Kyiv’s Sakura Alley Is Longest in Ukraine

Kyiv, April 27, 2012. The Kyoto park in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv boasts the longest in the country alley of sakura trees (Japanese cherry trees). The alley is 1.8 kilometers long (approximately 1.12 miles). The official representatives of the Ukraine Records will register this world record on April 28, 2012.

At the moment, 360 sakura trees constitute the alley. The trees were planted in Kyiv’s Kyoto park in September of 2011 to celebrate the 40^th anniversary since Kyoto and Kyiv became twin-cities. The plants symbolize friendship between Japan and Ukraine, since sakura is one of the most treasured symbols of Japanese nation. Numerous Japanese lanterns and a tea house were also installed in the park during the 2011 renovations.

The Kyoto park in Kyiv was founded back in 1972. The centerpiece of the park is the five meter tall zen stupa, presented by the Japanese delegation at the park opening. Interestingly, the park features a hill that recreates the profile of the highest mountain in Japan – Fuji.

Importantly, the sakura trees planted in the Kyiv park are low temperature resistant. Imported from the Netherlands, the cherry blossoms can stand the temperatures of -25⁰C (-13⁰F). Moreover, it is planned to increase the amount of sakura trees in the park to over a thousand. The park will feature 15 different kinds of trees. Each kind will blossom in a different time of the year, decorating the Kyoto park with cherry blossoms from April to October.

A traditional Japanese rock garden – zen garden – is also located in the park. It was introduced at the site at the beginning of the 1980s. At the time, architects from Ukraine visited Hiroshima, Osaka, and Kyoto in order to precisely recreate the spirit of the Japanese parks and gardens.

Curiously, the alley in Kyiv is not the only noteworthy sakura alley in the country. Reportedly, the western Ukrainian city of Uzhgorod boasts the longest alley of Japanese cherry trees in Europe. The decorative Japanese cherry trees were brought to Uzhgorod from Vien, Austria, in 1923. At the moment, 1,000 trees populate the city. The celebration of the cherry blossom time in Uzhgorod is a nation-wide event.