Blossoms of Resilience
The Yonomori Sakura Tunnel in Tomioka, Fukushima, is a 2.2-kilometre avenue lined with approximately 420 Somei Yoshino cherry trees, some over a century old. Planted since the Meiji era, these trees form a captivating canopy of blossoms each spring. Following the 2011 disaster, the area was designated a no-go zone, but evacuation orders were lifted in 2023, making the entire tunnel accessible once again. The annual Yonomori Cherry Blossom Festival celebrates this renewal with illuminated night views and local festivities.
