Spring across the world is not a single event. It is a wave of moments, each unique to the destination. From viewing blossoms at their peak, to spending time in nature as it reawakens, to joining local communities as they welcome the season.
Enjoy how spring unfolds across a selection of Asian and Western destinations. With Japan’s cherry blossom season forecasted to arrive slightly earlier than usual and the Netherlands tulips about to bloom, Guru By Bangkok Post compiles a list of places where the first flush of flowers and springtime stay offers can be enjoyed.
Sakura stays
This year, the Japan Meteorological Corporation and Weather Map expect Kyoto and Tokyo to see first cherry blossom blooms in the second half of March, with full bloom following about a week later, while northern regions from Tōhoku to Aomori reaching their peak in early to mid‑April. Here's where to make the most of season.
• Hoshinoya Kyoto lies about a kilometre upriver from the Togetsukyō Bridge in Oku‑Arashiyama, where the gorge narrows and the tourist boats thin out, and every room looks onto the Ōi River with wide views of riverside cherry trees and wooded slopes. Evenings are spent on the Hanazakura Terrace, a deck shaded by weeping cherry trees, where dinner is served under illuminated branches. The menu centres on spring ingredients such as cherry sea bream sashimi, clam soup with white miso and bamboo shoot rice.
• At Kai Kinugawa in Tochigi Prefecture, cherry blossoms bloom in the river valleys from late March to early April. The ryokan focuses on simple, on-site hanami rather than large-scale events. Seasonal kaiseki dinners showcase Tochigi ingredients such as mountain vegetables and river fish. In the evenings, selected terraces and lounges are illuminated to frame the cherry blossoms on the opposite bank. Staff lead walks around Kinugawa, explaining its history as an onsen town and pointing out quieter viewing spots along the gorge, allowing guests to enjoy the blossoms without leaving the area.
• The Tokyo Edition, Ginza and The Tokyo Edition, Toranomon have launched "Sakura Packages" with stays inspired by the Japanese tradition of hanami. Both properties provide a bespoke Urban Hanami Map, designed to guide visitors through the city’s most picturesque cherry blossom viewing locations. As Tokyo transforms into a landscape of soft pink blooms, guests can explore historic parks, hidden neighbourhood gems and iconic sakura-lined streets, experiencing the seasonal atmosphere that draws visitors from around the world each year. Stays at both include daily breakfast, one Sakura-themed cocktail and one exclusive Sakura-inspired in-room amenity. Book until April 5 for stays from March 20 to April 5.
• At Kai Tsugaru in the highlands of Ōwani, the “Harumachi Sakura Lantern Terrace” takes place from March 14 to April 14 at the Tsugaru Four Seasons Water Garden. The garden is illuminated with lanterns crafted from Tsugaru Vidro glass and Kanayama-yaki pottery, arranged to create hana akari — the ethereal, soft glow that cherry blossoms cast at twilight. Floating lamps drift across the ponds, while walkways are lit to highlight new shoots emerging in the surrounding plants. Guests who book this package can sit in the garden and enjoy a Snow Thaw amuse bouche featuring yukimuro apples, traditionally stored under snow and served as canapés with prosciutto and cheese, alongside chilled soup and hot cider served in Tsugaru Vidro glass.
• In Misawa, Aomoriya brings together three things the prefecture is known for: Nebuta festival floats, apples and hot springs – a combination that is warmly welcomed when late cold snaps put a dampener on outdoor blossom viewing. From March 4 to May 31, it will host "Tange Hanasaka Matsuri" of the Great Blossom Festival, an indoor hanami‑themed event that continues even after most trees have dropped their petals, usually by early May. A limited-edition Spring Bouquet Crepe made with Aomori apples and cassis is available from a small festival stall, while another offers rice crackers printed with blossom-themed fortunes. Outside, guests can soak in an onsen beneath an illuminated cherry tree and floating lamps.
