��Viewing tHe Cherry Blossoms�@��

The Japanese People love to view the cherry blossoms every year. When the cherry blossoms are in bloom, people visit places which are famous for their cherry trees.

One of the three great trees of Japan is located in Miharu. This Takizakura(Waterfall Cherry Tree) is more than 1,000 years old and was declared a national treasure in 1922. The tree stands 19 meters(62 feet) tall, and the breadth of the branches reaches nearly 22 meters(72 feet). The draping soft ��ranches produce a brilliant mist of beautiful pink blossoms.

There are many of the Cherry trees around Japan. Cherry blossom-viewing is not meant for viewing flowers only. It is a Japanese tradition to invite friends and family and spend hours underneath the trees, drinking and feasting and having a good time.

This "Waterfall Cherry Tree" is a main attraction in one of our shrine. Cherry blossoms fall like pink showers.

This is a picture of " Hirosaki Castle " illuminated during the night. The trees are beautiful in the daytime, but also show another aspect of their beauty when it gets dark.

Without the presence of cherry blossoms, the spring season in Japan is incomplete.

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