There are three types of Singaporeans right now: those who are looking forward to sakura trips in places like Japan and Korea, those who’ve just come back from one, and those who are reeling in a sense of FOMO. If you fall into the last category, chin up – because our tropical island isn’t about to miss out on the yearly cherry blossom hype either. Here are some ways to experience sakura season right here in Singapore, from a sakura-infused onsen bath to dining specials and a floral display with real sakura blooms.
RECOMMENDED: Air Japan under ANA launches new Singapore-Tokyo flight routes with budget-friendly rates and The best pink cafés and restaurants in Singapore
2. Soak in a sakura black tea bath at Joya Onsen Café
Joya Onsen Café, a tranquil Japanese-style onsen complex at Jurong, is heralding spring with a limited-time sakura black tea bath that’s chock full of skin-nourishing benefits. Once you’ve gotten a good soak in, head on over to the in-house tatami-style café for seasonal treats like the Hanami Parfait, which comes loaded with strawberries, warabi mochi, taiyaki, sanshoku dango, and served with a bottle of sakura cola on the side. This will be happening till the end of April.
4. Snag pretty drinkware from Starbucks’ sakura collection
Bring a touch of springtime magic to your life with Starbucks’ sakura merchandise, comprising a whopping 27 items designed according to the theme, A Secret Eden. Though it’s been a hot minute since these were first launched, there are still limited pieces of certain items in stock at various Starbucks outlets, so this is your last chance to grab yourself some pastel pink cold cups, tumblers, and even a special edition Bearista plushie in a sakura-themed outfit.
5. Try seasonal sakura items from Japanese bakeries in Singapore
There’s a handful of Japanese bakeries in Singapore celebrating sakura season too, one of which is Gokoku Japanese Bakery, which tends to see long queues at pretty much any branch of theirs. For a limited period of time, savour their fluffy sakura anpan ($2.80) filled with white bean sakura paste, and topped with mijinko (rice granules) and a little cherry blossom as a finishing touch. Another seasonal item to sink your teeth into is the crispy strawberry pretzel ($3.10), coated with strawberry chocolate.
Kamome Bakery is also poppin’ out some fresh sakura bakes from their ovens, namely the sakura mochi croissant ($7) that’s filled with matcha cream and dusted with kinako powder, and the fragrant sakura red bean butter toast ($4).
Spot trumpet flowers, Singapore’s version of sakura
Singapore may not have cherry trees growing natively on our land, but here’s the next best thing: trumpet trees, also known as pink poui or tabebuia rosea. During chillier, rainier periods from March to May, these trees give bloom to a flurry of pretty pink-petaled flowers – and the scene gets especially romantic when the petals fall from their branches and litter the ground beneath. These trees can be found scattered across plenty of spots in Singapore, including but not limited to East Coast Park, Jurong Lake Gardens, Yishun Park, and the public areas of Gardens by the Bay.
7. Down some sakura gin cocktails
Say cheers to sakura season at Smoke and Mirrors, where there are special limited-time cocktails ($28 each) all created using Roku’s seasonal Sakura Bloom Edition gin as a base. Take your pick from three concoctions: The Manga, a fruity blend with mango, strawberry, gingerm and citrus; Hanami, a twist on the classic negroni; and the creamy and bubbly Sakurabito, infused with banana, yogurt, and prosecco. And if you’re down for trying all three cocktails at once, you’ll receive a complimentary sample-sized vial of the Roku x Maison 21G limited edition Spring Kaze scent.
8. Frolic under cherry trees with ‘oppa’ at Madame Tussaud’s K-Wave Zone
Perhaps the K-pop oppas you relentlessly chase will never know you exist, but hey, delulu is the solulu; Hallyu fans can now make their Korean romance drama fantasies come true by meeting the dashing Lee Min Ho, Song Seung Hoon, and more – or rather, their lifelike wax replicas – under the cherry trees at Madame Tussaud’s dedicated K-Wave Zone. Go all out and show up in a hanbok to make those snapshots really pop. Find out more and book your tickets here.
9. Indulge in TWG’s new limited edition sakura tea blend
Brew up a mini hanami party at home with TWG’s Sakura! Sakura! loose leaf tea ($50 for 100g) from the luxury tea brand’s Grand Mode Tea Collection. This limited edition green tea blend for 2024 is inspired by the beauty of budding cherry blossoms in Kyoto, with a hint of sweet Rainier cherry and sprinkling of flower petals – perfect when paired with TWG’s delectable tea-infused macarons – and comes packaged in a collectible pink and gold canister. Find out more and purchase here.
