Beloved, giant weeping cherry tree, named after the famous samurai warrior.
Matabei Zakura (又兵衛桜) is located in Uda city in the Yamato Plateau in the northeastern Nara Prefecture. This very large weeping cherry tree, 13-meter tall is over 300 years old. The Matabei Zakura is named after the famous samurai and warriors’ commander, Goto Matabei. He joined the “Osaka no jin”, a series of battles undertaken by the Tokugawa shogunate against the Toyotomi clan during the Warring States period.
Goto Matabei is a brave warrior and famous for its spear skills. He fought fiercely as a chief commander, however he committed suicide at the end according to the general history. But, there is another legendary story, he escaped to Uda city and became a monk. People believe he had planted this cherry tree and started calling this tree “Matabei Zakura” after his first name.
Matabei Zakura blooms beautifully and creates a fantastic scenary along with surrounded peach trees, when they all bloom together from the early to mid-April.
Address : 348 Oudahongo, Uda, Nara 633-2156
Access : Take a city bus to Ouda from Haibara station on the Kintetsu Osaka line.(17-minute), then 20 minute walk from the bus stop.
Admission : 100 Yen
You can rent a bicycle from rental cycle shop at the information desk just outside of the station.
With power assiste : 1000 Yen/ A half day