Select spots in north-central Kyōto: the Buddhist temple Chōtokuji (長得寺) with its unusual okame zakura (オカメ桜) cherry blossoms, the World Heritage Shintō shrine Shimogamo Jinja (下賀茂神社) with lingering plum blossoms, and the Kyōto Imperial Palace (京都大宮御所) with its spectacular early-blossoming weeping or hanging sakura (枝垂れ桜) cherry blossoms. Several varieties of sakura at different stages converge for a brief moment as spring begins.

Open access publications on Japan: https://japanned.hcommons.org/japanology

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