Plum blossom viewing spots near Tokyo and how to enjoy them: Enjoy the beautiful scenery and atmosphere of plum blossoms!

1. Introduction

Why Japanese people love Japanese apricot blossoms

The Japanese apricot is one of the flowers that has been loved by the Japanese people since ancient times. Its history can be traced back to the Nara period, and there are more poems about the Japanese apricot in the Manyoshu (the oldest existing collection of Japanese poetry) than there are about cherry blossoms. The Japanese apricot, which is said to have been introduced from China, was highly prized by the aristocracy of the time, and was planted in gardens. Eventually, it spread to the samurai and the common people, and a culture of enjoying the Japanese apricot took root throughout Japan.

One of the reasons why Japanese people love Japanese apricots is their fragrance. At the end of the cold winter, Japanese apricot flowers bloom, announcing the arrival of spring, and they release a faintly sweet and refreshing fragrance. This fragrance makes Japanese people feel the joy of spring.

In addition, the Japanese plum is known for its hardiness and ability to withstand the harsh winter and bloom beautifully, and it is also seen as a symbol of perseverance and nobility. For this reason, it has been used in poetry, paintings and kimono patterns since ancient times, and it has become deeply rooted in Japanese culture.

The appeal of the Japanese plum, which is different from that of the cherry blossom

The cherry blossom is famous as a flower of spring in Japan, but the Japanese plum has a different appeal from that of the cherry blossom.

• It blooms earlier
  , they bloom from late January to March, so they are flowers that allow you to feel the arrival of spring while the cold weather still lingers. You can enjoy the signs of spring a little earlier than with cherry blossoms.
• Strong scent
  Cherry blossoms have almost no scent, but Japanese apricot flowers have a pleasant fragrance. So when you go to see the Japanese apricot flowers, you can enjoy them not only with your eyes but also with your nose.
• Flowers last longer
  cherry blossoms only last for about a week from full bloom to when they fall, but depending on the variety, you can enjoy the plum blossoms for 2 to 3 weeks.

In this way, there are different ways to enjoy plum blossoms compared to cherry blossoms, and they are suited to being admired slowly. There are many famous plum blossom spots in the suburbs of Tokyo, and there are many spots where you can feel the atmosphere of early spring.

2. Famous places to see Japanese apricot blossoms near Tokyo

There are many famous places near Tokyo where you can enjoy the beautiful Japanese apricot blossoms. From historic shrines and gardens to vast Japanese apricot groves, each place has its own unique charm. Here, we will introduce some of the best places to see Japanese apricot blossoms.

① Yushima Tenmangu Shrine (Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo) – A famous place to see Japanese apricot blossoms and the god of learning

Yushima Tenmangu Shrine (Yushima Tenmangu) is a shrine dedicated to the god of learning, Sugawara Michizane, and has long been known as a place famous for its Japanese apricot blossoms. There are around 300 Japanese apricot trees planted in the precincts, and the white and red blossoms bloom beautifully.

The plum festival held from February to March is particularly famous, and attracts many visitors. The sight of people praying for success in their studies and wishing for good luck in their exams, surrounded by the fragrance of the plum blossoms, is a scene unique to Yushima Tenmangu Shrine.

湯島天神公式サイト

② Koishikawa Korakuen Garden (Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo) – A harmony of an Edo-period garden and plum blossoms

Koishikawa Korakuen Garden is a daimyo garden built by the Mito Tokugawa family in the early Edo period. There is a “ume (plum) grove” in the garden, with around 90 plum trees planted. The contrast between the beautiful scenery of the strolling pond garden and the red and white plum blossoms is exquisite, and it is also a popular spot for taking photos.

There are also a number of spots in the garden that have been influenced by Chinese scenery, and the combination of the “Engeki Bridge” and the plum blossoms is particularly atmospheric. You can enjoy the plum blossoms at your leisure in this quiet space that makes you forget the hustle and bustle of the city.

小石川後楽園｜公園へ行こう！

③ Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden (Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo) – A plum garden you can enjoy in the city center

Shinjuku Gyoen is a garden in the city center where you can enjoy the rich natural surroundings, and it is also known as a famous plum blossom viewing spot. There are around 200 plum trees planted in the garden, and when they are in bloom they delight visitors.

