York University’s blooming Sakura cherry trees offer an alternative to High Park
Over 100 flowering trees can be found on the University’s expansive Keele Campus
The countdown is on for the much-anticipated arrival of Toronto’s Sakura, or Japanese cherry blossoms. In Japan, the trees bloomed five days earlier than last year, with Vancouver, B.C. following the same accelerated timeline. In Washington, D.C., peak season ended abruptly after a storm swept away the petals.
York’s sprawling Keele Campus is home to more than 100 Sakura trees. The largest stand can be found outside the Calumet Residence on Arboretum Lane, with smaller clusters outside the Tait McKenzie Centre, Vanier College, the Kinsmen Building and along Campus Walk. Each spring, the magnificent display draws visitors from around the GTA. Peak bloom, when 70 per cent of the blossoms on a tree have opened, typically lasts just four to 10 days.
The blooms are not only visually stunning but also culturally significant. In Japan, Sakura symbolize rebirth, renewal, new beginnings and the fleeting nature of life, inspiring centuries of waka and haiku poetry and the tradition of hanami — flower-viewing picnics under the blossoms.
Visitors to the Keele Campus can arrive via the Pioneer Village or York University TTC stations, with Pioneer Village being the closest to the main grove near Calumet College. Both stations are accessible with elevator access. All trees are located along paved routes and paid parking is available across campus.
In 2003, York became the first university in Canada to participate in the Sakura Project, an initiative by the Japanese government to plant 3,000 cherry trees across Ontario by 2005. The trees on Keele Campus are a symbol of the long-standing relationship between Japan and Canada, as well as the University’s many cultural and academic ties with Japanese institutions.
Visit York's interactive map for specific walking directions and tree locations.
