The viewing season for most regions of japan is from january to late march depending on the region and plum tree variety. The best place to view plum blossoms in kyoto city is at kitano. During the flower viewing season, they open a teahouse in the garden where visitors can enjoy a cup of ume cha plum tea and a japanese sweet. 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. Erika sharing kyoto staff jonangu shrine in fushimi ward is one of the most famous places to see plum blossoms in kyoto. A plum festival is held from february 15 to march 29, 2020. Still, plum trees bloom slightly longer and are usually visible from the colder month of february down through march. 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. As for plum blossoms, the flowers start to bloom a lot earlier than cherry blossoms, usually starting around midfebruary depending on the variation. As of this writing, it might be too early to visit the popular plum blossoms spots such as kitano tenmangu shrine. Plum blossom at jonangu in kyoto 2021 februarymarch. This is the biggest fruitbearing plum forest in joyo, kyoto prefecture.
During its plum festival, which starts in early february, the shrine offers plum shaped sweets and a nonalcoholic rice drink called amazake. Baikasai plum blossom festival, 25th feb, 2021 japan cheapo. Sakura trees bloom everywhere in the spring, with their pink flowers giving japans streets a brand new complexion. In fact, today february 22nd was almost warm compared to one week ago. But also other fruit trees are well worth viewing such as the blooming apricot, prune and plum trees. In most areas of japan, including tokyo, they typically flower in february and march. The foremost shrine devoted to tenjin in kyoto, kitano tenmangu has about. This, at the same time, means that spring is coming closer too. But possibly from next weekend, february 28th, there will be vivid and elegant plum flowers in kyoto. See also our nationwide list of famous cherry blossom spots. Events such as plum viewings and tea ceremonies are also held around this time. Kyoto, which is popular during the seasons of cherry blossoms and autumn foliage, is also a great place to enjoy other v. These photos were all taken in midmarch when the shrine is full of plum blossom. I will be visiting osaka from 16 march onwards and am hoping to catch the plum blossom.
You can view sakura all over japan when its season begins but it is impossible to find ume blossom everywhere. Prunus mume originated around the yangtze river in the south of china. Best cherry blossom spots in kyoto kyoto hanami spots. Originally introduced from china, the japanese plum. Less famous than the infamous sakura cherry blossom they are still very pretty and totally worth your. You can visit private gardens that open their doors during blossom season. There is the japanese flowering cherry as well as the yoshino cherry. Kitano tenmangu shrine has a beautiful plum blossom grove of. Plum, cherry, and peach blossoms the differences between them. Mar 8, 2019 one often hears the people of japan saying that among flowers, their favorite is the plum. 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.
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. So lets take a look at the 5 best plum blossom viewing spots and events in kyoto. I will be a great liar if i say plum blossom is seen only in china and japan. Cherry blossom season japan 2020 travel begins at 40. There are some plum blossoms in the shrine grounds, but the majority is in the western garden.
In japan, you can enjoy taking part in ume matsuriplum festival and immerse yourself in their beauty. Plum blossoms mark the end of winter and the start of the spring season in. 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. What to do if you missed the cherry blossoms in kyoto. Maybe the gorgeous plum blossom will inspire you to write poetry. Mar 28, 2015 over the centuries, plum blossoms have become less popular than cherry blossoms because sakura trees bloom in warmer weather. 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. And some shrines and temples have events in their gardens, where you get to see the plum blossoms at their absolute best. 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.
Lets explore the best time to view plum blossom in kyoto, ume matsuri, the best spots to view them. Although cherry blossoms sakura get all the glory, japans blossom season starts in late february early march with the much more fragrant. 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. Starting in midfebruary and running until early march, the plums in kyoto burst into beautiful blossom. 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. 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. Blossom viewing season is from the beginning of february to the first part of march. If you had to pick a flower to represent japan, it would be the sakura cherry blossom.
Plum blossoms may be difficult to distinguish from cherry and peach to the. A camellia and weeping plum festival takes place at the shrine in february and march. Mar 19, 2017 early spring in japan is plum blossom season. In the tokyo area, ume start to bloom as early as the beginning of. In tokyo, the following spots are amongst the best places to find. I absolutely admire its utmost beauty, and hunting plum blossom in kyoto is an amazing outdoor experience. 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. 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. The grand plum festival is held during the plum blossom season each year from midfebruary to midmarch. If youre in kyoto during this season, be sure to keep your eye out for these cheerful.
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. Introducing the 5 selected great places to view plum blossoms in kyoto. 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. In nara period 710784 flower viewing was referred to plum blossom not the cherry blossom. There are about 500 hundred plum trees at this shrine and some 40 varieties. It was later introduced to japan, korea, taiwan and vietnam. Around 90% of the japanese plum blossoms are red, adorning the grounds in very vivid color. The 5 best plum blossom viewing spots in the tokyo area. The 5 best places to see the fragrant plum blossoms of kyoto.
The plum is associated with the start of spring, because plum blossoms are some of the first blossoms to open during the year. Experience a geisha tea ceremony and plum blossom festival in. 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. In this post, i feature the things you should know before you arrive in kyoto to see ume. 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. You can admire many flowering plum trees in kyoto at kitano. The white, red, and pink plum blossoms color kyoto in their brilliant shades. The best places to see plum blossoms in tokyo and beyond. During this time people are allowed into this plum forest, which usually is off limits.
Plum blossom season is very short just like cherry blossom. Here are a few photos captured around kitano tenmangu shrine, jonangu shrine and a special garden in mie prefecture, near kyoto. 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. The attraction of its gorgeous pink flowers can be observed around many shrines and temples across japan. The red and white flowers during the famous cherry blossom season japan come in different varieties. Japans emperor used to held plum blossom viewing party each year. 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. Indeed, the plum trees are the first ones to delight us with their beautiful white, pinks and red flowers that smell so strongly. Less famous than the infamous sakura cherry blossom they are still very pretty and totally worth your time.
The plum garden baien at kitanotenmangu shrine in northwest kyoto is the best place to see them. A fantastic opportunity to see one of kyotos most beautiful temples, with stunning plum blossom, tea ceremonies and even geisha this is. Ume blossom kicks off the hanami season being the first occasion for the japanese to celebrate the beautiful arrival of spring. Also, ushitenjin kitano shrine is said to have the only weeping plum blossom tree in tokyo. 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. Nevertheless, plum blossom viewing remains a cherished japanese tradition associated with a variety of events nationwide such as outdoor tea ceremonies. Rather, it spread to other east asian countries such as in korea, taiwan, and vietnam. Plum blossoms at the kitano tenmangu shrine my kyoto machiya. While most people think cherry blossom when considering the hanami season, it actually starts with the plum blossoms around the end of february. Fragrant pink and white plum blossom blooming in the grounds of an ancient shinto shrine, kyoto s kitano tenmangu. Mar 07, 2019 the best place to view plum blossoms in kyoto city is at kitano tenmangu shrine. Hi, i would like to check if the plum blossom season has started in osaka. 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. 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.
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