The Japanese garden and the area around the Tamamo Pond are particularly beautiful, and the reflection of the plum blossoms on the surface of the pond is very atmospheric. In addition to the plum blossoms, Shinjuku Gyoen also has daffodils and Japanese quercus flowers that start to bloom from February to March, so you can enjoy a variety of spring flowers at the same time.

新宿御苑 | 一般財団法人国民公園協会

④ Jindai Botanical Park (Chofu City, Tokyo) – A plum garden where you can enjoy a variety of varieties

Jindai Botanical Park is a metropolitan botanical garden that grows around 4,800 different types of plants, and is also known as a famous spot for Japanese apricot blossoms. There is a Japanese apricot garden in the park, where around 180 trees of around 70 different varieties are planted.

The appeal of Jindai Botanical Park is the large number of varieties of Japanese apricot. You can see a variety of Japanese apricot trees, including white, red and weeping varieties, so you can get to know the deep appeal of Japanese apricot. In particular, the rare variety called “Omoiyama” (meaning “as you wish”), which has both red and white flowers on the same tree, is a must-see.

神代植物公園｜公園へ行こう！

⑤ Hase Temple (Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture) – The contrast between the sea and the Japanese apricot blossoms

Hase Temple in Kamakura is famous as a place to see hydrangeas, but the beauty of the Japanese apricot blossoms is also not to be missed. There are around 100 Japanese apricot trees planted in the precincts, and they bloom beautifully in early spring.

In particular, the view of the plum blossoms and Sagami Bay from the hill at Hase-dera is a spectacular sight. As you can see the blue sea through the plum blossoms, it is also a great spot for taking photos.

KAMAKURA HASEDERA

⑥ Kairakuen (Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture) – One of Japan’s three most famous gardens, a famous plum blossom viewing spot

Kairakuen in Mito is one of Japan’s three most famous gardens, along with Korakuen in Okayama and Kenrokuen in Kanazawa, and is known as one of Japan’s largest plum blossom viewing spots. There are around 100 varieties of plum trees and 3,000 plum trees in the garden, and the sight of the plum blossoms stretching as far as the eye can see is truly spectacular.

The Mito Plum Blossom Festival is held every year from mid-February to late March, and attracts many tourists. At night, the plum trees are lit up, creating a fantastic atmosphere in which to enjoy the plum blossoms.

Kairakuen – Three Great Gardens of Japan

⑦ Ikegami Umeen (Ota-ku, Tokyo) – A Luxurious Day of Onsen and Ume

　Ikegami Umeen is a famous ume (plum) garden located in Ota Ward, Tokyo, and is attached to a hot spring facility. Approximately 200 ume trees are planted in the garden, with white and red ume in particular blooming beautifully. During the plum blossom season, visitors can spend a luxurious day enjoying the ume blossoms while relaxing in the hot springs.

Features:

• Combination of hot springs and plum blossoms: After relaxing in the hot spring facilities, visitors can admire plum blossoms.
• Diverse varieties: You can enjoy various varieties of ume, including white and red ume.
  Access: Within walking distance from Ikegami Station on the Tokyu Ikegami Line.
• Access: Within walking distance from Ikegami Station on the Tokyu Ikegami Line.Access: Within walking distance from Ikegami Station on the Tokyu Ikegami Line.

　Ikegami Plum Garden is a famous spot that offers a unique experience, where visitors can refresh themselves in a hot spring while admiring plum blossoms.

3. Types and characteristics of Japanese apricots

There are many varieties of Japanese apricot, and you can enjoy the different charms of each variety depending on the color, shape and scent of the flowers. The varieties of Japanese apricot are broadly classified into three types: the wild Japanese apricot type, the red Japanese apricot type and the Bungo Japanese apricot type, each with its own characteristics.

① Wild Japanese apricot type – simple and strongly scented

The wild Japanese plum is a variety that is close to the original species of Japanese plum, and is characterized by its simple beauty. It has thin branches and small leaves, giving it an overall delicate impression.

• Flower characteristics: Many single-layered white flowers, small and pretty
• Smell: Strong, refreshing scent
• Typical varieties
  • Shirokaga (white Kaga): Large fruit, ideal for making umeboshi (dried plum) and umeshu (plum wine)
  • Winter plum (Tōjibai): A variety that starts to bloom in December and is an early bloomer
  • Tsukikage (moon shadow): Produces elegant white flowers

Plum trees of the wild plum variety are often seen in gardens and the grounds of shrines and temples, and are recommended for those who want to enjoy the fragrance of plum blossoms.

