The Cherry Tree Born from Edo’s Gardening Boom
Tokyo’s cherry blossoms may feel timeless, but one of their most famous forms was shaped by human hands. Somei-yoshino, now seen across Japan, emerged from Edo’s lively horticultural world.
In the Edo period, gardening became a passion shared by many levels of society. Plant specialists competed, experimented, and traded new varieties, turning flowers into both culture and commerce. In Somei Village, in what is now Tokyo’s Komagome neighborhood, gardeners developed and propagated a cherry tree said to come from crossing different varieties. Sold under the name Yoshino-zakura, it eventually became known as Somei-yoshino, carrying the name of its Edo birthplace.
Now, when people gather beneath the blossoms in Ueno, Chidorigafuchi, or parks across the country, they are enjoying more than a seasonal view. They are seeing the legacy of Edo’s gardeners still blooming.
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