A lone cherry tree with a strong presence

kanda3 oh-ito cherry blossom

If you follow the JR Chuo Main Line further upstream, you will see a particularly huge cherry tree, the Kanda Oito Cherry Blossom (Edohigan Cherry Blossom), standing like a giant with Yatsugatake in the background.    The tree is currently being treated to restore its vigor.

The cherry blossoms at the place where Dososhin, the road god at the entrance of the village, is located overlooking the Oito cherry blossoms are also spectacular.

Detour (Nagasaka Ushiike Pond)

Nagasaka Town is located across the Kamanashi River, which creates a deep valley.    Just one step away from the main road in the middle of town, cherry blossoms are planted surrounding Nagasaka Ushiike Pond, which was built for irrigation purposes, and the Southern Alps appear to be looming in the background.

Sakura needs no explanation.    I missed the famous cherry blossoms along the JR Chuo Line.    This is a lone cherry tree in Wanizuka, Nirasaki City, just before Hokuto City.    The cherry blossoms reach full bloom earlier than the cherry blossoms in Hokuto City, so pay attention to the timing.

jissoji2
go back to itinerary

 

Cherry blossoms bringing spring to the snow-covered mountains

sanehara8 chatting among locals
sanehara1 cherry blossom trees
sanehara1 cherry blossom trees
sanehara11
sanehara11

Near Jisso-ji Temple, there is a row of Sanehara cherry trees planted by the pioneers of this area.    It is said that when they first settled in this area, they had great difficulty cultivating it due to lack of water.

The rows of cherry blossom trees, which have watched their work over the past year, will be in full bloom again this year with Mt. Kai-komagatake in the Southern Alps in the background and will give them courage.

south alps
south alps
kai komagatake
kai komagatake

jissoji2
go back to itinerary

 

 

 

 

One of Japan’s three major cherry blossoms has been alive for 2000 years

yamataka jindai cherry blossom1
jissoji6
3D composition at Jissoji temple

Aiming for Jissoji Temple in Hokuto City.    Many cherry blossoms are carefully managed at this temple.   The garden in front of the precincts has a 3D composition, with a field of daffodils surrounded by cherry blossoms in full bloom and the snow-capped Southern Alps in the distance.

jissoji1
photographers over the fence

When I actually went there, I found out that this composition was achieved by the photographers uniformly standing over the fence with their backs stretched out.   Space cherry blossoms that have sprouted after returning from an eight-month stay in zero gravity on the space station are also blooming in the grounds.

yamataka jindai cherry blossom2
yamataka jindai cherry blossom2

As you enjoy the cherry blossoms in the precincts, you will find the Yamataka-jindai cherry tree, which is said to be 2,000 years old, located in the back.    This is probably the guardian deity that local people have respected for generations.   The presence of this single cherry tree is amazing.    It is said to be one of Japan’s three major cherry blossoms, along with Miharu Takizakura in Fukushima Prefecture.

 

jissoji2
go back to itinerary