Where To See The Best Plum Blossoms In Tokyo!
Suddenly, on the busy shopping street of Kappabashi-dori: these!
It shouldn’t surprise you by now that I’m a total, total sucker for plum blossoms. I mean, up close, the flowers are much more beautiful than cherry blossoms. And you gotta admire that the damn things even bloom in the snow. I mean, they famously bloom in the snow (eight kerbillion haiku can’t be wrong.)
So, here are my favorite places in Tokyo to see them, from mid-February to March!
GOTOKU-JI TEMPLE
This temple also has a boatload of lucky cat figures & an awesome wooden pagoda.
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KITANO SHRINE
This is a small shrine near Koraku-en, but it’s really glorious in plum blossom season. As a bonus, it has a cow-shaped rack for tying your unwanted fortunes to.
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YUSHIMA SHRINE
This is one of the most beautiful shrines in Tokyo, and it not only has a ton of plum trees, it has a festival to celebrate them, from Feb 6 – Mar 6.
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KORAKUEN GARDEN
The plum grove at my favorite Tokyo garden blooms early and often. Lots of different kinds, plus the rest of the garden is beautiful too.
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SHINJUKU GYOUEN GARDEN
There’s a grove of many different kinds of plum trees in the traditional Japanese garden area, by the tea house. It never disappoints.
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HAMA-RIKYU TEIEN GARDEN
Thanks to Japan Travel for the picture – this garden is famous for its plum blossoms, but I have yet to hit it at the right time for good pix! (>
I’m kicking myself for not having made it to Hama-rikyu to see the plum trees yet. But please beat me to it, because I hear it’s spectacular!
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UMEGAOKA PARK
This isn’t a very scenic garden – more of a hill planted with hundreds of plum trees – but it awes by sheer volume and variety. And it’s about a three minute walk from the train station so: no excuses
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OKURAYAMA PARK
This park is a bit of a schlep in the Yokohama direction, but it’s well worth it in plum blossom season.
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ARISUGAWA PARK
Tucked away in Hiroo, on the highest hill in this jewel of a park, is a lovely circle of plum trees. It’s a nice place to rest and enjoy.
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Jonelle Patrick is the author of the Only In Tokyo mystery series, published by Penguin/Intermix.