② Hibaikei (scarlet plum) – Characterized by its bright red flowers

The Hibai variety is popular for its bright red and deep pink flowers. It is often planted in gardens and parks because of its gorgeous coloring.

• Flower characteristics: Red or pink flowers. Many are double-petaled
• Fragrance: Somewhat subdued
• Typical varieties
  • Kagoshima-beni (Kagoshima red): Deep red, double-petaled flowers with a strong presence
  • Benichidori (Red plover): Deep pink, single-petaled flowers
  • Kounan: Pink flowers that make you feel the arrival of spring

Plum trees of the higan variety are perfect for those looking for a plum tree that looks good in photographs, as they stand out well even from a distance.

③ Bungo variety – Hybrid species that produce large flowers

Plum trees of the Bungo variety are thought to be a cross between a plum tree and an apricot tree, and they have large flowers and strong branches. The fruits are also large, and are often used for eating.

• Flower characteristics: Many pale pink flowers, large and gorgeous
• Smell: Slightly sweet, low-key
• Typical varieties
  • Bungo Ume (Bungo Plum): A variety that combines the characteristics of both the Japanese apricot and the Japanese plum
  • Nanko Ume (Nanko Plum): A typical variety for making umeboshi (dried plum), with large fruit
  • Omoi no Mama (As You Wish): A rare variety that produces a mixture of white and red flowers on a single tree

Bungo-type Japanese apricots are popular as garden trees not only because of the beauty of their flowers, but also because you can enjoy the fruit after harvesting it.

How to enjoy Japanese apricot flowers

The following points will help you enjoy Japanese apricot flowers even more.

1. Enjoy the fragrance – The fragrance of wild Japanese apricot varieties is especially refreshing when you get close to them.
2. Look at the beauty of the branches – Japanese apricot branches are curved, and the way they have grown slowly over the winter is one of the highlights.
3. From the beginning of blooming to the end of blooming – The Japanese apricot flowers bloom for a long time, so it is also recommended to enjoy the process of blooming.

At famous places for Japanese apricot blossoms near Tokyo, you can enjoy these various varieties and discover their different charms.

4. The season and atmosphere of enjoying Japanese apricot blossoms

Japanese apricot blossoms have long been a familiar sight to people in Japan, heralding the transition from winter to spring. By learning about the timing of their blooming, the atmosphere they create, and their place in literature and art, you can enjoy the charm of Japanese apricot blossoms even more.

① The timing of Japanese apricot blossoms and the best time to see them

The flowering period of Japanese apricot flowers differs depending on the variety and the region, but generally they are at their best from late January to mid-March.

• Early-blooming Japanese apricot (late January to mid-February)
  • Representative varieties: Winter plum, winter Japanese apricot
  • These Japanese apricot flowers bloom when there is still some cold left in the air, and the contrast with the snow is beautiful.
  • You can enjoy early-blooming Japanese apricot at Yushima Tenmangu Shrine and Jindai Botanical Park.
• Mid-season Japanese apricot (mid-February to early March)
  • Representative varieties: Shirokaga, Nanko-bai
  • The time when the largest number of varieties are in bloom, and plum festivals are held in various places
  • The best time to see them is at Koishikawa Korakuen, Shinjuku Gyoen, Hase-dera, etc.
• Late-blooming plums (early March to mid-March)
  • Representative varieties: Bungo-bai, Omoikomama
  • The time when the cherry blossoms are in bloom, so you can enjoy both the plums and the cherry blossoms at the same time
  • At Kairakuen, many of the plum blossoms continue to bloom until March

② The beautiful contrast between the snow and the plum blossoms

During the plum blossom season, the cold weather is still severe, and the contrast between the plum blossoms and the occasional snowfall creates a beautiful landscape. In particular, the sight of the white plum blossoms covered in snow is magical, and has been called “plum blossoms in the snow” since ancient times, and has been the subject of poems and paintings.

The Japanese people’s fondness for the modesty and strength of the plum blossoms that brave the cold and bloom so beautifully is reflected in the phrase “sechu-bai”. Many people visit the famous plum blossom viewing spots at Yushima Tenmangu Shrine and Kamakura to see the plum blossoms in the snow.

③ The plum blossom in haiku and waka

The plum blossom is also deeply rooted in Japanese literature. It was often mentioned in the Manyoshu (the oldest existing collection of Japanese poetry) and was a popular subject for waka (Japanese poetry) in the Heian period.

