the Japanese-Canadian refugees after WWII. While those trees can be found throughout the city, many are in High Park. Over the years they have planted more trees through the Sakura Project.
A stroll along the High Park Trail and around Grenadier Pond will have you in awe. Here you’ll find yourself surrounded by fields of lovely High Park cherry blossoms, and be enticed by their sweet aroma.
Compared to the other places you’ll find cherry blossom trees in Toronto, the ones in High Park are huge. The older and more established cherry blossom trees are the more striking they become.
High Park also has a website devoted to its Sakura trees. Across the site you can learn more about the trees themselves, their history, as well as follow their bloom predictions to find out when the peak time to visit will be.
One thing to note is that this is the busiest park during cherry blossom season in Toronto. So, be prepared for crowds, especially during the evenings and weekends. I recommend visiting during the week and early in the morning to beat the crowds.
The nearest subway stop is High Park, right across from the entrance to the park. If you’re visiting during peak bloom they have signs leading you from the subway station to where the blossoms are.
Insider Tip: If you’re looking for where to park to see cherry blossoms in High Park Toronto I recommend the Keele Station parking lot. It’s minutes from the High Park cherry blossoms.
Location: 1873 Bloor Street West.
Related Post: Toronto Street Art – Culture, Colour and Community
Trinity Bellwoods Park
Set on nearly 15 acres, Trinity Bellwoods Park is the quintessential park in downtown Toronto. With its grand gates welcoming you in, enjoy a casual stroll along its paths lined with young cherry blossom trees.
Trinity Bellwoods Park is the second most popular place to find Toronto cherry blossoms. But with that said, this park has a fraction of the crowds you’ll find at High Park.
Plus, for those looking for Instrammable photo spots in Toronto then Trinity Bellwoods Park during cherry blossom season is definitely one.
With a perfect line of cherry blossom trees lining the sidewalk and the CN Tower in the distance, Trinity Bellwoods makes for the perfect cherry blossom photo-op.
Location: 90 Queen Street West
Robarts Library
At the University of Toronto’s Robarts Library you’ll escape the crowds and have its quiet paths lined with cherry blossom trees to yourself.
As with the trees at Trinity Bellwoods Park, Robarts Library’s cherry blossom trees are still young. But give them a decade or so and they’ll surely be drawing more crowds.
Location: 130 St. George Street
Can’t get enough of blossoms? Check out these 10+ Amazing Places to Find Flowers in Ontario!
Toronto Islands
On the Centre Island, only a 10 minute walk from the ferry is a collection of cherry trees. You’ll find the trees between to one of the Toronto’s hidden gems, the William Meany Maze, and the Centre Island Bridge.
The Toronto Islands are a beautiful spot to visit in the spring! Along with the 30 cherry blossom trees, the parklands are full of budding trees, birds, and other flowers.
Osgoode Hall
Located on Queen Street West, next door to City Hall, is Osgoode Hall. On its grounds, you’ll find crabapple trees that line the path.
The pretty pink flowers in addition to the stunning old building make for the perfect Instagrammable moment. Plus, the lawn, under the trees is a lovely spot for a picnic.
Edwards Gardens
In Toronto’s North York you’ll find one of the best gardens in Toronto! This nature park is home to 10 cherry blossom trees, most of which can be found near the water fountain in the courtyard.
Another small collection of cherry trees is on the other side of the ravine, near The Bridal Path entrance to the park.
Centennial Park
Located at 56 Centennial Park Road in Etobicoke, where I grew up, you’ll find the second largest collection of cherry blossom trees in Toronto after High Park. Centennial Park is home to over 400 trees.
The sprawling park is also home to Centennial Park Conservatory, which is one of the best places to visit in the spring in Toronto. In the main greenhouse you’ll find over 200 plant varieties.
Toronto Music Garden
Along the harbour is one of the many places to see cherry trees in Toronto other than High Park. The Toronto Music Garden is a unique park in the city that’s design is inspired by one of Bach’s classic pieces.
