Cherry trees are seen in bloom on Mount Yoshino in Yoshino, Nara Prefecture, April 8, 2025. About 30,000 cherry trees are in flower, enveloping the entire mountain in a pale pink hue. As of April 8, trees near the base of the mountain were almost in full bloom, while about 50% of blossoms had come out on trees at a higher altitude. Trees in the area farthest up the mountain have yet to flower but are expected to reach full bloom around mid-April. The origin of these trees is said to go back some 1,300 years. Cherry trees, from the Shiro-yamazakura (white wild cherry) to the Somei Yoshino variety, spread out from the valley to ridges of the mountain in a panoramic view dubbed "hitome-senbon" (1,000 trees at a glance).

(Japanese original by Naoto Yamanaka, Gojo Local Bureau)