• From March 27 to April 7, Kai Anjin and Kai Ito in Shizuoka Prefecture will run the “Sakura Open Bus Tour”, a three‑hour trip designed to take guests to see peak blossom at Sakura no Sato near Mount Ōmuro. Ride in an open‑top bus, enjoying unobstructed views along the route that passes through Umenokitaira, where cherry branches hang close to the upper deck, and Sakura no Sato, a well-known viewing spot with 1,500 trees representing 40 varieties, including Somei Yoshino, Kawazu-zakura and Ito-zakura. KAI staff act as guides, explaining the formation of the Izu landmass and pointing out differences between sakura cultivars, before leading a short walk in the park.
• Opening on March 5, inside Gion’s restored Yasaka Kaikan, the 55-room Imperial Hotel, Kyoto blends preserved architectural detail with a contemporary rhythm. Mornings can begin before dawn at a nearby shrine or with a private moment inside a Gion ochaya arranged through the hotel. Guests may explore techniques behind Gosho-ningyo doll painting at an artisan atelier, then return to afternoon tea as lanterns flicker across narrow lanes. In the evening, the Old Imperial Bar’s Kyoto originals and cocktails serve as an endnote that honours the pace of the day, reinforcing an atmosphere of unhurried independence.
• Experience the cherry blossoms while on a walking tour. The East Hokkaido Walk with Walk Japan is a guided, seven-day, six-night gently-paced tour the island that goes from the North Pacific Ocean through a dramatic landscape of wetlands, volcanoes and crystal clear lakes to the Sea of Okhotsk. Wildlife aplenty, spectacular crater lakes and active volcanoes; local cuisine made with some of the best quality ingredients found anywhere in Japan, and onsen thermal hot spring baths.
• The Saga and Nagasaki: Cultural Crossroads is a 10-day, nine-night exploration of the historic prefectures in west Kyushu that served from ancient times as Japan’s portal to the wider world until the modern age.
• A stay at Garrya Nijo Castle or Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto places you close to some of Kyoto's most loved sakura spots, which are at their most striking in late-March to early-April. Maruyama Park draws in the crowds for lively hanami gatherings and its striking illuminated weeping cherry tree (shidarezakura). If a calmer experience is more your style, the Philosopher's Path in northeastern Kyoto offers a peaceful walk along a cherry tree-lined canal. For a deeper sense of quiet, spend time among the blossoms at bucolic Haradani-en Garden, tucked away in the surrounding hills.
• Trip.com has tied up with JR Companies to Japan Shinkansen tickets. With this service, travellers can select their departure and arrival stations, travel date, train and seat type non-reserved, reserved or Green Car and purchase Shinkansen tickets online via Trip.com. Depending on the ticket type, passengers can either pass through ticket gates using a QR code or collect physical tickets from ticket vending machines at stations.
Winter to spring in South Korea
Set against the backdrop of South Korea’s Taebaek Mountains and the host of the 2018 Winter Olympics, Pyeongchang has grown into one of Asia’s most beloved winter destinations. The area is also home to Odaesan National Park and the centuries-old Woljeongsa Temple, offering peaceful cultural escapes amid snow-covered forests. In spring, the area comes alive with vibrant, hot-pink Royal Azalea blossoms, offering scenic, moderate hiking.
• Perfectly positioned at the base of the slopes, Holiday Inn Resort Alpensia Pyeongchang offers ski-in and ski-out convenience. However, as the weather turns from winter to spring, enjoy far-reaching mountain views in a hotel that blends Korean style with rustic alpine design.
• Lake views, cherry skies in South Korea, where the cherry trees frame the lake each April. Find a bench and stay till the petals settle. Fronted by the sweeping East Sea and backed by Seorak Mountain, Cassia Sokcho has 674 rooms and diverse dining options. From Cassia Sokcho, head to Yeongnangho Lake, where cherry trees frame the water against the snowy peaks of Seoraksan Mountain and blossoms reach their peak from early to mid-April.
