A 600-year-old weeping cherry tree bloomed at Seiunji Temple in Chichibu

A 600-year-old weeping cherry tree bloomed at Seiunji Temple in Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture, northwest of Tokyo. The tree, one of about 30 at the temple, stands 15 meters tall with a 3-meter circumference at its base.

Its blossoms hang from spreading branches, creating the characteristic weeping effect. Monks said warm weather over the past few days caused the trees to bloom. On Sunday, locals and tourists visited the temple to see the tree. A man in his 70s from Kawagoe City took a photo of the tree, which resembled a dragon. An elementary school girl from Niiza City called the blossoms beautiful, marking her first sighting of them this season.