WASHINGTON DC, United States — Cherry blossoms frame the historic Japanese Stone Lantern at the Tidal Basin in Washington DC. The 360-year-old granite lantern, surrounded by blooming Yoshino cherry trees, stands as a symbol of friendship between Japan and the United States. This iconic scene, captured during the National Cherry Blossom Festival, showcases the cultural fusion and diplomatic ties represented by the annual spring bloom.
Photograph by David Coleman. This image captures a iconic scene from Washington DC's National Cherry Blossom Festival, featuring the historic Japanese Stone Lantern surrounded by blooming cherry trees at the Tidal Basin. The lantern, a 360-year-old granite tōrō, was a gift from Japan to the United States in 1954, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the first Treaty of Peace, Amity and Commerce between the two nations. Standing at feet tall and weighing approximately 4,000 pounds, this Edo period lantern is a tangible symbol of the enduring friendship between Japan and the United States. The lantern is framed by the delicate pink and white blossoms of Yoshino cherry trees (Prunus x yedoensis), which typically bloom in late March to early April. These trees, part of the original gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Tokyo in 1912, create a stunning display that draws over million visitors annually to the Tidal Basin. During the National Cherry Blossom Festival, the lantern is ceremonially lit, further emphasizing its cultural significance. The combination of the centuries-old Japanese lantern and the ephemeral beauty of the cherry blossoms creates a scene that beautifully represents the cultural exchange and diplomatic ties between Japan and the United States. This setting, with the Jefferson Memorial often visible in the background, offers visitors a unique blend of Japanese and American heritage, set against the backdrop of one of the nation's most recognizable landscapes.
Size: 8256px × 5504px
Location: Tidal Basin, Washington DC, District of Columbia, United States
Photo credit: © David Coleman | CherryBlossomWatch / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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