Celebrate Spring at the Home of the Cherry Blossoms (2024)

See the Cherry Blossoms from The Wharf

Updated March 26, 2024

Celebrate spring at the Home of the Cherry Blossoms®!

The Wharf neighborhood is the closest destination to the cherry trees at the Tidal Basin and East Potomac Park, making it the perfect spot to visit while you're enjoying the cherry blossoms, museums, and all DC has to offer.

The Wharf has:

🌸 Over 80 shops and restaurants where you can enjoy breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks, or desserts.

🌸 Four hotelsthat make the perfect home base while you're in DC.

🌸 The closest public restrooms to the Tidal Basin (view The Wharf map).

The Wharf is DC's most exciting waterfront neighborhood. Popular with locals and visitors alike, the beautifully designed spaces, top-notch restaurantsand lively events offer something for everyone. It's where DC meets.

Located along the Potomac River, and facing dozens of cherry trees along the water, every spot at The Wharf has an incredible front-row seat to the beauty of spring.Admire the blooms as they reflect off the water while you enjoy blossom-inspired food, drinks, and shopping.

Getting Here

There are plenty of ways to travel toThe Wharf for some cherry blossom fun.

Metro
The Wharf is within walking distance of two Metro stops:

The Waterfront Metro (green line) is one block fromThe Wharf. When you arrive at the Metro station, head west on M St SW and you'll walk directly into The Wharf.

The L’Enfant Plaza Metro (blue, orange, silver, green, and yellow lines) is an eight-minute walk from The Wharf. When you arrive at the station, exit at 7th and Maryland Ave SW, then walk south on 7th St SW. You can also catch the Southwest Shuttle at 7th and Maryland Ave for door-to-door service from L’Enfant Metro to The Wharf--just look for the pink SW Shuttle signs.

Southwest Shuttle
The free Southwest Shuttle makes a continuous loop between The Wharf, L’Enfant Plaza Metro, L’Enfant Plaza Parking, and the National Mall, where you can also see trees in bloom. Visit the SW Shuttle webpage to see real-time updates about the shuttle's route, current location, and next arrival time.

Water Taxi
The Water Taxi offers cherry blossom views coupled with a relaxing ride from Georgetown, Old Town Alexandria, and National Harbor, Maryland. Get a ticket and see the cherry blossoms from a new angle.

Parking
There arethree parking garageslocated onsite at The Wharf.There are also two additional parking garages at L’Enfant Plaza. However, during season blossom season when traffic will be especially heavy, visitors are encouraged to make use of public transportation and transportation options via our waterways.

For more information on transportation to The Wharf, visit our Getting Here page.

Celebrate Spring at the Home of the Cherry Blossoms (2024)

FAQs

What is the Japanese saying about cherry blossoms? ›

Hana wa sakuragi, hito wa bushi (Japanese: 花は桜木人は武士, literally "the [best] blossom is the cherry blossom; the [best] man is the warrior") is a Japanese proverb that originated in the medieval period. It is also rendered as "among blossoms the cherry blossom, among men, the warrior" or likewise.

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Why does Japan celebrate cherry blossoms? ›

The sakura's meaning is also contradictory. It symbolizes both life and death, beauty and violence. As the coming of spring promises new life, so the blooming of cherry blossoms brings a sense of vitality and vibrancy. At the same time, their short lifespan is a reminder that life is fleeting.

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What is the cherry blossom festival in Animal Crossing? ›

The Cherry Blossom Festival (also known as the Cherry Festival) ^[^nb ¹^] is an event in every first-generation Animal Crossing game. Leading up to and following the event, trees turn pink and cherry blossom petals fall from the sky. From April 5 to 7, a festival is held at the wishing well.

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What is the meaning of the Cherry Blossom Festival? ›

The National Cherry Blossom Festival commemorates the 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo to the city of Washington, DC, and celebrates the enduring friendship between the people of the United States and Japan.

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What is a famous quote about blossoms? ›

Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul. Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom. A flower cannot blossom without sunshine, and man cannot live without love.

What is the Japanese story about cherry blossom? ›

There was a war occurring and Tree didn't see anything good until it met a beautiful girl. They fell in love with each other, and the tree admitted that it was a tree. The girl also wanted to become a tree, and they became one - sakura, blooming with beautiful flowers.

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What is the Japanese symbol for cherry blossoms? ›

Sakura (桜) - Sakura means “cherry blossom” and is derived from saku 咲, which means to bloom, or alternately to smile/laugh. The 口 in 咲 indicates an open mouth.

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Why is it called cherry blossom? ›

For starters, cherries and cherry blossoms share part of their names because they come from the same genus – Prunus. This genus not only encompasses both of these trees, but other edible fruit trees like plums, peaches, apricots, and even almonds. Cherries and cherry blossoms are therefore quite closely related.

What do cherries symbolize? ›

Sweet Cherries have long been symbols of love, their rich red hue and sweet taste embodying the essence of romance. Cultures worldwide have interwoven these fruits into their love narratives, often featuring them in romantic traditions.

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What were the cherry blossoms a gift for? ›

The tradition of celebrating the blooming of cherry trees in Japan is centuries old. The planting of cherry trees in Washington DC originated in 1912 as a gift of friendship to the People of the United States from the People of Japan.

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Why do Japan celebrate cherry blossom? ›

However they are more than simply beautiful trees, as sakura have strong ties to Japan's history, culture and identity. Originally used to divine the year's harvest, sakura came to embody wabi-sabi philosophy and Shinto ideals of impermanence, hope and renewal and are now one of Japan's most iconic natural symbols.

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How long do cherry blossoms last? ›

The blooming period, when 20 percent of the blossoms are open before the petals and leaves fall, can last up to 14 days, depending on weather conditions.

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How many cherry blossoms did Japan give? ›

President Biden thanked Mr. Kishida for the cherry trees, which have become a symbol of the relationship between the United States and its longtime ally as well as a popular tourist attraction in spring. The mayor of Tokyo gave Washington 3,000 of the trees, which are not native to the United States, in 1912.

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What is the Japanese term for viewing cherry blossoms? ›

Hanami was first used as a term analogous to cherry blossom viewing in the Heian era novel The Tale of Genji. Although a wisteria viewing party was also described, the terms "hanami" and "flower party" were subsequently used only in reference to cherry blossom viewing.

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What is the Japanese saying about flowers? ›

Hana ni arashi 花に嵐 --- There is a famous Japanese saying, "Tsuki ni muragumo, hana ni arashi (The moon is often hidden by a cloud; flowers are often scattered by the wind)". "Hana ni arashi" is a shortened version of, "Tsuki ni muragumo, hana ni arashi".