Japan plum blossom season 2015

The ume flowers have a special significance for the japanese as it represents hope and vitality and signalize the beginning of the spring. Above average temperatures have seen the cherry blossoms reach full bloom sooner than expected in many places on the main island of. I saw lots of people admiring flowers in the rain, praying for good fortune. Plum blossoms are definitely a mustsee when in china. Spring flowers in japan cherry, plum, and peach blossoms. Plum blossom season starts in late january and lasts until march in japan. We went to kairakuen for the plum blossom festival, ate delicious yakiniku, then i finished off in an ox. In japan, you can enjoy taking part in ume matsuriplum festival and immerse yourself in their beauty. Five ways to enjoy japanese plums or ume taiken japan.

The pum blossoms are really magnificent in its season. Mito plum blossom festival japan monthly web magazine. The plum blossom originated in southern china around 3,000 years ago and has become one of the most famous flowers in the whole of china. 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. Japan s early spring season offers you to explore its ume matsuri plum blossom festival. Dont be disappointed if youll be missing the popular sakura cherry blossoms, because you can admire the plum blossoms in tokyo instead, while avoiding the crowds.

It appears in late winter when snow starts melting. Plum blossoms, also known as ume in japanese, are delicate flowers that start to bloom in february. Midfebruary is the start of spring and the beginning of the plum blossom season. Japan travel news news story and travel report archives.

In this season of ume, enjoy viewing various varieties of the plum blossoms and taste the ume. Plum blossoms are on display in and around tokyos parks, gardens and shrines. Significantly it has an important role in japanese culture. Famous spots where lots of plum trees are planted can be found everywhere in japan and many events are held to enjoy the plum blossoms in february and march. Prunus mume originated in the south of mainland china around the yangtze river and was later introduced to japan, korea, taiwan and vietnam. Blossom viewing season is from the beginning of february to the first part of march. Plum blossom is the sign of ending deadly cold winter and beginning of early spring. Ume blossom kicks off the hanami season being the first occasion for the japanese to celebrate the beautiful arrival of spring. Feb 05, 2017 preparations for the plum blossom festival that began soon in the precincts of yushima tenjin were under way. Mar 15, 2020 one often hears the people of japan saying that among flowers, their favorite is the plum. Mito plum blossom festival, the harbinger of spring japan. 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. Japans emperor used to held plum blossom viewing party each year.

I will be a great liar if i say plum blossom is seen only in china and japan. So, around this time of year, i get to thinking about how everybody is about to crowd into japan to see the fluffy pink things, but that cherry blossom season is far from the only time that this place delivers yowzahlevel flower extravaganzas. They start blooming while it is still cold, and plum flowers are a pleasant herald of the coming spring. Japanese plum blossoms, or ume, have captured the imagination in japan since the nara period when the custom of plum blossom viewing began amongst the countrys aristocracy. In fact, plum blossom viewing was more popular than cherry blossom viewing for a good part of ancient japan s history prior to the heian era. Called baika in japanese, plum blossoms can easily be mistaken for sakura. If we go by 1st week of may, which city do we go to to catch this cherry blossom season. The plum is associated with the start of spring, because plum blossoms are some of the first blossoms to open during the year. Plum blandy festival is held in march and you can drink them in the park. During the plum blossom season, stops are also made at the kairakuen station, very close to the garden. Mar 04, 2015 the plum blossom garden there features thousands of plum trees with their red flowers have turned the garden into a huge rich red natural brocade. Numerous cherry blossom festivals are held each year. Sakura trees bloom everywhere in the spring, with their pink flowers giving japan s streets a brand new complexion. A plum blossom viewing festival is held here every february, when 30,000 white plum blossoms come to life.