• A typical waka
  “If the east wind blows, please send me the fragrance of the plum blossoms. Even though I am far away, please do not forget spring.”
  (Michizane Sugawara) *Meaning: If the spring wind blows, please send me the fragrance of the plum blossoms. Even though I am far away, please do not forget spring.

This poem was written by Sugawara no Michizane when he was exiled to Dazaifu, and expresses the sentiment that “even in a garden without its master, the plum tree will still announce the arrival of spring”. Even today, there is a plum tree at Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine called the “Flying Plum Tree”, and the legend remains that it flew from Kyoto to Dazaifu in the hope of being reunited with Michizane.

• Example of a haiku
  “A single plum blossom, a single plum blossom’s warmth”
  (Hattori Ransetsu) *Meaning: When a single plum blossom blooms, you can feel the warmth of spring.

When the plum blossoms start to bloom, even on a cold day you can feel a hint of spring. This haiku beautifully expresses the changing of the seasons as seen in the plum blossoms.

④ Enjoying Japanese seasonal customs with the plum blossoms

During the plum blossom season, you can also enjoy Japanese culture and events.

• Plum Blossom Festivals
  Plum festivals are held at famous plum blossom viewing spots around the country. One of the most famous is the Mito Plum Blossom Festival at Kairakuen Garden in Mito, which attracts many tourists from mid-February to March. The Yushima Tenmangu Shrine Plum Blossom Festival also features events such as Japanese drumming and dance performances.
• Tea ceremonies and plum blossoms
  During the plum blossom season, tea ceremonies are sometimes held in the world of tea ceremony. Drinking matcha tea while admiring the plum blossoms in a quiet garden is a special experience.
• Japanese sweets and plums
  During the plum blossom season, Japanese sweets featuring plums appear. You can enjoy beautiful plum sweets such as nerikiri (a type of Japanese confectionery made from a paste of bean paste and rice flour) shaped like plum blossoms, and manju (steamed buns) filled with plum paste.

You can enjoy the beauty of the Japanese plum blossoms not only by looking at them, but also by enjoying them together with Japanese culture and seasonal features, which will allow you to appreciate their charm even more.

5. Food culture related to Japanese plums

Japanese plums are not only used for decoration, but also play an important role in food culture. They have long been an essential part of the Japanese diet, in the form of umeboshi (dried plums) and umeshu (plum wine), and have long been loved for their health benefits and high level of preservation. Here, we will introduce some typical foods that use Japanese plums and their appeal.

1. Umeboshi – a traditional Japanese food for preserving food

Umeboshi is one of Japan’s traditional preserved foods, and refers to sour plums pickled in salt and red shiso. In Japan, umeboshi has long been prized as a healthy food, and is even said to be “doctor-free”.

• Health benefits of umeboshi
  • Rich in citric acid, effective for recovery from fatigue and improving appetite
  • Has antibacterial properties, and is also used as a preservative for onigiri and bento
  • Helps regulate the stomach and aids digestion
• Typical types of umeboshi
  • Shiroboshi ume (white dried plum): A traditional salty umeboshi pickled in salt alone
  • Honey ume: An easy-to-eat umeboshi pickled in salt with added honey for sweetness
  • Karikari ume: An ume pickled in salt with an immature ume for a crispy texture

Ume is a staple accompaniment to rice and onigiri, but it is also used as an accent in dishes such as ochazuke (rice with green tea poured over it).

② Ume-shu – a popular drink that can be made at home

Umeshu is a traditional Japanese fruit wine made by macerating green plums in white liquor or shochu, and adding sugar or rock sugar. It is sweet and sour, and easy to drink, and is particularly popular with women.

• How to enjoy umeshu
  • Enjoy it straight or on the rocks
  • Mix it with soda water to make umeshu soda
  • Drink it hot on a cold winter’s day

Umeshu has a relaxing effect and promotes blood circulation, making it perfect as an aperitif or a drink before bed. Many people make their own at home, and around June every year, supermarkets will be lined with green plums and white liquor.

③ Ume syrup and ume juice – the appeal of their refreshing sweetness

Ume syrup and ume juice are also enjoyable for those who can’t drink alcohol or for children. You can enjoy the refreshingly sweet and sour taste by extracting the extract by soaking green plums and sugar, and then drinking it diluted with water or soda.

