Tsutsujigaoka Park is the cherry blossom viewing spot of choice for many Sendai locals. More than 360 cherry blossom trees are planted in this public park. The elegant shidarezakura (weeping cherry trees) which grow here were first brought from Kyoto by Date Masamune in the seventeenth century. The park is also home to cherry trees of the popular somei yoshino variety and even some ukonzakura (literally “turmeric cherry trees”), named after the pale golden hue of the blossoms. During cherry blossom season, food stalls selling sake and Japanese festival food are set up in the park and traditional red paper lanterns illuminate the grounds in the evening.