Hanami in the North: Sakura season in Finland

Cherry blossoms are blooming in southern Finland right NOW. Hanami, the Japanese tradition of admiring flowers, has quietly taken root in Finland. After months of darkness, cold, and snow, Finns greet spring with open arms and hearts. The fleeting bloom of the cherry trees coincides with the moment spring begins turning into summer, and Finns crawl out from the warmth of their homes to embrace the season.

Many Finnish cities have planted cherry trees specifically to delight their residents. But you do not need a grove to practice hanami. Even a single sakura tree, in full bloom, is enough.

The Beauty of Cherry Blossoms in Finland

Roihuvuori, Helsinki (map)

Finland’s most celebrated cherry blossom park. Over 240 trees line the hillside in one of Helsinki’s neighbourhoods, drawing thousands of visitors each spring. The park has become a beloved ritual: locals arrive early to claim a good spot beneath the branches.

Billnäs Ironworks, Raasepori (Raseborg) (map)

Over 300 cherry trees have been planted in this centuries-old ironworks village on the banks of the Mustionjoki (Svartå) river. Part of a national landscape, Billnäs is a rare find: history, nature, and sakura season woven together. Many trees are still young — each year the bloom grows more spectacular.

Aurajoki riverbank, Turku (map)

Near the iconic medieval Turku Cathedral, cherry trees line the riverbank in another of Finland’s national landscapes. The contrast of pale blossoms, dark water, and the cathedral’s silhouette makes this one of the most photographed spring scenes in the country.

Kirsikkapuukierros or Kirsikkapolku, ‘Cherry Trail’, Kerava (map)

A dedicated cherry blossom trail: 3 km on foot, 11 km by bicycle, winding past trees throughout the town. Kerava has made hanami remarkably easy: borrow a picnic blanket and a basket from the city library, find a tree in full bloom, and settle in for the afternoon.

Kirsikkapuisto, ‘Cherry Park’, Lahti (map)

Lahti’s cherry park was born from democracy: in 2020, residents voted to create it.

City Library & beyond, Salo (map)

Salo’s cherry trees appear in clusters throughout the town. A standout is the library courtyard, close to the market square and river, surrounded by beautiful old wooden houses. This is hanami at a quieter pace, in a setting that feels genuinely local.

Cherry trees can also be found in Porvoo, Veikkola, and Vihti. Smaller clusters, but no less beautiful for it. Part of the joy of hanami is discovering a single flowering tree on an otherwise ordinary street.

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