This enchanting garden and park space is full of blooms in the spring. In addition to other spring flowers, the Toronto Music Garden is home to cherry blossom trees.
Woodbine Park
In the Beaches neighbourhood, Woodbine Park has 20 trees planted to form a tree tunnel. Located at 1695 Queen St. E.
Philosopher’s Walk
A hidden gem for those seeking where to see cherry blossoms in Toronto, head to Philosopher’s Walk. This scenic pathway runs from Queen’s Park to Bloor Street.
Along with being a great place to catch Toronto’s cherry blossoms, Philosopher’s Walk offers a quiet space in the city.
Off the Beaten Path Places to See Toronto Cherry Blossoms
If you’re looking for more places to see Toronto cherry blossoms there are a bunch of great locations that go beyond the popular spots.
Cherry Street – Conveniently located on Cherry Street at the intersection of Villiers, you’ll find 45 beautiful cherry blossom trees.
Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre – Located at 6 Garamond Court, there are nearly 100 Sakura trees.
York University – Located at 4700 Keele Street, in Toronto’s North York, you can find 250 trees.
Broadacres Park – Located at 450 The West Mall in Etobicoke, in the southwest corner of the park you’ll find 100 cherry blossom trees and NO crowds.
Birkdale Ravine – In Birkdale Ravine you’ll find the best collection of cherry blossom trees in Scarborough. This park features 45 cherry trees at the end of Pomeroy Street.
Where to See Cherry Blossoms Near Toronto
Kariya Park
One of the most popular places to see cherry blossoms in Ontario is Kariya Park in Mississauga!
This beautiful park is a short drive from Toronto and is home to over 300 cherry trees. It’s such a magical park in during cherry blossom season that you’ll fell like you’re in Tokyo!
Royal Botanical Gardens
Another great place to see cherry blossoms near Toronto is the Royal Botanical Gardens. At over 2400 acres that cover various areas of land in both Burlington and Hamilton, it’s the largest botanical garden in Canada.
There are two collections of cherry blossoms in the Royal Botanical Gardens. One is located in the Rock Garden in Hamilton. While the other is at the Royal Botanical Gardens’ Arboretum in Burlington. This is where you’ll find a lovely cherry blossom alley!
Frequently Asked Questions for Cherry Blossoms in Toronto
When do cherry blossoms bloom in Ontario?
The best time to see cherry blossoms in bloom in Ontario is between the middle of April through early May. It depends on the weather, including temperatures and wind.
Another factor is the blossoming tree. There are multiple kinds of trees that blossom. These include the traditional Sakura cherry blossom tree, crab apple trees, magnolia trees and dogwoods to name a few.
Where can I see cherry blossoms in Canada?
Toronto isn’t the only place you can find cherry blossoms in Canada! There are countless places to find cherry trees in Canada! You’ll find a cherry blossom festival in Vancouver as well as other places throughout British Columbia. Other places include Edmonton and Montreal.
Can I see the trees from home?
You can watch a live news feed from High Park Nature Centre, called the Bloom Cam, of the Toronto cherry blossoms here. It will show the latest state of the trees, making it a great way to know when they are coming into peak bloom and when to go see them.
5 Cool Facts About Cherry Blossoms
- Did you know that cherry blossoms belong to the Rose family?
- The oldest Sakura tree is 2000 years old. You can find it at the Jissou Temple in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. The tree has a root circumference of 44 feet (13.5 m).
- Did you know that there are over 600 species of Sakura in Japan?
- You can eat the flowers and leaves of the Sakura.
- You can experience cherry blossoms across the globe! Some top places include; Kyoto, Japan, Washington D.C., Macon, Georgia.
More Places in Ontario to See Flower in Bloom
10+ Amazing Places to Find Flowers in Ontario
15 Ontario Lavender Farms for a Dreamy Summer Road Trip
21 Stunning Sunflower Fields in Ontario
Where is your favourite places to see cherry blossoms in Toronto?
PIN FOR LATER REFERENCE
