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| Sakura at Naka-senbon |
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| Garden at Chikurin-in temple |
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| Sakura at Kami-senbon |
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| Sakura at Oku-senbon Yoshino-yama has been reputed for its profuse cherry blossoms in spring. Originally only known as a remote snowy inland, Yoshino came to be admired as a place of cherry blossoms after it became a religious center where the Zao-gongen deity was worshipped. Cherry trees were considered holy because the image of the deity was for the first time sculpted on a cherry log. More and more cherry trees were planted as the worshipers increased in number, and Yoshino emerged as a cherry blossom resort.More than 30,000 cherry trees, most of which are the species called Shiroyama-zakura, a kind of Prunus jamasakura, grow in the Yoshino-yama area. They come into bloom from the beginning of April to the end of the month, starting with those at Shimo-senbon (1000 trees at the bottom of the mountain) of 230 to 350 meters of altitude, then, Naka-senbon (1000 around the middle) of 350 to 370, Kami-senbon (1000 before the summit) of 370 to 590, and finally Oku-senbon (1000 around the summit and deep in the mountain) of 590 to 750.
Yoshino is also known for its tragic and ruthful historical stories, the most famous of which is from the 14th century concerning the South Court and Emperor Godaigo who fled Kyoto with the imperial regalia to fight back the North Court in Kyoto for his legitimacy only to fall ill and perish in Yoshino.
Yoshino-yama is a great place for a day’s hiking. In my case, I hopped on an aerial cable for five minutes after arriving at Yoshino Station by Kintetsu train, and just hiked all the way through to Oku-senbon, and took another quiet hiking route when coming down to the station.
Enchanted by the cherry blossoms but remembering those in Tohoku where aftershocks are still frequent and the nuclear power plant has to be stabilized and fully controlled. In Tohoku too, cherry blossoms are being witnessed and appreciated.
Spring is here.
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