Reviewed & updated: December 6, 2022 by Jamie Wilson BA
Looking to get inked with an aesthetic cherry blossom tattoo? Check out these amazing cherry blossom tattoo designs and get to know about their special meanings!
Cherry blossom is a kind flower, known for its beautiful and enchanting appearance.
The term Sakura, meaning ‘cherry blossom’ is used in Japan to identify this flower. Cherry blossoms are an integral part of Japanese culture, being a common ingredient in their tea and sweets, and are designated as the national flower of the country.
What Does Cherry Blossom Tattoo Mean?
Cherry blossoms are associated with optimism, renewal, life, and death. Additionally, since a cherry blossom blooms quite quickly, it is also considered to be symbolic of the transient character of life. Hence, a cherry blossom tattoo meaning is related to the ephemeral nature of beautiful things in life. Its symbolism is also connected to hope, enlightenment, and good luck. Many people also use cherry blossom to represent their personal growth and development.
What Goes With Cherry Blossom Tattoo?
A cherry blossom tattoo design can be created in different ways by associating it with a variety of symbols. Depending on the meaning of the symbol, the meaning of the whole tattoo will keep changing. Some common motifs which go well with cherry blossoms are traditional Japanese symbols, dragons, birds, geometric patterns, and so on.
Now that you are well aware of the meaning behind cherry blossoms, check out these amazing images to pick a cherry blossom tattoo for yourself!
Japanese Cherry Blossom Tattoo
As you already know, cherry blossoms are the national flower of Japan. So, it would be ideal to get a beautiful cherry blossom tattoo featuring a symbol that represents Japanese culture. In this tattoo, the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, with a giant red dot, which holds great symbolism in Japan. This red circle is featured on their flag as well and is called, “The circle of the sun“. The overall design is quite neat and clean, with the light pink petals of the flowers imparting an additional beauty to the tattoo.
You can also get a cherry blossom tattoo that features any Japanese word or letter, depending on your preference. As you can see in the image, the flowers have been inked with a light pink shade, which is creating a unique gracefulness in the design. The brown branches are forming a contrast against the beautiful flowers.
Outline Cherry Blossom Tattoo
If you think a black and white cherry blossom tattoo will not do justice to these beautiful flowers, then think again. This outline tattoo of cherry blossom is the perfect example of how these flowers can look spectacular on your skin even without any colour. The light outline with subtle shading and dark leaves are creating an awesome effect. Such a design is perfect for both men and women and can be a great way of symbolising your soft and graceful disposition.
If you are more interested in a darker outline tattoo of cherry blossoms, then this tattoo design is certainly the right one for you. Here, the black ink has been used more deeply to make the tattoo appear a lot bolder and eye-catching. Such a design would look amazing on your arm, or on the back of your leg.
Vibrant Shoulder Cherry Blossom Tattoo
If done right, shoulder tattoos can be quite an amazing accessory on the body. Check out this image of cherry blossoms spanning over the shoulder and part of the chest. The placement of the tattoo is absolutely perfect. The bright pink petals of the flowers against the dark brown branches are creating a masterpiece. Tiny detailings in tattoos like this one are what makes them stand out. You can also ask your tattoo artist to turn this design into a sleeve tattoo. Such a design would be the ideal way for you to express the beauty of the world simply passing by.
Delicate Cherry Blossom Tattoo
If you want to start off your tattoo journey with a dainty piece, then why not opt for this small cherry blossom tattoo? The design is nothing short of art, even though the tattoo is hardly taking any space on the skin. The gradient pink shading on the petals and the colour of the stem and leaves is giving this tattoo a watercolour effect. Given the size of this tattoo, you can get this inked anywhere on your body.
An appropriate alternative to the first tattoo would be this one. Here, only a single cherry blossom has been depicted. The tattoo is quite small, yet it is still carrying all the deep meanings which are associated with the cherry blossoms. The outline of the petals has been done quite lightly, with the light pink and white ink colours taking centre stage.