• How to make ume syrup
  1. Wash the green plums and remove the stems
  2. Fill the bottle with the plums and rock sugar in layers
  3. Soak for about 2 weeks to extract the plum extract
  4. Remove the plums and strain the syrup to finish

On a hot summer’s day, drinking cold ume juice is a refreshing experience.

④ Ume-based dishes

Ume is also used in a wide range of dishes.

• Dishes using umeboshi
  • Ume rice balls
  • Pasta with ume and baby sardines
  • Ume paste (mashed umeboshi mixed with cucumber and chicken)
• Pickles using ume
  • Shiba-zuke and shibazuke pickles using ume vinegar
  • Pickles with ume flavor
• Ume-flavored sweets
  • Ume jelly
  • Ume yokan
  • Nerikiri (Japanese confectionery) shaped like a Japanese plum

The sourness of Japanese plums can be used to enhance the appetite and add a refreshing flavor, and can be used in both Japanese and Western cuisine.

⑤ Local specialties made with Japanese plums

There are many local specialties made with Japanese plums in various parts of Japan.

• Kishu Nanko plums (Wakayama Prefecture): A specialty of Wakayama Prefecture, which boasts the largest production of Japanese plums in Japan, these plums are characterized by their large size and soft flesh
• Odawara plums (Kanagawa Prefecture): Plums produced in Odawara City, Kanagawa Prefecture, and famous as the main ingredient in umeboshi (dried plum) and umeshu (plum wine)
• Akita plum jelly: A sweet and sour, refreshing jelly with a plum flavor, made in Akita Prefecture

The culture of eating plums is firmly established in various parts of Japan, and processed plum products are also popular as souvenirs.

6. Stories and history related to Japanese apricots

Japanese apricots have been treated as something special in Japanese history and literature. By learning about their significance in myths and legends, their relationship with historical figures, and their cultural symbolism, you can enjoy the Japanese apricot flower even more.

1. Sugawara no Michizane and the Japanese apricot – The legend of the “flying Japanese apricot”

The historical figure with the closest connection to the Japanese plum is** Sugawara no Michizane. He was a scholar and politician in the Heian period who served the imperial court, but was exiled from Kyoto to Dazaifu (now Fukuoka Prefecture)** in Kyushu due to the machinations of his political enemies.

When he left Kyoto, Michizane composed a famous waka poem to the plum tree he loved

“If a spring breeze blows, please send the fragrance of the plum blossoms to me. Even though I am gone, please do not forget spring.”
(When the spring wind blows, please send the fragrance of the plum blossoms to me. Even though I am gone, I hope you will remember the spring and continue to bloom.)

This led to the legend that the plum tree, which had longed for Michizane, flew from Kyoto to Dazaifu overnight. This plum tree is called the **“Flying Plum Tree”** and is still carefully tended to at Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine.

Dazaifu Tenmangu is the head shrine of all Tenmangu shrines in Japan, and many students preparing for entrance exams visit the shrine to pray for academic success. The plum tree that blooms in the shrine grounds is a special plum tree that is cherished by many people as a symbol of the feelings of Michizane.

② What the plum flower symbolizes – perseverance, integrity, and the Japanese aesthetic

The plum flower is said to symbolize **“perseverance” and “integrity”** because it begins to bloom at the end of the cold winter. This is also something that connects with the spirituality that the Japanese value.

In addition, while cherry blossoms symbolize “transience” and “beauty at the moment of falling”, **plum blossoms often represent “quiet elegance” and “calm beauty”**. For this reason, plum trees are often planted in Japanese gardens and the gardens of temples and shrines, and the custom of enjoying the flowers in silence has taken root.

③ Plum blossoms and samurai – a flower loved by warlords

Plum blossoms were also a favorite of the warlords of the Warring States period. In particular, Tokugawa Ieyasu is known for having had many plum trees planted in the grounds of his castle. Ieyasu incorporated the plum blossom into his family crest, taking inspiration from the flower’s “endurance” and “fruit-bearing” qualities.

In addition, Kairakuen Garden in Ibaraki Prefecture, which was landscaped by Mito Komon (Tokugawa Mitsukuni)**, is one of Japan’s most famous places to see Japanese apricot blossoms. Kairakuen’s Japanese apricot grove is home to around 3,000 Japanese apricot trees, and it is still a popular destination for tourists.

④ Japanese apricot and Japanese mythology and religion

Japanese apricot is also related to Japanese mythology and religion. In Shinto, it is believed that the plum flower has the power to ward off evil spirits, and it is sometimes used to decorate shrines and as good luck charms during the New Year and Setsubun.

