Where to See Cherry Blossoms in Toronto

University of Toronto, Robarts Library

70 Sakura trees were planted here in October 2005 as part of the Sakura Project. They line the pedestrian path between Huron and Harbord streets on the south side of the library. The pink against Robarts' concrete brutalism is one of the better visual contrasts in the city, and it's less crowded compared to High Park.

Address: 130 St. George Street

Transit: St. George or Spadina Station (Line 2)

Trinity Bellwoods Park

Trinity Bellwoods' cherry blossoms cluster toward the south end of the park, close to Gore Vale Avenue. Certain angles frame the CN Tower behind the branches, which is the shot most people come for. The park is a known weekend hangout year-round, so expect picnickers, dogs, and the usual weekend crowd alongside the blossom spectators.

Address: 790 Queen Street West

Transit: 501 Queen streetcar to Strachan Avenue

Exhibition Place

Exhibition Place has 93 Sakura across its grounds. Most of the trees are located near the wind turbine, with additional clusters at Princess Margaret Fountain, 109 Prince Edward Island Crescent, Yukon Place, and the intersection of Manitoba Drive and Canada Boulevard. The area stays much quieter than the downtown parks simply because most people don't think of it.

Address: 100 Princes Blvd

Transit: Exhibition GO Station or 509 Harbourfront streetcar

Centennial Park

Etobicoke's Centennial Park has 463 cherry trees, making it the second-largest Sakura collection in the city after High Park. They were planted in waves between November 2002 and May 2011. The largest groupings run along Rathburn Road, on Centennial Park Boulevard, and northeast of the Centennial Park Conservatory. It's the best option in the GTA if you want to skip crowds entirely, though TTC access is limited. Most people drive.

Address: 151 Elmcrest Road, Etobicoke

Transit: Bus service runs along Rathburn Road. Free parking on-site.

High Park

The biggest concentration of Sakura in Toronto traces back to a 1959 gift of 2,000 trees from the citizens of Tokyo, presented by Japanese ambassador Toru Hagiwara as thanks for the city's support of Japanese Canadian refugees after WWII. More trees were added through the Consulate General of Japan's Sakura Project, with further donations in 2001, 2006, 2017-2018, and 2019. The main cluster sits on the hillside above Grenadier Pond and around Hillside Gardens.

Be prepared, it gets very busy. The park is closed to vehicles entirely during peak bloom, so plan on transit, walking, or cycling.

Address: 1873 Bloor Street West

Transit: High Park or Keele Station (Line 2)