Plum blossoms bloom in February and March, when the weather remains cold, to herald the arrival of spring.
The dainty appearance of ume flowers blooming while enduring the cold has captured the sensibility of the Japanese people since ancient times.

Plum blossoms have the following characteristics.
・The flower has been popular in Japan since ancient times.
・They are pretty and resemble cherry blossoms in shape.
・The blooming period is longer than that of cherry blossoms.
・They come in many varieties, with a wide variety of shapes and colors.
・Plum garden is filled with the sweet and sour smell of plum blossoms.

When sightseeing in the Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe areas during the cold season, it is hard to decide where to go.
Why not visit some of the famous plum blossom viewing spots?

Osaka Castle Park Plum Grove is one of the most famous plum blossom viewing spots in Kansai. About 1,270 plum trees are planted in an area of about 1.7 hectares on the east side of the inner moat of Osaka Castle.

Please take your time to enjoy the castle, the plum blossoms, and the scenic beauty.

Osaka Temmangu Shrine is dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, and is popularly known as “Tenjin-san of Temma”.

When the plum blossoms are at their best, the Plum Blossom Festival is held. Around the Hoshiai Pond on the north side of the temple grounds, there are about 100 white and red plum trees, which are very vivid.

There are two plum gardens in the vast expanse of Expo Park. There are about 600 plum trees of 120 varieties in the Natural and Cultural Garden and about 80 plum trees of 40 varieties in the Japanese Garden.

Enjoy the fragrance that spreads all over the area as you gaze at the Tower of the Sun floating in a sea of plum blossoms.

All year round, students come to Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, known as the god of learning, to pray for the success of their exams.

When the plum blossoms are in full bloom, the plum garden associated with Michizane Sugawara is open. You can walk around among the plum trees and enjoy the fragrance of the plum blossoms.

The symbol of Umenomiya-taisha Shrine, 450 ume trees of about 35 varieties are planted throughout the shrine grounds. It is recommended to visit the shrine when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom and the late blooming plum trees are in full bloom.

Umenomiya-taisha Shrine is also famous for the cats that live in its precincts. This shrine is a must-see for cat lovers.

Kitano Tenma Shrine is located up the hill from the beautiful Kitano Ijinkan Street lined with foreign residences.

The plum blossom garden on the hill behind the shrine is known as one of the best plum blossom spots in Kobe, and is decorated with many plum blossoms, especially white plum blossoms. From the observatory in the plum grove, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the city of Kobe and the Port of Kobe.
*100 yen entrance fee required.

There are about 130 plum trees of 21 species planted on a hill in Okamoto, with a great view. You can enjoy the plum blossoms while overlooking the city.

This plum grove park is famous for its beautiful plum blossoms, so much so that it was once called “Okamoto for plum blossoms and Yoshino for cherry blossoms”.

From the early-blooming varieties of Yaekankou and Gyokubotan to the late-blooming varieties of Bungo, 160 plum trees of about 25 varieties bloom one after another in a relay-like pattern for about a month.

At the same time, daffodils and rape blossoms blooming at our feet add color to the scene.