In early spring, nature will take on a very special hue in Neuilly-sur-Marne, in Seine-Saint-Denis. The city is organizing a Hanami at the Parc du Croissant-Vert for 2026: a celebration of the flowering of Japanese cherry trees that celebrates the return of sunny days and is directly inspired by the Japanese tradition of observing sakura, the pink and white flowering trees that symbolize spring.
480 cherry trees in bloom just a stone’s throw from Paris
This eagerly awaited spring event will take place in the spring, with free access to the park and no prior reservation required. The timing has been chosen based on flowering forecasts, with the peak expected to occur over the weekend of March 7 and 8. This is when most of the 480 cherry trees, many of which are Prunus xyedoensis, are expected to offer their magnificent display of pink flowers.
Covering 33 hectares of greenery, this park is a real lung for the municipality located east of the Paris metropolitan area. The park features wide paths, lawns, and wooded areas that are ideal for a stroll or a picnic under the flowering branches. Considered one of the parks with the highest concentration of Japanese cherry trees in France, every spring it attracts visitors who come to enjoy this natural retreat just a few miles from the capital.
Hanami,an ancient Japanese custom of contemplating the cherry blossoms, is also an invitation to gather with family and friends to enjoy them. Much more than a simple stroll, this moment is an opportunity to celebrate the fleeting beauty of the flowers and the arrival of spring, a tradition deeply rooted in Japanese culture and now shared around the world.
For the 2026 edition, the organizers are inviting visitors to share their photos and videos on social media, extending the experience beyond the park. Hanami in Neuilly-sur-Marne is designed to be a convivial event open to all, free of charge, and one of the first major signs of the return of spring in the Île-de-France region .
This floral weekend is a great opportunity to get out of Paris for a peaceful and poetic getaway. It’s a little-known alternative to other large estates in the Île-de-France region that are victims of their own success.
📍Hanami – Parc du Croissant Vert – Neuilly-sur-Marne
📆 Spring 2026 – Peak blooming on March 7 and 8, 2026