The 'Gion Weeping Cherry Tree' in Maruyama Park is an iconic cherry tree located in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City. The history of this cherry tree is quite fascinating. The first-generation Gion Weeping Cherry Tree was a famous tree that had been in Hōju-in, a monk's residence of Gion Shrine, since the Edo period. However, at the beginning of the Meiji period, it faced the threat of being cut down due to the anti-Buddhist movement (Haibutsu Kishaku). Hiroakira Akashi from Kyoto Prefecture purchased the tree and donated it to Kyoto Prefecture. The first-generation tree eventually died in 1947 (Showa 22) at the age of 220 years. The current Gion Weeping Cherry Tree is the second generation, grown from the seeds of the original tree. It was planted in 1949 (Showa 24) and is now about 80 years old. This cherry tree stands majestically at about 12 meters tall and is especially beautiful when illuminated at night, earning it the name 'Gion Night Cherry Blossoms.' Maruyama Park itself is a historic place, having opened in 1886 (Meiji 19), making it the oldest park in Kyoto City. The park also has about 700 other cherry trees, attracting many visitors for hanami (cherry blossom viewing) in the spring.