Cherry Blossom Back Tattoo
Back tattoos are quite great to have, as you can show or hide them depending on your mood. So, a unique and remarkable back tattoo such as this one could be the perfect idea for you. The whole tattoo has been created with black ink only and is featuring a traditional Asian hand fan ending in cherry blossoms. The beautiful linework done on the fan is nothing short of brilliant. The shaded flowers are complementing the fan with perfection. Asian hand fan meanings are associated with generosity and good luck. Hence, combining such a symbol with cherry blossoms represents beautiful and profound meanings, relating to life.
Cherry Blossom Tree Tattoo
Tree tattoos are always a matter of beauty, and the same goes for tattoos of cherry blossom trees. In this design, the cherry blossom tree has been inked within a circle, which is creating an awesome geometric frame. The green grass, dark brown branch, and light and dark shades of pink, are all combining to make this tattoo look incredibly realistic. The placement of such a tattoo is ideal on the back, for women. For men, this tattoo will look great on the chest, as well.
There are various ways to depict cherry blossom trees, and this tattoo is another gentle reminder of that. Here, a different kind of tree has been portrayed, yet the breathtaking beauty of these trees remains constant. This design is quite realistic, yet artistic, due to the way the pink flowers have been designed. A tattoo like this can represent beautiful meanings related to the cycle of life and progress.
Dragon And Cherry Blossom Tattoo
Dragons form a significant part of the Asian culture and represent power, strength, and good fortune. Hence, for many people, a dragon and cherry blossoms are the perfect combination. In this tattoo, the dragon has been inked in a way to mimic brush strokes and also the branch of the cherry blossoms. The whole motif is resembling calligraphy, which is quite uncommon. The cherry blossoms are created in a simple manner, with no dark outline and only the pink petals showing. You can get this inked on your shoulder or on your arm, as pictured above.
Regal Geometric Cherry Blossom Tattoo
Crown tattoos have always been a symbol of glory. To combine that with cherry blossom flowers, which are associated with the fleeting nature of one’s life can be quite paradoxical. Such a tattoo could be a way to always remember that victory or defeat is never permanent. The crown in this tattoo is forming the centrepiece, with the geometric patterns adorning it from the top and bottom. The cherry blossoms are adding a touch of aesthetic by flanking the exceptionally detailed crown on its two sides.
Endearing Bird And Cherry Blossom Tattoo
A cherry blossom tattoo featuring a cute little bird may just be the kind of tattoo design you need to cheer yourself up! Bird tattoo meanings are usually interlinked with the concepts of freedom, happiness, and peace. Such a meaningful symbol will undoubtedly pair well with the aesthetic and meaningful cherry blossom flowers. To add to that, here the bird has been made to resemble calligraphic brush strokes, which in itself is quite a great concept. The subtle pink cherry blossom flowers are beautifully adorning the blackbird and the branch it’s sitting on.
Ornamental Crescent Moon And Cherry Blossom Tattoo
Ornamental style tattoos are on the rise these days, as these tattoos look great on the skin. So, if you want a tattoo design that becomes an adornment on your body for life, you could surely settle for this design. Here, a black crescent moon has been tattooed, with beautiful cherry blossom flowers covering its middle section. The ornamental beads are hanging off of the moon, further adding an allure to the already enticing moon. The ideal placement for such a tattoo would be on the thigh, as pictured, or on the side of the ribs.
After checking out these great cherry blossom tattoo ideas and also getting to understand their meanings, you have surely made up your mind about the tattoo you will want your tattoo artist to recreate for you. At the end of the day, your cherry blossom tattoo design should be a reflection of your true self. Here is a compilation of the different cherry blossom tattoo designs-
- Elaborate cherry blossom shoulder or sleeve tattoos.
- Monochromatic cherry blossom tattoos.
- Vibrant cherry blossom tattoos with various symbols that hold special meanings.
- Cherry blossom tattoos with Japanese or Asian motifs.
- Cherry blossom tattoos with geometric or ornamental motifs.
Feature Image from Pinterest – Love this design? Try a Temporary Tattoo
