Chiune Sugihara Sakura Park — Vilnius cherry blossoms

Vilnius in pink

Chiune Sugihara Sakura Park is a cherished riverside oasis on the bank of the Neris, planted with 200 Japanese cherry trees. For a short window each spring — most often in the second half of April, lasting roughly two weeks — the trees burst into pink blossom, drawing crowds for picnics, photos and slow walks. Outside bloom season it remains a calm, green spot with open views of the river.

The park is also a place of memory. It honours Chiune Sugihara, the Japanese vice-consul in Kaunas in 1939–1940 who issued thousands of transit visas that saved many Jewish refugees during the Holocaust. The cherry trees, a gift symbolising friendship between Lithuania and Japan, give that history a living, seasonal monument right in the city centre, beside the National Gallery of Art.

• Visit in the second half of April for the bloom (timing varies year to year)
• Expect large crowds and tricky parking at peak bloom
• Go on a weekday or early morning for a calmer visit
• Pair it with the neighbouring National Gallery of Art

Good to know

The park is free and open at all hours, on the right bank of the Neris beside the National Gallery of Art. Bloom dates shift with the weather, so check local news in mid-April before making a special trip; for a quieter experience, arrive early in the morning or on a weekday.