Japan Tourism / Japanese Someiyoshino Cherry Blossoms Originated in a Tokyo Neighborhood You Can Visit

By Katsumi Sakaguchi / Special to Ryoko Yomiuri Publication

17:15 JST, March 18, 2026

Someiyoshino, arguably the most popular cherry blossom variety in Japan, is believed to have been spread nationwide by plantsmen from the village of Somei in what is now the Komagome district in Tokyo’s Toshima Ward, toward the end of Edo period (1603-1867).

I walked around the hometown of Someiyoshino, guided by Hisao Hagiwara, a volunteer guide in the Komagome and Sugamo districts in the ward.

“Sakura, Sakura,” a folk tune that plays at JR Komagome Station, lingered in my ears as I stepped out onto the sidewalk, where I was greeted by a pink post box with images of sakura cherry blossoms. It shows how much the people in this neighborhood love cherry blossoms. Facing the station is an open area called Someiyoshino Sakura Kinen Koen (Someiyoshino cherry blossom memorial park). Here, Someiyoshino trees are planted next to cherry trees of their “parent” varieties, Edohigan and Oshimazakura.

During the Edo period, there were many gardeners and plant shops around Somei-dori street, which crosses the tracks west of the station. Following this street away from the station will bring you to a monument commemorating them in a local park called Watashi no Niwa Minna no Niwa.

Turn right a few blocks later, and you will see Mon to Kura no Aru Hiroba, a square with a roofed gate and a kura traditional storage house. It is the former site of the house of the Niwa family, which ran a gardening business. The gate and the storage house are the only structures left from those days, and the site is now planted with Someiyoshino cherry trees that were returned from Washington, where such trees had been sent earlier and are still cherished.

“Judging from the size of the property, it seems the Niwa family was in the upper echelon of gardeners. Their leader at the time was Ito Ihee-Masatake, whose grave is on the grounds of Saifukuji temple,” Hagiwara said.

I then went to the temple, traveling along a street with blossoming cherry trees on both sides. Areas around here were burned to the ground in air raids during World War II, and the cherry trees were nearly all lost. After the war, the then chief priest of the temple led a campaign to replant Someiyoshino trees in their birthplace, working tirelessly for the cause.

Across the road from the temple is Someiyoshino Sakura no Sato Koen, a park planted with many different varieties of cherry trees.

“They all blossom at different times, so we can enjoy cherry blossoms for a long time,” Hagiwara said.

I also saw cherry saplings grown in a section of the park.

“Local people work together in growing Someiyoshino saplings and providing them nationwide,” Hagiwara said.

It is not easy to graft and grow the saplings. But local people in this town lovingly care for the Someiyoshino cherry blossoms, taking pride in this being the birthplace of Someiyoshino, which spread from here across the country in days gone by.

At the end of my trip, I visited the Somei Cemetery because I heard there were cherry trees that survived the war. Thick and majestic old trees were spreading their branches widely as if to cover the sky.

Having enjoyed the cherry-blossom viewing walk, I went to Tokyo Somei Onsen Sakura, a public spa complex very close to the cemetery. Relaxing in a bath, I thought about the historical journey of cherry blossoms.

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