Old Sakura in Onaga Valley, Fukui

Old yet still stands strong, estimated age unknown!

Takako Sakamoto Apr 28, 2014 - 1 min read

<p>Sakura of Onaga-tani (Onaga Valley) reigns under the blue sky</p>

<p>The tree is out in the middle of nowhere...  </p>

<p>Another view of Sakura of Onaga-tani (Onaga Valley)  </p>

<p>Sign explaining this old Sakura of Onaga-tani (Onaga Valley). It reads that the tree is of the Edohigashi type, with its age unknown! Although the top of the tree along with boughs are terribly damaged, with its amazing resilience it still blooms every spring.</p>

<p>Sacred rope is tied to the tree, which indicates this tree is regarded as something sacred</p>

<p>Small shrine near the tree, the name unknown</p>

<p>Bamboo grove near the Sakura of Onaga-tani (Onaga Valley)</p>

<p>Sakura of Onaga-tani (Onaga Valley). The green cover which looks like a turtle is some kind of protection or remedy to take care of the old, battered tree</p>

<p>Close-up of Sakura of Onaga-tani (Onaga Valley)</p>

<p>Sakura of Onaga-tani (Onaga Valley) in B & W</p>

Onaga-tani (Onaga Valley) is located in Maruoka town in Sakai city, Fukui prefecture, which is relatively close to Maruoka Castle, the oldest wooden castle in Japan. One day a friend of mine told me that there was an old old famous cherry tree in a valley called 'Onaga-tani', designated as a natural monument of Fukui prefecture. Intrigued, I went there to see it with my own eyes. Well, yes, he was right, it's old! According to a sign in the vicinity of the tree it's so old that they can't tell how old it truly is. To save the tree, patches were attached to it,and many braces added for support. Surprisingly, despite its age and damaged condition, it blooms every year and pleases the eyes of the lucky beholders in Fukui. Cheers to old age!

Takako Sakamoto @takako.sakamoto

I was born in and grew up in Tokushima prefecture, and have lived in many places since then: Nishinomiya, Kyoto, Nara, Mie, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Fukuoka and Fukui. I am currently living in Yokohama City. All the places I lived, all the places I visited, I have loved dearly. The histor...