California’s ‘Little Japan’ features 200 cherry trees about to hit peak bloom in one of the region’s largest gardens

California’s “Little Japan” has 200 cherry trees on the verge of blooming — ready to transform one of the region’s largest gardens into a breathtaking sea of pink and white.

San Diego’s Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum (JFGM) invites visitors to step into a lush sanctuary, where tranquility and centuries of cultural tradition flourish, and it’s a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Los Angeles.

Its goal was to capture the “essence of a timeless Japanese garden by providing a holistic environment to connect, educate, and inspire people of diverse backgrounds about Japanese culture,” according to the JFGM website.

The garden officially opened in the early 1990s, following its initial conception in the late 1970s, reported Secret Los Angeles.

One of the most important moments was in 1977, when the Japanese city of Yokohama gifted San Diego 100 cherry trees, creating what is now the garden’s main attraction.

It’s especially impressive to see cherry trees blossom here, since they usually need cold winters to bloom, which San Diego rarely sees.

In order for the full bloom to happen, the garden uses specially grafted hybrid trees that grow well in San Diego’s mild climate, making the annual bloom even more rare and magical.

When the cherry trees are at their best, the stunning display lasts only one to two weeks, so timing is important. Currently, about 44% of the trees are already in bloom, according to Secret LA.

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