Japans emperor used to held plum blossom viewing party each year. Whilst this shrine is often quieter than others during the year, during plum blossom season its absolutely bustling and in fact one of the busiest spots to visit in kyoto. The viewing season for most regions of japan is from january to late march depending on the region and plum tree variety. In tokyo, the following spots are amongst the best places to find. Lets explore the best time to view plum blossom in kyoto, ume matsuri, the best spots to view them including travel tips and many more. And some shrines and temples have events in their gardens, where you get to see the plum blossoms at their absolute best. Still, plum trees bloom slightly longer and are usually visible from the colder month of february down through march. This is the biggest fruitbearing plum forest in joyo, kyoto prefecture. There are about 500 hundred plum trees at this shrine and some 40 varieties. You can view sakura all over japan when its season begins but it is impossible to find ume blossom everywhere. You can admire many flowering plum trees in kyoto at kitano.
Plum blossoms tend to bloom from late february to early march, and many areas across japan hold plum blossom festivals, or ume matsuri, during this time. Indeed, the plum trees are the first ones to delight us with their beautiful white, pinks and red flowers that smell so strongly. During its plum festival, which starts in early february, the shrine offers plum shaped sweets and a nonalcoholic rice drink called amazake. If you had to pick a flower to represent japan, it would be the sakura cherry blossom. Although cherry blossoms sakura get all the glory, japans blossom season starts in late february early march with the much more fragrant japanese plum trees ume.
Plum blossom at jonangu in kyoto 2021 februarymarch. I absolutely admire its utmost beauty, and hunting plum blossom in kyoto is an amazing outdoor experience. So lets take a look at the 5 best plum blossom viewing spots and events in kyoto. It can be found in sparse forests, stream sides, forested slopes along trails and mountains, sometimes at altitudes up to 1,7003,100 metres 5,60010,200 ft, and regions of cultivation. I will be visiting osaka from 16 march onwards and am hoping to catch the plum blossom. Less famous than the infamous sakura cherry blossom they are still very pretty and totally worth your time. The foremost shrine devoted to tenjin in kyoto, kitano tenmangu has about.
Nevertheless, plum blossom viewing remains a cherished japanese tradition associated with a variety of events nationwide such as outdoor tea ceremonies. It was later introduced to japan, korea, taiwan and vietnam. Baikasai plum blossom festival, 25th feb, 2021 japan cheapo. The southwest side of the park has a plum grove designed for the emperor that is now enjoyed by kyoto residents. Fragrant pink and white plum blossom blooming in the grounds of an ancient shinto shrine, kyoto s kitano tenmangu. Maybe the gorgeous plum blossom will inspire you to write poetry. Ume blossom kicks off the hanami season being the first occasion for the japanese to celebrate the beautiful arrival of spring.
Spring flowers in japan cherry, plum, and peach blossoms. The red and white flowers during the famous cherry blossom season japan come in different varieties. Plum flowers are delicate and fragrant and there are many plum viewing spots in japan, but one of the most famous spots is at the kitano tenmangu shrine in kyoto which has approximately 2000 plum trees. Kitano tenmangu shrine has a beautiful plum blossom grove of. Mar 19, 2017 early spring in japan is plum blossom season. Below is a list of some of kyotos most popular spots for cherry blossom viewing, including the typical timing for best viewing in the average year and japan ratings. There is the japanese flowering cherry as well as the yoshino cherry. In japan, you can enjoy taking part in ume matsuriplum festival and immerse yourself in their beauty. While most people think cherry blossom when considering the hanami season, it actually starts with the plum blossoms around the end of february. Plum blossoms mark the end of winter and the start of the spring season in.
Mar 07, 2019 the best place to view plum blossoms in kyoto city is at kitano tenmangu shrine. Jan 30, 2016 plum flowers herald spring and provide a perfect occasion for a picnic indicating that the cherry blossom season is not that far away. The best place to view plum blossoms in kyoto city is at kitano. The 5 best plum blossom viewing spots in the tokyo area.
The attraction of its gorgeous pink flowers can be observed around many shrines and temples across japan. Plum blossoms at kitanotenmangu shrine inside kyoto. Kyoto, which is popular during the seasons of cherry blossoms and autumn foliage, is also a great place to enjoy other v. During this time people are allowed into this plum forest, which usually is off limits. The ume, word for the japanese plum tree, begins blooming in midfebruary, whereas the peak season for viewing the sakura, or cherry blossom occurs in april the plum tree also offers a special treat not only are the flowers beautiful and especially fragrant, but they are surrounded by intriguing red or purple leaves on many tree varieties. A plum festival is held from february 15 to march 29, 2020. Mar 18, 2019 cherry blossom season usually lasts around 2 weeks and so there is only a short period that you are able to see the pretty blossoms. Plum blossoms may be difficult to distinguish from cherry and peach to the. In most areas of japan, including tokyo, they typically flower in february and march. A camellia and weeping plum festival takes place at the shrine in february and march. Umenomiya taisha in kyoto is a favorite spot for watching the first blossoms of the season, the plum blossoms. But possibly from next weekend, february 28th, there will be vivid and elegant plum flowers in kyoto. Blossom viewing season is from the beginning of february to the first part of march.