In the tokyo area, ume start to bloom as early as the beginning of. Kairakuen, located north of tokyo in ibaraki prefecture, is one of japan s top three most noted gardens. Where to see the best plum blossoms in tokyo jonelle. The blooming plum trees are known and loved in japan as the first sign of spring. Plum trees bloom earlier than sakura, and flowerviewing parties and events are held in places like japanese gardens. The event is celebrated with plum festivals ume matsuri in public parks, shrines and temples across the country. Go on an outing filled with vivid plum blossoms and camellia. Cherry blossoms in japan 2015 japan forum tripadvisor. Ume is having a great part in the japanese cuisine and it is considered as a gastrointestinal cleanser.

Although most often associated with the cherry blossom, japan boasts a rich variety of dazzling flowers displays. Plum blossom in japan ume matsuri 2021 japanese plum ume blossoms bring an important message for all of us that spring is coming very soon. The garden features a forest of 3000 trees of over one hundred different plum tree varieties with white, pink and red blossoms. About 1 hour and half by express train from ueno station in tokyo. As mentioned previously, plum blossoms come out a little earlier than most other spring flowers, typically while the weather is still mild and a bit chilly. The national flower of china is plum blossom also known as prunus scientific name or prunus mume. My family is planning a trip to japan in 2015 and we would like to go there during the cherry blossom season. Kairakuen is a large garden in mito, a little more than an hour north. It was later introduced to japan, korea, taiwan and vietnam. The winter cousin of the sakura many people know about japan s cherry blossoms called sakura, but much fewer people know about sakuras little cousin, the ume plum tree, which goes in bloom earlier, in the late part of winter. Yushima tenjin plum blossom season time lapse youtube. The attraction of its gorgeous pink flowers can be observed around many shrines and temples across japan. 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.

To admire the plum blossoms in tokyo, go to umeno koen, or plum park. Plum blossom season has arrived to tokyo, as hotter temperatures has caused them to bloom slightly. Use your japan rail pass for the onehour ride north of tokyo to mito station. 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. Many people flock to plum viewing areas to enjoy the best views, picnics and celebrations. There is also a plum blossom ume festival at the shrine from 8. An extensive plum tree grove makes up a considerable part of kairakuen. Plum, cherry, and peach blossoms the differences between them. Its true, cherry blossoms tend to overshadow japan s other stunning flowers. B lossom time has its own distinct season, breaking the hold of winter. February, march plum blossoms in tokyo here are the best.

This years cherry blossom forecast has seen the cherry blossoms open earlier than the average schedule in many parts of the country due to the recent warm weather in japan. Im a graduate of stanford university and the sendagaya japanese institute in tokyo, and a member of the international thriller writers, the mystery writers of america, and sisters in crime. You can visit private gardens that open their doors during blossom season. Japans early spring season offers you to explore its ume matsuri plum blossom. Finding thrills on plum blossom hill the japan times.

The winter cousin of the sakura many people know about japans cherry blossoms called sakura, but much fewer people know about sakuras little cousin, the ume plum tree, which goes in bloom earlier, in the late part of winter. Plum blossoms may be difficult to distinguish from cherry and peach to the untrained eye, and similarly to those other flowering trees they have a somewhat short lifespan. While the weather may not be as warm as the season for cherry blossoms, plum blossom viewing can be just as enjoyable. Everyone is familiar with the japan s sakura cherry blossom season in latemarch to midapril, but there is another beautiful flower in japan. Plum blossoms herald the coming of spring in tohoku. The plum garden baien at kitanotenmangu shrine in northwest kyoto is the best place to see them. In nara period 710784 flower viewing was referred to plum blossom not the cherry blossom.

