What is Yamanashi Prefecture’s proud Yamatakajindai cherry tree?
Jindaizakura (Jindaizakura) is an old Edohiganzakura tree located within the grounds of Jissoji Temple in Yamataka, Takegawa-cho, Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture. It is a nationally designated natural monument, and its name as a natural monument is Yamatakajindaizakura.[1] The tree is said to be between 1800 and 2000 years old, and is one of Japan’s five or three giant cherry blossoms.It was designated as a national natural monument on October 12, 1922 (Taisho 11), and was designated as a national natural monument in 1990 (Heisei 2). In April, it was designated as one of the New 100 Best Trees of Japan (planned by Osaka City and Yomiuri Shimbun).
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%A5%9E%E4%BB%A3%E6%A1%9C
Yamataka Jindai Cherry Blossoms have a long history and are said to be an astonishing 1,800 to 2,000 years old, making them one of the best cherry blossoms in Japan. In addition, the trunk of this tree, which has a long history, is so thick that it is counted as one of the three giant cherry blossoms.
It can be said to be one of the wonderful power spots that combines the strength and tranquility of nature that cannot be conveyed through photos and images.
During the cherry blossom season, many tourists come to enjoy the ephemeral and beautiful cherry blossoms that the trees bloom.
A rare space cherry blossom
Space Cherry Blossoms are cherry blossoms that were created in 2008 as part of the social contribution project “Flower Legend: To the Sky!” conducted by Manned Space Systems Co., Ltd. Seeds of thousand-year-old famous cherry blossoms (including Japan’s three major cherry blossoms) departed from NASA in the United States on a space shuttle with astronaut Koichi Wakata and departed for space. Jindai cherry blossom seeds were collected by children at local Takegawa Elementary School, and a total of 118 seeds were taken to the International Space Station “Kibo” for about 8 months in zero gravity. After returning to Earth and planting all of the seeds, The seeds have sprouted, and one of them is on the grounds of Jissoji Temple. It is unusual for some of the Jindai-zakura space cherry blossoms to have six petals. (Usually 5 petals)
https://www.hokuto-kanko.jp/space_sakura_jindai.html
Space cherry blossoms are cherry blossoms that went to space on the space shuttle.
Space cherry blossoms left for space from NASA in the United States as seeds, spent eight months in space, and returned to Japan where they grew and were found to have six petals in one part.
In fact, I also looked for six-petaled flowers locally, and I have confirmed that some flowers have six-petaled flowers.
Did cherry blossoms mutate during their time in space, or did cherry blossoms evolve in space when they were released by gravity? Just thinking about it is romantic.
Access to Yamatakajindaizakura
Yamatakajindaizakura can be accessed through a flat road rather than a particularly steep mountain road, so if you use a navigation app such as Google Maps, you will be able to access it by bike without any problems.
There are fields nearby, so when it rains, the asphalt becomes a little slippery and it starts to rain. Riding a motorcycle after the rain is dangerous, so please be careful not to ride too hard.
Yamataka Jindai Sakura Motorcycle Parking Lot
Jindaizakura can be visited by Harley, including Ultra.
It’s also a popular spot for motorcyclists, so you’ll likely meet other motorcyclists as well.
During the season, a guide will guide you to a place where you can park your bike, so you won’t have to worry about getting lost, but the place I was directed to was on the side of a rice field (asphalt).
