![[Kochi Prefecture, Western Otsuki Town] The mythical cherry blossom "Moonlight Cherry Blossom" associated with Ranman Makino Tomitaro, the father of botany](https://resources.matcha-jp.com/resize/720x2000/2025/01/14-219018.webp)
"A dream of a full-blooming cherry tree on a full moon night" The moonlight cherry tree is said to bloom in full on a full moon night, and is a mystical cherry tree with white petals that give off a radiant sheen. This cherry tree is associated with Dr. Makino Tomitaro, the model for the main character in the TV drama "Ranman."
Written by
The Hata region of Kochi Prefecture is located at the southwestern tip of Shikoku, and is a peninsula that juts out into the Pacific Ocean, facing Tosa Bay to the east and Bungo Channel to the west. It is made up of three cities, two towns, and one village: Hara Village. It is a natural powerhouse rich in blessings, including the nationally famous Shimanto River and Cape Ashizuri, the blessings of the Kuroshio Current that flows along the coast, and the blessings of mountains that boast the largest area of forests in the country.
The "Phantom Cherry Blossom" that Dr. Tomitaro Makino researched and tried to register
Gekkozakura is a cherry tree that stands on a hill in the Nagasawa district near the Otsuki Town Hall. It is said that botanist Dr. Tomitaro Makino studied it during his lifetime and tried to register it as a new species under the name Asizurizakura, and it is a mythical mountain cherry tree that is said to "bloom in full moon."
In 2005, a search group consisting of people related to the Prefectural Makino Botanical Garden, etc., began searching for the mythical Ashizurizakura, based on the rumor that Makino Tomitaro had once studied the plant. At the time, local people reported the existence of a white mountain cherry tree that looked similar, and since 2007 the area has been working to preserve the tree by holding illuminations and night cherry blossom concerts. This cherry tree is called the "Moonlight Cherry Tree," and is said to bloom in time with the full moon. (Size of the Moonlight Cherry Tree: Tree height: 13.4m, trunk circumference: 3.55m, crown size: 21m, age: approximately 170-180 years)
![[Kochi Prefecture, Western Otsuki Town] The mythical cherry blossom "Moonlight Cherry Blossom" associated with Ranman Makino Tomitaro, the father of botany](https://resources.matcha-jp.com/resize/720x2000/2025/01/14-219022.webp)
When the flowers bloom, the entire petals are white and have a characteristic sparkling luster. The best time to see the flowers is from late March to early April, when they are lit up at night, creating a fantastical sight that matches the image of the "Moonlight Cherry Blossoms."
![[Kochi Prefecture, Western Otsuki Town] The mythical cherry blossom "Moonlight Cherry Blossom" associated with Ranman Makino Tomitaro, the father of botany](https://resources.matcha-jp.com/resize/720x2000/2025/01/14-219024.webp)
During this time, various events are held to liven up the cherry blossom viewing mood. The beauty of the flowers is of course captivating, as is the magnificent shape of the giant tree, with its trunk measuring one meter in diameter and branches spreading out in all directions.
How to get to Gekko Sakura
![[Kochi Prefecture, Western Otsuki Town] The mythical cherry blossom "Moonlight Cherry Blossom" associated with Ranman Makino Tomitaro, the father of botany](https://resources.matcha-jp.com/resize/720x2000/2025/01/14-219027.webp)
![[Tokyo, Shinjuku] Buy Matcha Here! 2 Long-established Japanese Tea Shops Where You Can Get the Authentic Taste!](https://resources.matcha-jp.com/resize/720x2000/2025/09/24-245090.webp)
