Catch the Magic of Cherry Blossoms
Let your next vacation sweep you into a wonderland adorned with flowering cherry blossoms. Plantings of the cherry trees in Washington D.C. date back to 1912, when the mayor of Tokyo gifted approximately 3,000 cherry trees to the United States to celebrate the friendship between the Japanese and American people. Now the pink and white blossoms draw visitors each spring.
As an Owner, you can capture incredible cherry blossom memories — and photos — using your Vacation Club Points. Visit historic sites sprinkled with floral backdrops in Washington, D.C., or attend a festival in the trees’ native home in Japan.
History in Washington, D.C.
To view the iconic trees in full bloom, plan a visit during the Cherry Blossom Festival, which runs from March to April each year. In 2020, The National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade is scheduled for Saturday, April 4; The Blossom Kite Festival is scheduled for Saturday, March 28; and PetalPalooza at The Wharf (with fireworks) will be Saturday, April 11. You can use Vacation Club Points to reserve accommodations at Marriott Vacation Club Pulse® at The Mayflower, Washington, D.C., nestled on the seventh floor of The Mayflower Hotel, Autograph Collection®. Or, redeem Marriott Bonvoy™ Points for stays at dozens of hotels in the city.
The nearby Tidal Basin draws the most visitors each year, showcasing a scene of exquisite blossoms with sparkling waters. Take in the view from a Tidal Basin paddleboat or book a cherry blossom tour with Marriott Vacation Club® Activities powered by PlacePass. You’ll see where history merges with natural beauty at the Jefferson Memorial, the Washington Monument, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, and more.
You can also view the cherry blossoms at The Japanese Lantern, a carved monument honoring the third Shogun of the Tokugawa period. Each year, the lantern is lit by the Cherry Blossom Princess representing the embassy of Japan.
To avoid crowds, consider strolling along the Hains Point Loop Trail, a 4-mile strip with waterfront backdrops and shade provided by the canopies of 10 unique species of the celebrated trees. In addition, the blossoms at the U.S. National Arboretum in Northeast D.C. peak at different times than the Tidal Basin, giving you a chance to visit without heavy foot traffic.
Natural Beauty in Japan
If you’d prefer to see the cherry blossoms in Japan, you can use your Vacation Club Points to stay in several Hotels and Luxury Residences through the Explorer Collection. Or, redeem Marriott Bonvoy Points for stays at dozens of hotels throughout Japan.
Mid-January marks the first cherry blossom bloom, which you can catch during a visit to Okinawa. At the Okinawa Marriott Resort & Spa, your central location will give you easy access to other parts of the island. Nago Central Park is one of the best viewing spots, known for its array of more than 20,000 cherry blossom trees.
The Toyko Marriott Hotel offers both polished service and a premier hilltop location in Gotenyama, home of the Gotenyama Cherry Blossom Festival. Lanterns and parasols decorate rows of the trees for the celebration, lighting up a spectacular scene after sunset. While in Tokyo, take a cherry blossom tour, where you’ll walk along the moat of the Imperial Palace.
For a more personalized experience, you can embark on a cherry blossom secrets tour in Osaka. You’ll be matched with a host based on your interests and enjoy a traditional Japanese picnic with a guided tour of the best viewing spots. While in town, stay at the Courtyard by Marriott Shin-Osaka Station. Located just steps from the famous Shin-Osaka Train Station, you’ll enjoy convenient transportation to nearby cities like Kyoto, where you can take a day-long cherry blossom tour.
Can’t make it to Washington D.C. or Japan this spring? The fleeting explosion of cherry blossoms is celebrated in other parts of the world. You may be able to reserve a cherry blossom tour in a destination near you through Marriott Vacation Club Activities powered by PlacePass.
Reserve Your Stay
- Points and Enrolled Owners can use Vacation Club Points to make a reservation at these properties. Follow this link when you log in to MarriottVacationClub.com to check availability or make a reservation.
- Weeks Owners can place an exchange request to visit these locations for one week through Interval International®. Sign in to IntervalWorld.com to place an exchange request.
- Marriott Bonvoy Points may be redeemed at hotels in this location. To search for availability and redeem Marriott Bonvoy points, log in to Marriott.com. Remember when you reserve five consecutive nights, you’ll only be charged for four.
Marriott Vacation Club International and their respective affiliates and subsidiaries make no warranty, express or implied, as to the condition, capacity, performance or any other aspect of the activities, events or service providers listed herein. No inquiry has been made into the activities or events, or the qualifications or the quality of services offered by the providers. Do not consider this an endorsement of or recommendation for any of the activities, events or providers.
Access to the Explorer Collection is made available through the Marriott Vacation Club Destinations Exchange Program and is subject to the terms and conditions as outlined in the applicable Marriott Vacation Club Destinations Exchange Program documents. Actual experiences will be provided via contractual arrangements with third-party providers and may require the payment of additional fees. The experiences described herein are examples of potential vacation opportunities and are subject to change.
Access to locations through the use of Marriott Bonvoy Points is provided via membership in the Marriott Bonvoy Program which is established and operated by Marriott International, Inc., and is subject to the Marriott Bonvoy Terms & Conditions and the terms and conditions as outlined in the applicable Marriott Vacation Club Destinations Exchange Program documents, the Marriott Bonvoy Program information received by a Member at the time of purchase and/or as outlined in the Club documents. Actual participating resorts and hotels are subject to change. The Marriott Bonvoy Program is subject to change and may be discontinued at any time without notice.
Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation (“MVW”) and its affiliates and subsidiaries, make no warranty, express or implied, as to the condition, capacity, performance or any other aspect of the activities, events or services provided by third-party vendors. Some of the programs and products offered may be provided by PlacePass, which may not be owned, developed or sold by MVW.
« Previous Article
Next Article »
