200-Year-Old Weeping Cherry Blossoms in Full Bloom in Japan’s Fukushima Pref.

The Yomiuri Shimbun

12:27 JST, April 12, 2026

FUKUSHIMA — A famous shidarezakura weeping cherry tree is in full bloom in Nihonmatsu, Fukushima Prefecture, with visitors flocking to take in its sights.

The peak viewing period of the cherry tree, known as “Nakajima no Jizozakura,” will last through mid-April, and nighttime illumination events will be held through April 19.

The tree, estimated to be about 200 years old, is about 10 meters high, with a branch span of about 30 meters. It is located in a rice paddy area in the city’s Harimichi district, with spectators also enjoying its reflection on the water there.

A group consisting of mainly local residents has been working to conserve the tree since 2011. The group has been named as a fiscal 2026 cherry conservation contributor by the Japan Cherry Blossom Association.

“It’s quiet with hardly any wind, and the pink color of the cherry blossoms is so vivid,” said a 72-year-old woman visiting from Motomiya in the prefecture. “It feels like I came here at just right time.”