Top 10 Places to Admire Plum Blossoms in Japan
- Published on : 29/01/2026
- by : Phoebe
- Youtube
Fleurs de prunier
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As winter fades, Japan blossoms with the delicate hues of plum flowers. To celebrate the return of fair weather, Japan Experience invites you on a journey to 10 must-see spots, from the northern tip to the southern reaches of the archipelago, to admire the first signs of spring.
1.Kairaku-en garden (Ibaraki)
The Mito Plum Blossom Festival has been held annually for over 120 years at Kairaku-en, one of Japan’s three most beautiful gardens. Located in Ibaraki Prefecture, this 13-hectare strolling garden was designed in 1841 at the request of the great daimyō Tokugawa Nariaki before being opened to the public as a place of relaxation and contemplation.
Renowned for its plum trees, Kairaku-en Garden is home to over 3,000 trees across 100 varieties, with blooms unfolding from January to April. This makes it the perfect destination for anyone eager to admire the delicate ume (plum blossoms) as winter fades.
Practical Information
Address: 1-3-3 Tokiwacho, Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture, 310-0033
Access: 1 hour 15 minutes by train via the JR Jōban Line from Ueno Station (Tokyo)
Blooming Season: January to March, with peak blooms from mid-February to early March
Kairaku-en
@JNTO
2.Ogose Plum Festival (Chichibu)
With nearly 25,000 plum trees, Ogose is a small town highly cherished in spring. In February, the ume orchards dominate the landscape, reflecting a tradition tied to the production of umeboshi (pickled plums), which were already traded in the region during the Edo period. Ogose Bairin Park, near Umezono Shrine, brings together over 1,000 plum trees across two hectares, some of which are centuries old and still cultivated for umeboshi production. Stroll through the town in search of the blossoms, and along the way, be sure not to miss tasting the local specialties.
Festival des pruniers de Ogose
@Japan Experience
Practical Information
Address: 900-2 Ogose, Ogose-machi, Iruma-gun, Saitama 350-0494
Access: 1 hour 30 minutes by train via the Tobu Tojo Line and Tobu Ogose Line from Ikebukuro Station (Tokyo)
Blooming Season: From February to early March
Dreaming of exploring Japan’s plum blossoms? Think JR Pass for smart, seamless travel across the archipelago!
The Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass) is a unique all-in-one pass that grants unlimited access to the JR (Japan Railways) network across Japan for 7, 14, or 21 days. It’s by far the most cost-effective and convenient option for anyone looking to explore Japan by train.
Shinkansen
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3.Hanegi Park (Tokyo)
In Tokyo, Hanegi Park is a beloved spot with 600 plum trees in full bloom. Every year, from mid-February to early March, a festival celebrates the beauty of spring, complete with food stalls. It’s an event you won’t want to miss if you’re in the capital!
Practical Information
Address: 4 Chome-38-52 Daita, Setagaya City, Tokyo 155-0033
Access: 15 minutes by train from Shinjuku Station via the Odakyu Line
Blooming Season: From mid-February to early March
Pruniers au parc Hanegi (Tokyo)
@Unsplash
4.Yushima Tenjin Shrine (Tokyo)
Founded in 458, in the heart of the Bunkyo district, the Shinto shrine Yushima Tenjin (also known as Yushima Tenmangu) attracts many students who come to pray for success in their studies.
In spring, these students mingle with flower lovers. And for good reason: the shrine is home to over 300 plum trees in full bloom. A festival is even held there, featuring tea ceremonies, traditional music concerts, and plum wine tastings beneath the pink petals.
Practical information
Address: 3 Chome-30-1 Yushima, Bunkyo City, Tokyo 113-0034
Access: 3-minute walk from Yushima Station on the Chiyoda subway line
Blooming Season: Mid-February to early March
Festival des pruniers de Yushima Tenjin (Tokyo)
@Guilhem Vellut on Flickr, CC BY 2.0
5.Odawara Ume Matsuri (Kanagawa)
In Odawara, the end of winter is marked by the blooming of more than 35,000 plum trees! Celebrated every February for nearly 50 years, the Odawara Plum Festival holds festivities across two sites in the city:
- Soga Bairin: Composed of three gardens (Nakagawara, Bessho, and Hara), this outdoor area hosts the majority of the events and offers an enchanting landscape of white and pink plum blossoms, with Mount Fuji as a backdrop.