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. If you are planning to japan in early spring to see beautiful plum blossoms, then you should be familiar with the best ume. Lets have a look at this unique baikasai matsuri festival dedicated to plums held in kitano tenmangu shrine. Cherry blossom forecast japan 2015 japan travel advice. In most large cities like tokyo, kyoto and osaka, the cherry blossom season normally. However, in japan, the umeplum flower is actually the first sign of spring as they blossom around february way before the cherry blossoms do. From the middle of february to the middle of march, there are many plum blossom festivals and viewing locations all over japan. The mito plum blossom festival is held from february 20th to march 31st every year with 3,000 trees of around 100 varieties of plum blossoms in full bloom in the garden. Melburnians are proud of our characteristic climate and, also, i am personally intrigued by the sound of the phrase itself but not by the actual climate, just the phrase.

The holes in the floor are common in public places. There are over 120 different species of plum, ranging from red to white and offering an unforgettable fragrance. Mar 28, 2015 2020 plum blossoms in tokyo posted by john spacey, march 28, 2015 japanese plum blossoms, or ume, have captured the imagination in japan since the nara period when the custom of plum blossom viewing began amongst the countrys aristocracy. Festivals are held throughout japan during this blooming season. During plum blossom season there is a special train line that runs from mito to kairakuen.

If you had to pick a flower to represent japan, it would be the sakura cherry blossom. There are numbers of great places with plum trees in japan, and also plum blossom festivals are held across the country from mid february through march. However, plum blossoms in tokyo, which typically bloom in late february to signal the start of spring, are a delight in their own right and should not be overlooked. From a distance, the garden can look like rosy clouds in a summer sky. In japan, however, february is when the first signs of spring start to appear. In tokyo, the plum blossom viewing season generally lasts from midfebruary to midmarch.

At the height of the plum blossom season, visitors flock to the area to enjoy the umenosato festival. Like cherry trees, plum trees come in many varieties, many of which were cultivated by humans over the centuries. Long beloved in japan, plum blossoms have great history and a medley of cultural values. Jan 30, 2016 plum flowers herald spring and provide a perfect occasion for a picnic indicating that the cherry blossom season is not that far away. These stunningly beautiful seasonal pink flowers from. For those not familiar with plum blossoms, they can easily be mistaken for sakura. Hanami, flower viewing is the japanese traditional custom of enjoying the transient beauty of flowers. The pure and light beauty of plum flowers makes many people think of cherryblossom, even confuse plum with cherryblossom. It is also known as one of the four junzi gentlemen or noble ones often referred to in chinese art the other three are the orchid, the chrysanthemum and the bamboo. Prunus mume originated around the yangtze river in the south of china. Most plum blossoms have five petals and range in color from white to dark pink. Cherry blossom miura coast sakura festival japan duration.

Odawara castle park and soga bairin host a famous plum blossom festival called odawara ume matsuri in early february. Any time of year, shinjuku gyouen never disappoints. Ume blossoms flower in late winter on a tree with no leaves while the surroundings are still stuck in winter. The 5 best plum blossom viewing spots in the tokyo area.

A crash course on tokyos plum blossoms all about japan. One of the most famous is the mito plum blossom festival at kairakuen in mito city, ibaraki prefecture. The entire garden filled with the fragrance of plum blossoms and colored in gradations of light pink is simply fantastical. Imperial palace park one of the best places in the city center to relax, enjoy fine weather, or picnic with friends or family, the imperial palace park is full of trails, lush grass fields, and seasonal flowers such as cherry blossoms, wisteria, plums, and lilies. Mar 17, 2018 ume can range in color from white to a deep, almostpurple pink. Beautiful plum blossoms in shades of pink and white.

The winter season in japan has its own version of hanami, with its blossoming plum trees. During the spring season plum blossom festivals, while not as wellknown or respected as their ever iconic cherry blossom cousins, are similarly styled events that take place all over japan. Plum blossoms at kitanotenmangu shrine inside kyoto. If you wish to avoid huge crowds during the cherry blossom season in japan, viewing plum blossoms could be an amazing option. Still, plum trees bloom slightly longer and are usually visible from the colder month of february down through march. One of the first and most exciting signs of spring in japan is the blossoming of plum blossoms. Some tips on how to find a hotel room in kyoto during the busy cherry blossom season. The park is one of the 3 famed japan parks that was built in year 1842 by the 9th lord of mito who was the last shoguns father who loved plum trees very much. It is particularly famous by its beautiful ume plum blossoms in late february to early march. Find out the top 10 places to view plum blossom in japan. Traveling in february is a great way to skip the flower viewing crowds of april, but still get to see the beautiful pink blossoms that japan is famous for. It is the best time for the japanese people to organize first picnic party of the year before hanami arrives. Japans four seasons we are based in melbourne where there is a wellknown phrase, four seasons in one day.

