Fuji worship, ancient cherry trees, and bread SPOT REPORT

Noda City, where I live, is sometimes referred to as the "Noda Triangle". It's bordered by the Tone and Edo Rivers, and the Tone Canal. It's got some famous sakura spots - Sakuragi Shrine and Shimizu Park. Both are spectacular and well worth the effort to travel to.

But we've got some obscure and quirky spots, too. In 2021, I told you about Muryojin, a spectacular temple for shidare zakura and an atmospheric red gate.

I've been going back every year to one more out-of-the-way spot, Sansha Jinja. The shrine, dating from the Kamakura period, honours Izanagi-no-Mikoto, Izanami-no-Mikoto, and Susanoo-no-Mikoto. The shrine is a recent reconstruction (heavily damaged in the 3/11 quake), but it has some historic features. Ancient and soaring cherry trees grace the site.

Behind the shrine proper is a fujizuka. These are Edo-era replicas of Mount Fuji. Back in the day, the elderly, infirm, and women excluded from the full rite climbed these simulacra to venerate the mountain.

You might anticipate the sweet fragrance of cherry, but you're in for a surprise. Immediately on the west side of the shrine is the Pasco Tone plant. You'll be wrapped in the aroma of wheaty, yeasty bread baking!

The trees were about 60% on Saturday, March 28th. The spectacle of 桜吹雪, sakura fubuki, or cherry petals falling like snow, is just starting in Noda City. See them before they're gone!