After the white of winter, spring marks the return of bright colors to the world. In some countries, the colors look even brighter due to a variety of unique flowers that blooms during the season.

In East Asia, cherry blossoms, popularly known as sakura in Japan, gain a lot of attention during the season. Its pink petals cover several areas in the region exquisitely. Meanwhile, in Turkey and other European countries, tulips, which offer more varied colors, are all the rave.

If you’re interested in seeing these flowers of spring, here are some of the countries and tourist destinations that you can consider!

South Korea is one of the best places to enjoy spring. In addition to the opportunity to visit places where your favorite K-drama was filmed, you can also see cherry blossoms blooming in the country.

Here are 5 popular places to see cherry blossoms in South Korea.

Besides being featured in the famous drama series Winter Sonata, Nami Island is a popular tourist destination in spring. The island, located near the city of Seoul, is filled with cherry blossoms that usually blooms from early March to mid-April.

Other than cherry blossoms, Nami also has other types of flowers you can enjoy, including pine, maple, and magnolia. With a very romantic atmosphere, this island is best visited with your partner and loved ones.

Seokchon Lake Park has a running track and pathway that are decorated with rows of cherry blossom trees. With a large open area, the lake park is an ideal destination for those who want to enjoy the open air as well as the stunning view of cherry blossoms.

Those of you who love photography should not miss the opportunity to visit Seokchon Lake Park in spring. The shades of pink flowers along the lake and its reflection on the water made for a great photo opportunity.

Build in the late 14th century, Gyeongbokgung was the first and largest palace owned by the Joseon Dynasty. This palace looks even more special in the spring thanks to the cherry blossom that blooms in its vicinity.

Interestingly, visitors who wear the traditional clothes of South Korean, hanbok, can enter the palace for free. Imagine your photo being taken while wearing hanbok with cherry blossoms and an ancient palace in the background. Indeed, very Instagrammable!

Built as Joseon Dynasty’s second royal villa after Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung is a sight to behold. The palace, which was built in 1405 and designated as UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 1997, blends beautifully with nature.

There are parks that you should visit inside the palace complex, especially during spring. One of them, called the Secret Garden, is famous for its amazing view when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom.

Located in the city of Suwon, Hwaseong Fortress is a sight not to be missed, especially during springtime. Build in the 18th century, the fortress has a wall that spans nearly six kilometers with cherry blossom trees in its vicinity.

Hwaseong Fortress is an important historic site in South Korea and a designated world cultural heritage site. Aside from the beautiful design and view, you can also enjoy various cultural performances and festivals held in the fortress.

Also read: 5 Must-visit Historic Sites in South Korea

Japan is famous for its cherry blossoms or better known as sakura. With these remarkable flowers in bloom, Japan becomes an even more attractive destination to visit in spring.

Here are some of the places where you can enjoy cherry blossoms in Japan!

One of the best places to see cherry blossoms in Japan is at the Sagamiko Sakura Festival. Held at Lake Sagami Pleasure Forest, which can be reached in about an hour’s drive from Tokyo, the festival provides you the chance to see more than 2,500 cherry trees with its flowers in full bloom.

To make the experience even more memorable, a number of tour packages grant you an opportunity to have your picture be taken while you wear one of Japan’s traditional clothes, yukata.

Ueno is a huge park located next to Ueno Station in downtown Tokyo. Originally, the park was part of the Kaneiji Temple, the largest temple in the city that belonged to the Tokugawa clan during the Edo era. However, Ueno Park is now open to the public.

More than a thousand cherry trees grow in the middle of Ueno Park, making it one of the busiest destinations in Tokyo in springtime. The cherry blossoms in this park generally began to bloom in late March to early April.

Built in the year 645, Asakusa Kannon is the oldest temple in the city of Tokyo. This Buddhist temple, also known as Sensoji, was built specifically for the goddess Kannon. The building is unique with bright red color and a giant lantern at the entrance as its trademark.

In spring, you can see cherry blossoms at one of the temple’s gates, the Hozomon Gate. You can also see those spring flowers in Sumida Park, which is less than one kilometer away from the temple.

Also read: 5 Cities in Japan You Must Visit

Although more well-known in the Netherlands, tulips have grown in Turkey since the era of the Ottoman empire. You can enjoy its beauty in various places during April, especially in the capital.

This is the best city to see tulips in Turkey!

Since 2006, the government of Istanbul planted millions of tulips in parks, avenues, traffic roundabouts, and other open areas around the city. As a result, from the end of March to April of every year, the Turkish capital looks exceptionally enchanting with splashes of vivid colors all around.

During this special period, usually from the start of April to early in May, the Istanbul Tulip Festival is held. Various tour packages to Turkey with departures on those months will take you to the best places to enjoy the festival, including Emirgan Park at the Bosphorus.

The opportunity to witness first-hand the beautiful view of the flowers of spring is very tempting indeed. However, you still have to practice caution when traveling overseas.

It is very unfortunate that the number of coronavirus cases in Japan and South Korea continues to grow. It has also spread to Turkey’s neighboring countries, both on the Asian and European sides.

Nevertheless, there are several things you can do to reduce the risk of contracting the virus. Here are some tips that you can follow.