Plum blossoms or ume, might not be as famous as the cherry blossoms, but the view they offer is just as spectacular announcing the beginning of the spring, the plum trees between the first to blossom, bringing out their nice fragrance and making us feel warmer inside and excitedly awaiting the spring season to make its apparition. Theres a grove of many different kinds of plum trees in the traditional japanese garden area, by the tea house. While sakura trees get the majority of the focus, plum blossoms and their accompanying festivals give them a run for their money in terms of atmosphere. Plum, cherry, and peach blossoms the differences between. Even if you are not in search of pink blossoms, this ancient and wellpreserved expansive garden is well worth a visit.

Early spring in japan is the season of plums, where plum flowers can be seen blossoming everywhere around the end of february. So dont be too surprised that the beautiful spectacle of cherry blossom season. A plum festival is held from february 15 to march 29, 2020. The rest of the article can be viewed on our partners website, grape japan at cherry, peach, and plum blossoms can you tell them apart. Rather, it spread to other east asian countries such as in korea, taiwan, and vietnam. The garden is a 30minute walk from the station or 15 minutes by bus. The 5 best places to see the fragrant plum blossoms of kyoto. Plum blossoms and shuffling well, plum blossoms and cherry blossoms are long gone, and now im stuck looking at cherry blossom pictures from my friends in northern prefectures who have entered their cherry blossom season the weather conditions really affect when they bloom. In spite of cold climate, plum flowers are brave enough to start decorating bare branches of plum trees in our parks and gardens with red, pink and white blossoms, hinting to us that spring is around the corner, which is very encouraging to us who have endured cold winter with few flowers to please our eyes and warm up our heart. Mar 03, 2016 kairakuen park is wellknown as one of the three great japanese gardens in japan.

Plum blossoms can arguably be just as impressive as the cherry blossoms japan is so famous for. Ume, or japanese plum trees, bloom in midfebruary, with hardy pink blossoms in many shades. Sakura trees bloom everywhere in the spring, with their pink flowers giving japans streets a brand new complexion. A shrine with 6000 plum trees in the town of dazaifu near fukuoka. However, before the cherry blossoms emerge, another beautiful tree graces the island of japan. As there are many ways for the japanese to preserve ume as umeboshi, umezuke and so on, it is obvious that seasons dont matter for tasting them. Plum blossom season in fukuoka, japan arrival of spring. Plum season at nijojo usually starts from early february and lasts to late march. Starting in midfebruary and running until early march, the plums in kyoto burst into beautiful blossom. Mar 31, 2020 take a peek at japans early bloomers for the next month or so.

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. Plum ume trees and peach momo trees also produce similarly pink flowers in the springtime. The most famous japanese flower may be the cherry blossom, but the plum blossom is just as special. Dazaifu tenmangu shrine is amongst japan s most famous shrines dedicated to a much feared kami. Ume can range in color from white to a deep, almostpurple pink. Although it varies depending on temperature, blooming season usually kicks off from february to midmarch. Before the cherry blossoms emerge, however, another beautiful tree graces the island of japan. According to legend, one of the two plum trees directly in front of the shrines altar flew through the air under its own power from kyoto to its current spot. Ranked as one of japans three finest landscape gardens, kairakuen in mito, about 100 kilometers north of tokyo, features over 3000 plum trees of 100 varieties.