2015 Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival in full bloom

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- The City of Philadelphia, the Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia, and proud sponsor Subaru have joined together for the 18th annual 2015 Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival.

Traditions filled Liberty Place's rotunda Tuesday.

The queen of sushi Madame Saito gave lessons on how to make her signature sushi.

In Fairmount Park, the Sugiura family traveled from North Jersey to see the cherry blossoms and plan to stay for the week.

"I think it's very important they need to know what it is, to understood Japanese cultures, that's why it's very important to see physically," Yoshi Sugiura of Bergen County, NJ said.

The first cherry trees were planted here in Philadelphia in 1926.

The weather hasn't been great for cherry blossoms, but we actually found some blossoms by the Japanese House.

Organizers of this week's events are hoping by the end of the week they will have plenty of full trees across the park.

The weeklong festival's goal is to bring a better understanding of cultural, social and educational customs of Japan here to US.

Every day this week there are events leading up to Sakura Sunday, the big event that lasts all day at Fairmount Park.

LIST OF EVENTS: http://subarucherryblossom.org/events