‘Cherry’s hand raised in blessing over cottage under spring rain 
to the extremes by the citizens of Edo, Inethose old 
days a sort of guide-book, or more properly floral 
calendar, giving information where to see the beautiful 
flowers, and when they would be at their best at each 
place, was published annually for the benefit of the 
public. Some of these floral calendars still remain. 
However, most of the noted cherry groves or trees 
mentioned in them have long since disappeared. 
In the third year of Konin (812 A.D.) Emperor 
Saga visited the Shinsen-en Garden, a noted garden in 
Kyoto, and there viewed the cherry blossoms. It is 
believed that the cherry flower-viewing party given by 
the Imperial Court in the later periods had its origin 
at this time. In the present era this Court function 
is annually held at the Imperial Gardens in Shinjuku, 
Tokyo. 
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