Noda City’s cherry blossom temple

Back in February I told you about an out of the way Shingon Buddhist temple, Muryojuin, in a rural part of Noda City. In the crisp cold with the sun setting the gate and main hall were beautiful enough. 

The temple courtyard is home to an ancient shidarezakura, weeping cherry tree, and I had been meaning to go back during blossom season to see it. Last weekend was windy and rainy, and I wondered, would there be anything to see? 

I was there just in time to see the tree as it begins to sprout leaves. It lifted my spirits a little to see the petals fluttering in the breeze.