Starting in midfebruary and running until early march, the plums in kyoto burst into beautiful blossom. Upon arriving at kyoto in early morning, we left our luggage at the train station and headed to nijo castle, one of the popular sightseeing spots and known for the plum tree forest planted on one end of the castle ground. Lets explore the best time to view plum blossom in kyoto, ume matsuri, the best spots to view them. Feb 06, 2019 the ume flowers have a special significance for the japanese as it represents hope and vitality and signalize the beginning of the spring. I will be a great liar if i say plum blossom is seen only in china and japan. This, at the same time, means that spring is coming closer too. Discover the best time to go to kyoto to suit you with our rundown of kyoto events each month and what to expect from the kyoto weather when you get there. In fact, plum blossom viewing was more popular than cherry blossom viewing for a good part of ancient japans history prior to the heinan era. The best places to see plum blossoms in tokyo and beyond.
There is also a plum blossom festival held on here, a highlight of which is participating in tea ceremony performed by the maiko and geisha of the kamishichiken geisha district. Where to see plum blossoms in kyoto girljininjapan. Prunus mume originated around the yangtze river in the south of china. There are some plum blossoms in the shrine grounds, but the majority is in the western garden. At these festivals, you can look forward to food stalls usually featuring plum based food and umeshu plum wine alongside a range of festival activities like dances, music, and even archery. You can visit private gardens that open their doors during blossom season. Its popularity was eventually surpassed by that of the cherry tree the plum is associated with the start of spring, because plum blossoms are some of the first blossoms to open during the year. The plum is associated with the start of spring, because plum blossoms are some of the first blossoms to open during the year. Mar 28, 2015 over the centuries, plum blossoms have become less popular than cherry blossoms because sakura trees bloom in warmer weather. As for plum blossoms, the flowers start to bloom a lot earlier than cherry blossoms, usually starting around midfebruary depending on the variation.
What to do if you missed the cherry blossoms in kyoto. These photos were all taken in midmarch when the shrine is full of plum blossom. Introducing the 5 selected great places to view plum blossoms in kyoto. Now overshadowed by the cherry blossom, plums blossoms were once preferred. A large park surrounding the kyoto imperial palace that was the primary home of the emperor in the edoera when kyoto was the capital of japan. Less famous than the infamous sakura cherry blossom they are still very pretty and totally worth your. Around 90% of the japanese plum blossoms are red, adorning the grounds in very vivid color. Experience a geisha tea ceremony and plum blossom festival in. Plum blossoms at the kitano tenmangu shrine my kyoto machiya. Plum blossom season is very short just like cherry blossom. In nara period 710784 flower viewing was referred to plum blossom not the cherry blossom. The plum garden baien at kitanotenmangu shrine in northwest kyoto is the best place to see them.
As of this writing, it might be too early to visit the popular plum blossoms spots such as kitano tenmangu shrine. In fact, today february 22nd was almost warm compared to one week ago. Although cherry blossoms sakura get all the glory, japans blossom season starts in late february early march with the much more fragrant. Events such as plum viewings and tea ceremonies are also held around this time.
Mar 8, 2019 one often hears the people of japan saying that among flowers, their favorite is the plum. Cherry blossom season japan 2020 travel begins at 40. Plum, cherry, and peach blossoms the differences between them. If youre in kyoto during this season, be sure to keep your eye out for these cheerful flowers blooming despite the chill in the air.
Also, ushitenjin kitano shrine is said to have the only weeping plum blossom tree in tokyo. See also our nationwide list of famous cherry blossom spots. A fantastic opportunity to see one of kyotos most beautiful temples, with stunning plum blossom, tea ceremonies and even geisha this is. In the tokyo area, ume start to bloom as early as the beginning of. Mar 12, 2018 although cherry blossoms sakura get all the glory, japans blossom season starts in late february early march with the much more fragrant japanese plum trees ume. Ume, blooming in february, are much more hardy than their cherry tree sisters and so the season is slightly longer than the fleeting visit of salmonpink sakura petals. Rather, it spread to other east asian countries such as in korea, taiwan, and vietnam.
If youre in kyoto during this season, be sure to keep your eye out for these cheerful. In this post, i feature the things you should know before you arrive in kyoto to see ume. Here are a few photos captured around kitano tenmangu shrine, jonangu shrine and a special garden in mie prefecture, near kyoto. The 5 best places to see the fragrant plum blossoms of kyoto. The white, red, and pink plum blossoms color kyoto in their brilliant shades. Originally introduced from china, the japanese plum. Mar 14, 2017 with the cold weather still lingering we only caught the early part of the plum blossom season this year. The event is celebrated with plum festivals ume matsuri in public parks, shrines and temples across the country. Visit kyotos plum blossoms in february with yumeyakata oike. The grand plum festival is held during the plum blossom season each year from midfebruary to midmarch. The plum blossom season is the interlude for the cherry blossom season, but at jonangu erika found the plum blossoms so beautiful she forgot all about cherry blossoms.