Furuko-no-Kobai (Red plum blossoms)

A plum tree that's been designated as a natural monument by Gifu Prefecture. A rare double-blossomed red variety, it's one of the few large trees in the prefecture. Nine-meter-tall and with a trunk three meters in circumference, it's estimated to be 700 years old. It has been damaged several times over the years, and one of the branches has been repaired. The site gets packed with photographers with their tripods when it is in full bloom in mid-April and it's even more beautiful with its blossoms against snow-capped Mt. Ontake. It's just off the Osaka River's bike path, so lots of people stop by to view it while out for a ride or a hike.