9 Reasons Why You Should Go to Asia This Spring

Japan is a quintessential Asian spring destination. The delicate pink cherry blossom (sakura) is more than just a flower in Japan: with its fleeting beauty, it symbolizes life and death, and after the cold winter, Japanese people eagerly await sakura’s appearance in spring.

The flowers start blooming in Okinawa from February and sweep up the country until May, in Hokkaido. If you plan to base yourself around Tokyo, the blossoms appear in late March to early April. Local people host hanami parties, often taking picnics to parks and settling in for a day beneath the pink petals, though you can easily appreciate the beautiful sakura season by exploring with a guide.

Related: 11 of the Best Cherry Blossom Spots in Japan

Often referred to as Chinese New Year, this spring festival is more accurately called Lunar New Year because it’s not only celebrated in China. Naturally, experiencing the vibrant festival in person is one of the top reasons to visit Asia this season.

Singapore, Taiwan, Vietnam (where it’s called Tet), Nepal and Tibet (Losar), and South Korea (Seollal) are among the other Asian countries that celebrate Lunar New Year, all in different ways. Wherever you go, you’ll find people marking this spring festival with colorful festivities, special foods, parades, and dances—including the spectacular dragon dance.

Related: The Lunar New Year: What You Need To Know

A highlight of spring travel to South Asia is the Hindu festival of Holi, celebrated mainly in North India and Nepal in mid-to-late March. Like many Asian spring holidays, it represents new beginnings.

While Indians typically “play” Holi by throwing brightly colored dry powders at each other (wearing white clothes for the best effect), in Nepal, water-play is also common. There are many regional variations on the festival, including the Sikh Hola Mohalla in Punjab and Manjul Kuli in the South Indian state of Kerala. Especially if it's your first time playing Holi, joining organized Holi celebrations is a safe and comfortable way to experience this exciting festival.

Related: Know Before You Go: Celebrating Holi in India

Asia is home to some of the world’s most spectacular mountains, and spring is an ideal time to hike or trek in the Himalaya across India, Nepal, and Bhutan. You can also explore the Japan Alps, or the Hoang Lien Son range of Northern Vietnam. Spring temperatures are generally pleasant, even at higher altitudes, and visibility is good.

Serious climbers can even attempt to summit Mt. Everest or other Himalayan giants in spring. However, you don’t need to be a mountaineer to trek Nepal’s Annapurna Circuit, to Bhutan’s Tiger’s Nest Monastery, or the rice fields around Sapa, among other must-see spots in Asia in spring.

Asia has a long history of celebrating with lanterns, and many festivals throughout the year use lanterns in some form (including Thailand’s famous Yi Peng and Loi Krathong festivals in November). In spring, Taiwan’s Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival is held a couple of weeks after Lunar New Year. Hundreds of thousands of floating lanterns are released into the sky above Pingxi, which is an easy day trip from the capital, Taipei.

Alternatively, head to Hoi An in Vietnam for the monthly Full Moon Lantern Festival, held on the 14th day of each lunar month (early each month in the Gregorian calendar), to release a lantern on the Thu Bon River.

If you’re seeking warm seas and clear skies, spring is the best time to visit many of Southeast Asia’s best beaches. Although February–April is peak season in many beach destinations, it’s typically quieter than the late December to early January rush.

Visit Thailand in February for ideal conditions in Phuket, Koh Samui, Krabi, and other idyllic locales. Head a little further south to coastal Cambodia or Peninsular Malaysia’s west coast—such as Langkawi or Penang—in February or March for the best weather. Bali’s dry season begins in April, so you can even fit this beautiful Indonesian island into your spring vacation in Asia.

Insider tip: The monsoon doesn’t reach all parts of Asia at the same time, so research which parts will be dry in spring before booking beachside lodging.

You might associate Asia more with Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam, but the Roman Catholic–majority Philippines offers a completely different cultural experience. Visit around Easter (March or April) and you can see how this Southeast Asian island nation puts its own unique spin on Catholicism, influenced by Spanish and American colonialism as well as Indigenous traditions.

Parades, performances, and passion plays are held around the country. If you’re passing through Manila you can visit the Intramuros Walled City, which is home to many beautiful old churches, including Manila Cathedral, where you can soak in the Easter spirit.

Insider tip: Many businesses are closed in the Philippines during Holy Week, so be sure to check hours before you finalize your plans.

You don’t need to be a Buddhist to appreciate the profound influence the Buddha had on Asian culture and philosophy. Prince Siddhartha Gautama Buddha’s birthday is celebrated on different dates throughout Asia—he lived 2,500 years ago, so a little uncertainty around the exact date is understandable—but usually in May.

To witness or participate in the festivities, head to major Buddhist sites of worship. Particularly good places to be are Kathmandu’s Tibetan Buddhist Boudhanath Stupa and Buddha’s birthplace in Lumbini, Nepal; the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, India; and Borobudur in Central Java, Indonesia.

East Asia might seem like a surprising place to go to watch rugby, but every spring (late March to early April), Hong Kong hosts the Hong Kong Sevens tournament. Sevens is a variant of rugby, with seven players on each team (instead of the usual 15).

Whether or not you’re into the game, this is an exciting time to visit the Chinese mega-city. While you’re in town, head up Victoria Peak to admire the views, cruise on Victoria Harbour, or eat your way around the culinary powerhouse. The nightlife is particularly pumping during the Sevens, making Hong Kong one of the best places to visit in Asia in spring.