Categories: Things To Do

This Japanese garden near Toronto is filled with cherry blossom trees

Photo via popokoko-nyanya / Shutterstock

There’s nothing quite as magical as cherry blossom season in Toronto. The sight of pale pink petals against a bright blue sky is especially magical after a long winter, so it’s no surprise that crowds flock to High Park every spring to soak it all in.

If you’re willing to venture even further west, you’ll find a Japanese garden tucked away in the bustling city centre of Mississauga that has some of the prettiest sakura trees you’ve ever seen.

Kariya Park was established in 1992 and is named after Mississauga’s sister city Kariya, Japan. The atmosphere pays tribute to its namesake and it’s as authentic as could be.

The peaceful green space features Japanese-inspired structures, walkways, and benches facing a duck pond.

But, the real draw of Kariya Park is the cherry blossom and magnolia trees. The park is filled with beautiful shades of pink as the trees bloom in April and May.

With sakura trees being one of Japan’s most iconic symbols, it’s no surprise that you’ll find many of them scattered throughout the park, making it a very popular spot during peak bloom season.

With that in mind, you’ll want to plan your visit accordingly. If you can, try to stop by doing off-peak hours to avoid the rush.

And if you’re visiting on the weekend, you may want to take public transit as the parking at Kariya Park is limited.

Those who’d prefer to see the trees without the crowds can check out one of the many lesser-known and smaller parks with beautiful cherry blossoms around Toronto, some of which you may not have even heard of!

This time of year doesn’t last long here in Ontario, so be sure to enjoy it while you can.