A different kind of pink
In northwest Vietnam, Hoa Ban flowers paint the mountains each spring. White petals blushed with pink.
• Garrya Mù Cang Chải resort is nestled in the breathtaking landscapes of northwest Vietnam, surrounded by majestic mountains and terraced rice fields shaped by the skilled hands of the local H’Mong people. With serene spaces designed for simplified living, the property combines bamboo and brocade motifs typical of traditional Hmong textile art. Immerse in the the daily life of the locals and reconnect with yourself.
• At Angsana Lang Co, traditional decor and seasonal blossoms set the scene, while thoughtfully curated dining experiences, workshops and events invite you to take part in regional customs.
Sip and savour
In China, spring brings fresh life to the surrounding bamboo forests and rolling hills.
• At Banyan Tree Anji, the season coincides with the Anji white tea harvest, which typically lasts from mid-March to early April. Guided visits to the tea gardens of Huangdu Village allow you to see the harvest firsthand while learning about rural life and the care that goes into every cup.
In the Himalayas
Anywhere in India near the Himalayas, spring is from March to May and offers many hill stations where one can see the majestic mountain range transition from snow-covered to lush green. The landscape bursts into life with blooming rhododendrons, clear skies and pleasant temperatures, making it ideal for trekking, nature walks.
• On a 100‑acre palace estate above the Ganges valley in Uttarakhand, Ananda In The Himalayas offers a clear wellness arc that begins with a pre‑arrival consultation, continues through onsite goal setting and daily practice, and extends with post‑stay follow‑up. Days unfold with sunrise yoga, guided meditation and Vedanta philosophy sessions that centre the mind. Begin the day with sunrise treks to Kunjapuri Temple, mantra chanting and birdwatching to ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine to physiotherapy and emotional healing.
• When spring settles over Himachal Pradesh from mid-March to April, Manali transforms into blooming, lush green valleys offering tranquil escapes like the cascading Jogini Falls, the ancient wooden Hadimba Devi Temple, and the bustling Mall Road, lined with cosy cafés and local shops that come alive. Stay at the Welcomhotel by ITC Hotels Hamsa.
Amsterdam in bloom
Experience Amsterdam as tulips transform the Dutch capital into a vibrant canvas of colour each spring at Minor Hotels.
• Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky Amsterdam has launched the “Anantara Tulip”, a signature bloom renewed each year, inviting guests to immerse themselves in a uniquely Dutch floral experience. Travellers seeking canal-side charm may opt for NH City Centre Amsterdam, set along the Singel Canal and within walking distance of cultural landmarks including Anne Frank’s House and De Nieuwe Kerk. For art enthusiasts, Avani Museum Quarter Amsterdam Hotel offers stylish accommodation, steps from the Van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum and the vibrant Leidseplein district. In addition, the NH Collection Amsterdam Flower Market Hotel, situated beside the famous Flower Market, allows guests to enjoy leisurely strolls surrounded by the colors and fragrances of blooming flowers.
• On the Keizersgracht, The Dylan Amsterdam offers an intimate, design-led refuge. Studio Linse’s refresh layers warm textures and tactile materials into rooms that function as quiet sanctuaries between museum hours and canal walks. Concierge arranges private gallery visits and neighbourhood art strolls that feel participatory rather than performative, while mornings lend themselves to canal-edge loops that set a measured pace before the city crowds arrive. Two Michelin-starred Restaurant Vinkeles delivers precision with restraint, and the High Wine ritual reframes late afternoon as a gentle pause rather than a rush.
Go green in Costa Rica
Set in Monteverde’s cloud forest, Hotel Belmar embarses Women's History Month every March. Women can join forest bathing walks in the property’s reserve, take artist led workshops through the hotel’s Artist Residency and engage with sustainability at Finca Madre Tierra, the hotel’s bio sustainable farm. Guest rooms with warm woods and private terraces encourage daily wind down rituals such as journaling, breathwork, tea and twilight stillness, practices that travel easily and become part of a personal rhythm.
