Ishiwari-zakura (Cherry Tree Growing from a Rock Fissure)

Overview

Located on the grounds of the Morioka District Court, this tree is designated as a National Natural Monument (1923). Known for its unique landscape, the trunk of the Edohigan cherry tree, estimated to be over 360 years old, extends from a central fissure in a massive granite boulder measuring approximately 23 meters in circumference and 1.7 meters in height. According to legend, a lightning strike created the fissure in the giant rock, where a cherry seed fell and grew. There is also a famous story from a 1932 court fire, where a gardener continued to water the tree while injured to protect it. It is a famous tree that heralds the arrival of spring in Morioka.