The long-awaited cherry blossom season is just around the corner. Ueno Park has been known as a famous cherry blossom viewing spot since the Edo period, attracting millions of visitors. It is one of the most popular cherry-blossom viewing spots in Tokyo. Cherry blossoms usually bloom in late March, and according to the Weathernews, they are expected to bloom on March 22nd, with their peak on March 29th. Tokyo Free Walking Tour has planned walks in Ueno Park for the morning and afternoon of March 29th.
Ueno Park has various cultural facilities: museums such as Tokyo National Museum, a zoo, historical shrines such as gorgeous Ueno Toshogu Shrine and temples, and statues of prominent people like Statue of Saigo Takamori. Ueno Park is the center of arts and culture in Tokyo. Our tour is a tour around them.
There are hundreds of different types of flowering cherry trees planted in Japan. But, as most people noted, Somei-Yoshino variety with pale pink flowers is abolutely most beautiful. There are about 800 cherry trees planted in Ueno Park, the majority of which are Somei-Yoshino.
Somei-Yoshino is the king of the cherry blossoms and have been planted all over in Japan, making them the most famous and beautiful cherry blossoms. In fact, they are a clone propagated by grafting from a parent tree. The petals will flower in a full bloom and fall in a week or so all at once. Where is its parent tree? It is commonly believed that they were originally cultivated by the planter in the Somei Village(currently Toshima Ward) in Tokyo at the end of the Edo period. However, in the recent research by Kazusa DNA Research Institute, a new theory has been developed. They made genome analysis of 46 trees in 19 prefectures across the country and concluded that the tree with the number of 133 beside the statue of Prince Komatsu Akihito in front of the Zoo at Ueno Park is the closest to its origin. The report was announced four years ago but it’s still valid.
We will walk by the area where there are several Somei-Yoshino trees. If you can’t find the tree, please ask our guides. Let’s explore its original tree.
We are all volunteer guides and value small groups with multiple guides. Their personal knowledge and experience gained from living and working in the city will be beneficial to you. We strive to create an atmosphere where guests can feel free to ask questions during the tour, so please feel free to join us.
TOUR SCHEDULE at Ueno Park on March 29（Sun) : 10:00AM-12:00PM and 1:30PM-3:30PM
MEETING PLACE: the information signboardjust in front of the Park Exit of the JR Ueno Station. Please visit our Web Site. We look forward to your reservation and seeing you.
(Yoshi)