It is the end of February and we already hit the time of plum blossoms with only one month left until famous cherry blossom season starts!
Today I want to introduce some gardens, which hosts great plum and/ or cherry trees!
The early plum blossoms in Japanese gardens are often underestimated. When the plums start to bloom it is the first sign that winter will soon be over. Only one more month to go!
Plum blossoms in Japanese gardens come in various shades, including pink, white, and even light green.
Plum blossoms have a very fragrant scent, unlike cherry. Another very special sight gives plums in snow. Yes, plums bloom so early that it often snows while they are in full bloom!
Top Japanese Gardens to View Plum and Cherry Blossoms
Kairakuen in Mito
This garden hosts one of the most famous plum blossom spots throughout Japan.
Sankeien in Yokohama
All around the pond and beneath the pagoda are plum trees.
There is a four-week long plum festival every year.
View our Sankeien video on YouTube.
Koishikawa Korakuen in Tokyo
Here we find an orchard with a great variety of plums.
eBook of Koishikawa Korakuen is available here
Mukojima Hyakkaen in Tokyo
Once hosted over 300 plum trees! Today there are only a few remaining, but is still a nice spot for viewing their flowers.
There is an „Ume matsuri“ festival and they have a flower calendar on their website. Find our eBook here.
Kyu-Furukawa teien in Tokyo
Only a small plum orchard here, but this garden is always worth a visit!
Our eBook is available on Payhip.
Kyoto Imperial Palace
There are over 500 trees of plum on the grounds and it is far less crowded that famous plum shrines in Kyoto.
Find our video in Kyoto Gosho on YouTube.
Nijo-jo in Kyoto
On its grounds is a small plum orchard with pink and white flowering plum trees.
Tenryu-ji in Kyoto
There are only two interesting plum trees in Tenryu-ji, but you will see a lot of other flowers as well. You might be lucky to not only enjoy camellia, wintersweet and Japanese quince, but also an early flowering cherry tree!
Ryoan-ji in Kyoto
Around the pond of Ryoan-ji (this temple is not only about the rock garden!) are 80 plum trees, which give a touch of colour here and there.
eBook of Ryoan-ji is available here
Ritsurin Garden in Takamatsu
There is a vast plum tree field on the grounds of the Ritsurin Garden where you can take nice photos with the sago palm trees. One more reason to visit this beautiful garden!
Plan your visit to these Japanese gardens during the plum and cherry blossom seasons to experience their full beauty. Feel free to share your garden pictures in the comments!
~ The pictures above do not stand in connection to the mentioned gardens. ~
Cherry Blossoms in February?
Even if you plan to avoid the masses during cherry blossom season and opt for the earlier plum blossoms, you do not need to miss out on Cherry blossoms!
There are a few early flowering varieties!
They can’t be completely compared to the Somei-Yoshino variety that’s flowering late March, but they are still beautiful!
The most famous spot for early sakura is in Atami, not far from Tokyo:
Acao Forest in Atami, Shizuoka prefecture
But you can also find trees in Yokohama
Mitsuike Park, Kanagawa
Close to Mt. Fuji
Nishihirabatake Park, Kanagawa
Or single trees in parks or along roads in Tokyo
Yoyogi Park, at Kyunaka River close to Hirai Station
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JAPANESE PLUMS AND SUGAWARA NO MICHIZANE
If one puts efforts into studying, the plum trees will bloom.
When searching for the origin of this quote, you will surely find the name Sugawara no Michizane or Tenman-Tenjin.
Sugawara no Michizane was a Heian period noble (794 – 1185) and excellent poet. His father and grandfather were both scholars and Sugawara no Michizane also entered this path and worked as a scholar at court.
Read more in our post here on our blog!
