Kyoto's weeping cherry blossom in full bloom

The temple of Choken-ji is famous as the first in Kyoto to witness the blooming of cherry blossom each year. Its weeping ito-zakura (thread cherry blossom) tree comes into flower a week earlier than in usual years. The name of the tree comes from its thread-thin drooping branches. The chief priest of Choken-ji says this week is when the view is at its most breathtaking, but other varieties of cherry blossom tree will be in color until around the end of April.