A single cherry tree on an old tree that impresses with its appearance

When you think of ''cherry blossom viewing,'' you probably imagine a scene of cherry blossoms in full bloom covering the entire area. However, there is also a sense of elegance in admiring a single cherry tree on an old tree. Here we will introduce Morioka City's representative single cherry tree, ''Ishiwarizakura''.

The Ishiwarizakura can be seen on the grounds of the Morioka District Court. It is an old tree with a height of 11.0m and a root circumference of 4.3m that sticks out from a crack in a huge rock with a circumference of 21m. It is a variety called Edohiganzakura, and it is a very long-lived cherry tree that can reach 350 to 400 years old. By the way, when it comes to cherry blossoms, the representative variety is Somei Yoshino, which has a lifespan of around 60 years. The sight of these trees growing their trunks and branches through the rocks and blooming with beautiful flowers over a long period of time is like a lesson in life.

It was designated as a national natural monument in 1923, but Morioka is actually the northernmost point in Japan where cherry blossoms are designated as a national natural monument. In addition, in the city, the ''Moriokashidares'' at Ryukokuji Temple are also designated as national natural monuments, and during the flowering season, you can enjoy the luxury of seeing two of the ''northernmost natural monuments'' at once.

The best time to see them is usually from early to mid-April. Let's go and see its beautiful yet powerful figure.