In Japan, while cherry blossoms often capture the most attention, there's another equally stunning pink flower: the plum blossom.
The emergence of plum blossoms marks one of the earliest and most delightful signs of spring in Japan. Blooming in February, these blossoms serve as a splendid precursor to the cherry and other spring flowers set to follow.
Known as 'baika' in Japanese, plum blossoms can easily be mistaken for sakura. Yet, there are distinct differences that set these two exquisite flowers apart. Join us as we explore the best times and places to witness the plum blossoms in and around Tokyo!
Plum Trees in Japan
Not to be confused with the fruit known as ‘plum’ in English, ‘ume,’ the plums found in Japan come from an Asian tree species called ‘Prunus mume.’ It is also known as the Chinese plum or Japanese apricot.
In fact, it is very closely related to the apricot. The appearance of baika in late winter signals the changing of seasons, and a sign that warmer weather is on its way.
Japanese plum trees are famed not only for their flowers but also for their fruit, which is known as ‘ume.’ These plums are known for their sour flavor and are often pickled into ‘umeboshi’ to be used in various dishes or made into a popular liqueur called ‘umeshu,’ which is sometimes referred to as ‘plum wine’ in the West.
Top 10 Places to See Plum Blossoms Around Tokyo
1. Yushima Tenjin
Yushima Tenjin Shrine is said to have been constructed in 458. It was later devoted to the spirit of Michizane Sugawara, a politician and scholar. The precincts were selected by a famous Japanese ukiyo-e artist in the Edo era, Hiroshige Utagawa as a subject for his One Hundred Famous Views of Edo and was very popular as a recreation area for local Edo people. Plum trees were Michizane Sugawara’s favorite and approximately 300 plum trees are planted here and in the peak of blossoming, February, the shrine receives a lot of visitors.
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Address
3-30-1, Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0034
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Nearest Station
Yushima Station (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line)
2 minutes on foot
- Phone Number 03-3836-0753
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Address
3-30-1, Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0034
2. Koishikawa Korakuen Gardens
The garden was originally created by Yorifusa Tokugawa, the founding member of the Mito-Tokugawa family in the early Edo period (1603-1868). It is a circuit pond garden with an artificial hill blessed with the beauty of trees and water. The pond (Daisensui) is the center of the landscape and represents Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture, and it is said that people used to enjoy boating on the pond in the old days. In the garden is a big 70-year-old tree of weeping cherry, which creates impressive scenery when it blooms in spring. Seasonal colors such as plum and cherry blossoms, Japanese irises, and autumn foliage make the garden landscape even more magnificent.
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Address
1, Kouraku, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 112-0004
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Nearest Station
Iidabashi Station (JR Chuo Main Line / Tokyo Metro Tozai Line / Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line / Tokyo Metro Namboku Line / Toei Oedo Line)
8 minutes on foot
- Phone Number 03-3811-3015
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Address
1, Kouraku, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 112-0004
3. Kameido Tenjin Shrine
The Kameido Tenjin Shrine is where Michizane Sugawara is enshrined. This site has been known for its wisteria flowers since the Edo Period, and flower calendars for different seasons are available. The Ume (Japanese plum) Festival is held between late February and early March, when about 300 red-and-white Japanese plum blossoms bloom. Also of note are three bridges — Otoko-bashi (male bridge), Taira-bashi (flat bridge) and Onna-bashi (female bridge) — that symbolize the past, present and future.
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Address
3-6-1, Kameido, Koutou-ku, Tokyo, 136-0071
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Nearest Station
Kameido Station (Tobu Kameido Line / JR Sobu Line)
14 minutes on foot
- Phone Number 03-3681-0010
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Address
3-6-1, Kameido, Koutou-ku, Tokyo, 136-0071
4. Sankeien Garden
The garden was created and opened in 1906 by Sankei Hara, who made a fortune in the silk-reeling industry and from silk trading. Inside the spacious Japanese garden, old historical buildings moved from Kyoto and Kamakura (ten of National Important Cultural Properties, three of Tangible Cultural Properties designated by Yokohama) are neatly placed. You can enjoy the historical buildings such as the three-story pagoda from old Tomyoji, tea houses and houses with steep rafter roofs along with views in harmony with around 600 plum trees.
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Address
58-1, Honmokusannotani, Naka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa, 231-0824
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Nearest Station
Negishi Station (JR Negishi Line)
10 minutes by bus
- Phone Number 045-621-0634
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Address
58-1, Honmokusannotani, Naka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa, 231-0824
5. Hanegi Park
Located on Tokyo's west side, this municipal park is home to the Setagaya Plum Blossom Festival (Setagaya Ume Matsuri), which takes place from February until early March. Although the park is somewhat on the small side, it has around 650 plum trees, making for a beautiful scene.
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Hanegi Park羽根木公園
- Address 4-38-52 Daita, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 1550033 Japan
6. Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
Shinjuku Gyoen is a spacious garden that was established in 1906 as an Imperial Garden. It consists of three distinct styles: an expansive Landscape Garden, a symmetrically arranged Formal Garden, and a calm Japanese Traditional Garden. These well-designed gardens are said to be a masterpiece of garden landscapes in Japan. About 300 plum trees bloom here.
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Address
11 Naito-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0014
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Nearest Station
Shinjuku-Gyoemmae Station (Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line)
5 minutes on foot
- Phone Number 03-3350-0151
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Address
11 Naito-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0014
7. Ushi-Tenjin Kitano Shrine
Said to have been founded in 1184, Ushi-Tenjin Kitano Shrine has around 300 plum trees. Around 90% of the Japanese plum blossoms are red, adorning the grounds in a very vivid color. Also, Ushi-Tenjin Kitano Shrine is said to have the only weeping plum blossom tree in Tokyo. During its plum festival, which starts in early February, the shrine offers plum-shaped sweets and a non-alcoholic rice drink called 'amazake.'
