Since the first sakura appeared in January in Japan’s southernmost Okinawa Islands, the cherry blossom front has slowly moved northward. Right now, it’s northern Japan’s moment — Hirosaki, Kakunodate and Kitakami — with Hokkaido island coming into bloom in early May. You can keep tabs on the country’s floral activity on the constantly updated Cherry Blossom Forecast here (and, for English speakers, here).

There are plenty of terrific cherry blossom viewings outside of Japan, too. In China, Shanghai’s Gucan Forest Park, Beijing’s Yuyuantan Park and Wuxi’s Li Garden are popular spots while Stockholm’s Kungstradgarden Park, Paris’ Parc de Sceaux and the city of Bonn in Germany are favorites in Europe; head to Spain’s Jerte Valley for blankets and blankets of show-white (not pink) blossoms. And while much of the season has peaked Stateside (D.C., Philadelphia, San Francisco and Macon, Georgia), serious sakura enthusiasts can still pencil in time at New York’s Brooklyn Botanic Garden — its website even includes updates on specific species of cherry blossom currently in bloom. For the curious, right now that includes Prunus serrulata, pendula and shirotae.