The Somei Yoshino Cherry Trees of the Hinokinai River Embankment

Somei yoshino is a variety of cherry tree prized for how its flowers bloom before any of its leaves have begun to bud. As a man-made hybrid of Edo higan and Ōshima sakura, these trees are more prone to disease and typically have shorter lifespans of 30 to 40 years. The Somei yoshino that grow along the Hinokinai River Embankment, however, have survived for more than 90 years thanks to the efforts of the local government and community.

In 1934, 600 Somei yoshino trees were planted to jointly commemorate the birth of Emperor Heisei and the completion of the Hinokinai River Embankment. Approximately two-thirds of the original trees still survive today and make up a 1,950-meter-long tunnel of blossoms on the top of the embankment. The staggered arrangement of the trees on the embankment provides them with an abundance of sunlight, and the riverbank’s loamy soil, which was used in the embankment’s construction, is highly permeable and rich in organic matter. This, combined with regular maintenance by student volunteers and the city, has allowed the trees to live significantly longer lives.

These trees were once at risk of being cut down due to a proposed project to strengthen the embankment in 1972. However, the townspeople petitioned to preserve the cherry trees for future generations, and the government designated the Hinokinai River Embankment and its Somei yoshino a National Place of Scenic Beauty in 1975.

Location

Nakakawara, Ogata/Kitano, Kakunodate

Contact Info

Semboku City Tourism Information Center "Kakunodate Ekimae-Gura": 0187-54-2700

Traffic access

Fifteen minutes on foot from JR Kakunodate Station
Akita Airport Liner