Usuzumi-zakura is a magnificent old cherry tree located in Usuzumi Park in the Neo Valley area of Motosu City, Gifu Prefecture. This individual Edohigan cherry tree is believed to be more than 1,500 years old. It is recognized as one of Japan’s Three Great Cherry Trees and is also included among the country’s Five Great Cherry Trees. The tree has been designated a National Natural Monument.
It should not be confused with a cultivated cherry variety also called “Usuzumi,” which belongs to the broader Sato-zakura group in the narrower botanical classification.
The name Usuzumi-zakura refers to the remarkable changes in the color of its blossoms. The buds are pale pink, the flowers turn white when fully open, and the petals take on a subtle, ink-gray hue as they fall.
The tree stands approximately 17.3 meters tall, with a trunk circumference of about 9.4 meters. Along with Yamataka Jindai-zakura in Yamanashi Prefecture and Miharu Takizakura in Fukushima Prefecture, it is counted among Japan’s Three Great Cherry Trees.
According to local tradition, Usuzumi-zakura was planted by Emperor Keitai. Its origins are said to date back to around 467, during the reign of Emperor Yūryaku. Legend holds that Odo-no-Ō, who later became Emperor Keitai, planted a cherry sapling here when he was leaving the area.
Over the centuries, the tree has aged, and cavities have gradually developed inside its trunk. Nevertheless, it continues to be carefully protected through the dedicated efforts of tree specialists and local residents.
The writer Chiyo Uno was particularly well known for advocating the tree’s preservation during the mid-Shōwa period. Saplings propagated from Usuzumi-zakura have also been planted in various locations throughout Gifu and Aichi prefectures, allowing its descendants to continue growing.
On October 12, 1922, Usuzumi-zakura was designated a National Natural Monument of Japan. Every spring, the tree attracts large numbers of visitors who come to admire its blossoms.
Usuzumi Park also contains the Sakura Museum, where visitors can learn about the tree and its history. Nearby, Usuzumi Onsen and the Shikisai-kan accommodation facility are managed by the NEO Sakura Exchange Land foundation.
In 1913, heavy snowfall caused a crack to develop in part of the trunk, and the tree began to lose its vigor. In 1948, an investigation by the Ministry of Education concluded that it might die within three years.
In 1949, Toshiyuki Maeda, a dentist from Gifu City, helped save the tree by grafting roots from a wild mountain cherry. By 1950, the tree had recovered sufficiently to blossom again.
Usuzumi-zakura suffered further damage during the Isewan Typhoon of 1959. In 1967, writer Chiyo Uno visited the tree and expressed deep concern about its deteriorating condition.
In April 1968, her essay titled “Usuzumi-zakura” appeared in the magazine Taiyō. The governor of Gifu Prefecture, Saburō Hirano, subsequently consulted the prefectural cultural properties council about measures to preserve and restore the tree.
Biologist Takeyoshi Hori of Gifu University examined the tree and developed a plan for its recovery. These efforts helped establish a more systematic approach to its long-term protection.
In 2003, Usuzumi-zakura was selected for the Hida-Mino 33 Cherry Blossom Sites list, recognizing its importance as one of the region’s outstanding places to enjoy cherry blossoms.
In 2008, seeds from 14 types of flowers, including Usuzumi-zakura, were sent to the Japanese Experiment Module “Kibō” aboard the International Space Station. They remained there for approximately eight and a half months as part of an experiment investigating how exposure to microgravity affects plant development.
Usuzumi-zakura is cherished for both its extraordinary beauty and its historical significance. Despite centuries of aging and damage from natural disasters, the tree has survived through the sustained efforts of local residents and specialists.
A visit during the flowering season offers an opportunity to appreciate this remarkable natural monument and reflect on the generations of people who have worked to preserve it for the future.