The typical flower that announces the arrival of spring is plum. It has been popular in Japan for a long time, and it is crowded with plum blossoms during the flowering season. Many of the plum blossom shapes have been adopted as famous family crests.
The best time to visit is from mid-February to mid-March.
Tokyo’s famous plum blossoms
Yushima Tenjin and Ikegami Plum Garden are recommended spots for Tokyo Plum. Yushima Tenjin is in Bunkyo, and Ikegami Umezono is in Ota.
Yushima Tenjin
Yushima Tenjin has been popular as a famous place for plum blossoms since the Edo period. There are about 300 plums, 80% are white plums.
The Yushima Tenjin Plum Festival is held from the beginning of February to the beginning of March every year.
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Address: 3-30-1, Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0034
From Tokyo Metro, Yushima Station (Chiyoda Line) Exit 3 is a 2-minute walk, Ueno Hirokoji Station (Ginza Line) is a 5-minute walk, or Hongo 3-chome Station (Marunouchi Line) is a 10-minute walk. In the case of JR, it is an 8-minute walk from Okachimachi Station (Yamanote Line / Keihin Tohoku Line). A 5-minute walk from Ueno Okachimachi Station (Oedo Line) Exit A4 on the Toei Subway.
Ikegami Plum Garden
It is a quiet garden using hillside slopes that enjoy the seasonal atmosphere. There are about 370 plums that are also flowers of the ward.
There are no closed days during the plum season in February and March. The entrance fee is 100 yen for adults (ages 16 and under 65) and 20 yen for children (ages 6 and under 16).
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Address: 2-2-13 Ikegami, Ota-ku, Tokyo 146-0082
The nearest station is Nishimagome Station.
Kanagawa Prefecture plum blossoms
The most famous ume spots in Kanagawa Prefecture are Soga Bairin and Taura Umenosato. There is a little distance from Tokyo, but you can take a day trip or overnight with other sightseeing.
Soga Bairin
Soga Bairin consists of Nakagawara, Hara, and Bessho (local) plum forests, and about 35,000 white plum trees are planted. For the purpose of producing edible plums, most of them are white plum blossoms.
The Odawara Ume Festival is held every year from the beginning of February to the beginning of March. The Ume Festival venues are Soga Umebayashi (Bepsho venue, Nakagawara venue) and Odawara Castle Park.
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At Soga Bairin (Bepsho venue / Nakagawara venue), in the case of JR, about 10 minutes on foot from JR Gotemba Line Shimo-Soga Station It seems necessary.) From Odawara Station, JR Kokufu Station, Odakyu Line Shin-Matsuda Station, take the bus (Fujikyu Shonan Bus) from Nakagawara Umebayashi to Shimo Bessho.
Odawara Castle Park is about a 10-minute walk from JR Odawara Station East Exit.
Taura Plum Village
It is a famous plum blossom with more than 2,000 plums, and has been selected as one of the top 100 Kanagawa flower spots. With an area of approximately 6,000 square meters, it is known as the only plum forest on the Miura Peninsula.
The Taura Bairin Festival is held from mid-February to early March every year.
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Address: 〒 237-0073 Yokosuka City Taura Izumicho 92
In the case of JR, it is a 25-minute walk from JR Taura Station. For buses, get off at Keikyu Taura Station and get off at Funakoshi Bus Tei bound for Yasuura 2-chome or JR Taura Station. Get off at Taura Post Office and walk for about 20 minutes.