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Ushi-Tenjin Kitano Shrine牛天神北野神社
- Address 1 Chome-5-2 Kasuga, Bunkyo City, Tokyo 112-0003
8. Keio Mogusaen
Originally a temple garden, Keio Mogusaen has breathtaking hilltop views of the neighboring area and is best known for its 500 plum trees which bloom in early February to mid-March.
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Keiō-mogusaen京王百草園
- Address 560 Mogusa, Hino, Tokyo 191-0033
9. Atami Plum Garden
Opened in 1886, Atami Plum Garden has 464 apricot trees from 58 different species planted in the garden. Some of them start to bloom as early as mid-December. Apricot festivals are held from early January to early March every year, and the peak of the flower-viewing season is from late January to mid-February.
In 2024, the Atami Plum Garden Festival will take place from January 6 to March 3. For details, see the official website
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Address
8-11, Baiencho, Atami-shi, Shizuoka, 413-0032
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Nearest Station
Kinomiya Station (JR Ito Line / JR Ueno Tokyo Line)
10 minutes on foot
- Phone Number 0557-86-6218
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Address
8-11, Baiencho, Atami-shi, Shizuoka, 413-0032
10. Odawara Plum Festival (Odawara)
This event is held at two locations: 'Soga Plum Grove,' one of the three great plum groves in the Kanto region, and 'Odawara Castle Ruins Park,' both with views of Mount Fuji. Soga Plum Grove features about 35,000 white plum trees in bloom, with shops selling local specialties and plums, and a restaurant open during the festival. There are also walking trails where visitors can enjoy views of Sagami Bay and Mount Fuji. In Odawara Castle Ruins Park, around 250 red and white plum trees bloom against the backdrop of the castle tower, the copper gate, and the Tokiwa-bashi Bridge, and the 'Risshun Blue Sky Haiku Gathering' takes place. During the festival, local performing arts like the longevity lion dance and festival music are showcased. Additionally, stalls selling sweet sake, oden, local specialties like pickled plums, and plum jam are set up at each venue.
Moreover, at the Odawara Flower Garden, visitors can enjoy about 200 varieties and around 480 trees of early and late-blooming red and white plum blossoms. Tsujimura Botanical Park focuses on late-blooming white plum trees, with about 570 trees for viewing.
Event Details
・Venue: Soga Plum Grove & Odawara Castle Ruins Park
・Dates: February 3 to 29, 2024
・Hours: Varies by venue
・Admission: Free
・Days Closed: Open daily during the event
・Phone Number: 0465-20-4192 (Odawara City Tourist Association)
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Soga Plum GroveSoga District, Odawara City, Kanagawa Prefecture, 250-0206
- Address 曽我梅林
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Address
6-1, Jonai, Odawara-shi, Kanagawa, 250-0014
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Nearest Station
Odawara Station (Tokaido Shinkansen Line / JR Tokaido Main Line / JR Shonan Shinjuku Line / JR Ueno Tokyo Line / Odakyu Odawara Line / Hakone Tozan Railway / Izuhakone Railway Daiyuzan Line)
10 minutes on foot
- Phone Number 0465-23-1373
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Address
6-1, Jonai, Odawara-shi, Kanagawa, 250-0014
- Tokyo
- Around January 9
- Yokohama
- Around January 15
- Sapporo (Hokkaido)
- Around April 15*
- Sendai
- Around March 4*
- Osaka
- Around February 22*
- Kyoto
- Around February 28*
- Fukuoka
- Around January 11
- Notes
- Dates are according to Japan Meteorological Agency data. (*Asterisked dates are for 2023 and for reference. On average, 2024 blooms are approximately 10-14 days earlier than 2023.)
6 Ways to tell plum blossoms and cherry blossoms apart
To the untrained eye, it can be quite easy to mistake baika for sakura. Once you understand a few of the major differences, however, there should be little difficulty distinguishing between the two flowers.
1. Timing: The first difference between the two is the time of flowering; plum blossoms typically appear before cherry blossoms (February to mid-March), although there may be some overlap. The first baika can be seen as early as February, while sakura usually blooms later on in the spring season.
2. Petals: One of the easiest ways to tell the two flowers apart is by their petals. Cherry blossoms are known to have a split at each petal tip, while plum blossoms always have a rounded petal tip. In addition, look at the blossom position: plum flowers tend to stick up directly from the branches.
3. Buds: A single bud from a cherry tree can have multiple flowers grow from it. A plum blossom bud will only have a single flower. The shape of the buds as different as well; sakura buds are oval-shaped and baika buds are round.
4. Bark: The bark of cherry trees are typically light grey, with horizontal lines called lenticels. Plum trees, which lack lenticels, are typically a much darker brown color.
5. Tree Shape: When viewed from a distance, plum trees tend to have somewhat of an oval shape, while cherry trees will have more of an umbrella shape.
6. Fragrance: Plum blossoms have a stronger, sweeter scent. Sakura, on the other hand, has a sweet, but much fainter aroma.
With these points in mind, you can enjoy the beauty of both flowers, and have an even greater appreciation for baika, the underrated star of Japan’s ‘hanami’ (flower viewing) season!
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- Category
*Prices and options mentioned are subject to change.
*Unless stated otherwise, all prices include tax.
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