DATE:		April 17, 2006 from 10:00 a.m.
PLACE:		1-317 Kiyomizu, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto
DIRECTION:		City bus stop at Kiyomizu-michi
TEL:		81-75-541-2097
ADMISSION:		Free
TEXT:		From ancient times, Japanese have believed that cherry trees are the home of the gods, and that cherry blossom means the blessing of the gods. This festival is to celebrate the beauty of Jishu cherry trees in full bloom, to honor the gods and to pray for their blessing in finding a best partner. Jishu cherry tree is a very rarely grown cherry tree with single and double flowers blooming in the same tree. It is said that the Emperor Saga returned three times to see the remarkable beauty of Jishu cherry trees during a royal visit. This has led to the trees also being known as “cherry trees that made a royal retinue return.”