Practical Information
Address: Sogabetsusho, Odawara, Kanagawa 250-0205
Access: A 15-minute walk from JR Shimo-Soga Station (Gotemba Line)
Blooming Season: February
- Joshi Park: Located around Odawara Castle, Joshi Park is home to approximately 250 plum trees. Their branches frame the castle keep, creating a setting that is a favorite among photographers.
Practical Information
Address: 6-1 Jonai, Odawara, Kanagawa 250-0014
Access: à 10 minutes à pied de la gare JR Odawara
Blooming Season: de février à début mars
Le château d'Odawara au printemps (ici, avec des cerisiers en fleurs)
@JNTO
6.Atami Baien Park (Shizuoka)
Established at the end of the 19th century, Atami Baien Park (Atami Plum Garden) hosts the very first plum blossoms in the country every winter.
With over 730 trees blooming from December to March, the garden offers a delicate spectacle that is especially popular at the end of January. The site is also home to an impressive, thousand-year-old camphor tree, next to which sits a small shrine reputed to prolong one's life.
Practical Information
Address: 8-11 Baiencho, Atami, Shizuoka 413-0032
Access: A 15-minute bus ride from Atami Station
Blooming Season: From December to March (peaking in January)
Parc Inabe Bairin
@JNTO
From Tokyo to Shizuoka, consider using regional passes to explore the Kanto region!
7.Kitano Tenmangu Shrine (Kyoto)
Located northwest of Kyoto, not far from the Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji), the Kitano Tenmangu Shinto Shrine, dedicated to the poet Sugawara no Michizane, is renowned for its plum trees. From February to late March, over 1,500 trees across fifty different varieties adorn the grounds. Every February 25th, on the anniversary of Michizane’s passing, the Baikasai ceremony is held. This event honors the blossoming plum trees and commemorates the poet's memory with an outdoor tea ceremony served by geiko and maiko. It is a rare experience and a must-see if you are visiting the ancient capital.
Kitano Tenmangu (Kyoto)
@Wikimedia, libre de droit
Practical Information
Address: Bakurocho, Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto, 602-8386
Access: From JR Kyoto Station, take Express Bus 101 to the Kitano Tenmangu stop (approx. 30 minutes).
Blooming Season: From February to late March
Discover the art of the geisha with Japan Experience!
8.Tenma Tenjin (Osaka)
In the heart of Osaka, the Osaka Tenmangu Shinto Shrine hosts its annual plum blossom festival—a bucolic event featuring a wide range of cultural activities, including shinobue flute concerts, Noh theater, an umeshu (plum wine) market, parades, and sumi-e (ink wash painting) workshops, among others. Gourmet food stalls round out the festivities, notably featuring plum-flavored udon and umenokimochi—a plum blossom mochi offered to the shrine's deities.
Practical Information
Address: 2-1-8 Tenjinbashi, Kita, Osaka, 530-0041
Access: Close to Osaka Tenmangu Station (JR Tozai Line)
Blooming Season: February
Pruniers en fleurs
@征宇 郑 on Pexels
9. Inabe Bairin Park (Mie)
Nestled in the Suzuka Mountains, Inabe Bairin Park hosts its annual plum festival, a highly popular event in the region. From mid-February to mid-March, more than 4,000 plum trees spread across 80,000 m², blanketing the park in soft colors. Visitors can admire the blossoms while enjoying local plum-based specialties, all with a stunning view of the surrounding mountains in the distance.
Practical Information
Address: 717 Fujiwaracho Kanae, Inabe, Mie 511-0501
Access: A 55-minute drive from Hikone Station
Blooming Season: From mid-February to mid-March
Parc Inabe Bairin
@JNTO
10. Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine (Fukuoka)
Dazaifu Tenmangu is famous for its legendary Tobiume, the "Flying Plum Tree," which is said to have flown all the way from Kyoto to join its master, Sugawara no Michizane, during his exile in Dazaifu.
Today, the shrine is home to nearly 6,000 plum trees across 200 different varieties, including the Tobiume, which has stood prominently in front of the main building for over a thousand years. Throughout the festival, visitors can look forward to tastings of umegae-mochi (a plum-stamped mochi filled with red bean paste) and recitations of waka poetry.
Practical Information
Address: 4 Chome-7-1 Saifu, Dazaifu, Fukuoka 818-0117
Access: Close to Dazaifu Station (Nishitetsu Line)
Blooming Season : From January to March
Umegae-mochi
@tenjinsite.jp
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