In 1912, the mayor of Tokyo, Yukio Ozaki, gave the capital of the United States Japanese cherry trees to enhance and celebrate Japanese-American relations. The trees were planted on the north bank of Tidal Basin in West Potomac Park.

Since 1935, the city of Washington, DC has an annual Cherry Blossom Festival that lasts for two weeks. The festival offers a number of different activities and events, celebrating spring, culture, art, and sports. The festival also includes a Cherry Blossom 10-mile Run, which takes place annually on the first Sunday of April.