The Japanese Lantern, Tidal basin, Washington DC, USA

The Mayor of Tokyo gave the lantern as a gift to the United States in 1954, but it has a far longer history. The lantern dates to the 17th century when it was created for the funeral ceremony of a Japanese shogun. It is 8.5 feet tall and weighs about two tons. It stood for over 300 years on the grounds of the Toeizan Kan'Eji Temple in the ancient city of Edo, now Tokyo, in Ueno Park, famous for its cherry trees.
Some of the cherry trees around the lantern at the Tidal Basin are the original ones dating back to 1912.

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