In Buddhism, there is a concept called “Gofuku”, which refers to the five types of happiness: longevity, wealth, health, virtue and a natural life span. The flowers that symbolize these five types of happiness are the plum, bamboo and pine, and the plum in particular is considered to be a flower that brings good luck.

⑤ Ume and famous Japanese poems and haiku

The Japanese plum blossom appears as an important motif in many classic Japanese literary works.

• Manyoshu
  “The plum blossoms are in full bloom now. I wonder which one of us should wear it in our hair and go out to play?” (Ootomo Tabito)
  (The plum blossoms are in full bloom. Let’s have fun for the day by wearing them in our hair with our friends.) This poem shows that the custom of wearing plum blossoms in one’s hair to enjoy them was already in place from the Nara period.
• Haiku
  “A single plum blossom, a single flower, and the warmth it brings” (Ransetsu Hattori)
  (The simple words of this haiku express the “signs of spring” that plum blossoms bring.

⑥ Japanese culture and events named after plums

Plums are deeply connected to Japanese culture, and there are many events and things that have been named after them.

• Plum blossom viewing (ume-mi)
  Just like cherry blossom viewing, there has long been a tradition of ‘ume-mi’ (plum blossom viewing). In particular, during the Edo period, it was popular for the general public to go out to see the plum blossoms.
• Ume-goyomi (plum calendar)
  The second month of the lunar calendar is also called “ume-goyomi”, meaning “the time when the Japanese apricot blossoms”. This is one of the calendars used in the Edo period.
• Ume-waka
  Ume-waka is a piece of Noh drama, and the story features a young warrior called Ume-waka. This piece is said to symbolize the “beauty” and “fragility” of the Japanese apricot blossoms.

7. Summary: Experience the appeal of Japanese plums

Japanese plums are beautiful flowers that signal the transition from winter to spring in Japan, and they are deeply rooted in the country’s history, culture, food and customs. There are many places in the Tokyo area where you can easily enjoy Japanese plums, such as Yushima Tenmangu Shrine, Koishikawa Korakuen Garden, Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden and Jindai Botanical Garden, and if you go a little further afield, you can enjoy even more atmospheric plum blossom views at places such as Kairakuen Garden in Ibaraki Prefecture and Hase Temple in Kamakura.

① Places to enjoy Japanese apricot blossoms in the Tokyo area

• Relaxing in the city while admiring the Japanese apricot blossoms: Yushima Tenmangu Shrine, Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, Koishikawa Korakuen Garden
• Walking through the vast Japanese apricot garden: Jindai Botanical Park, Kairakuen Garden
• Enjoying the Japanese apricot blossoms with history: Hase Temple, Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine (Kyushu)

The expression of the Japanese apricot blossoms differs depending on the place you visit, and each place famous for Japanese apricot blossoms has its own unique atmosphere.

② Experiencing the changing of the seasons through the Japanese apricot blossoms

• The plum blossoms that start to bloom from late January give us a hint of spring in the midst of the cold weather
• The contrast between the snow and the plum blossoms is a beautiful sight that can only be seen in Japan
• Enjoying the plum blossoms while thinking about the beauty of the plum blossoms that is expressed in Japanese poems and haiku will make the experience even more enjoyable

③ Enjoy the plum culture

• The plum culture, which includes umeboshi (dried plum), umeshu (plum wine) and ume syrup, is easy to incorporate into your daily life
• At plum festivals, you can enjoy Japanese sweets and dishes that use plums
• Local specialties made with Japanese apricots are also perfect as souvenirs

④ Learning the story of the Japanese apricot allows you to appreciate it even more

• The legend of Sugawara Michizane and the “flying Japanese apricot”
• The symbolism of the Japanese apricot, loved by the samurai
• The beauty of the Japanese apricot, as expressed in Japanese haiku and waka poetry

The Japanese apricot is not just beautiful – it is a flower with a deep meaning that is linked to the spirituality, culture and history of the Japanese people.

Conclusion

There are many famous places to see Japanese apricot blossoms in the suburbs of Tokyo, so you can easily enjoy their beauty. Although they are not as showy as cherry blossoms, the dignified elegance of the Japanese apricot flower quietly announces the end of winter and the arrival of spring in Japan.

By enjoying the Japanese apricot blossoms and learning about the food and stories associated with them, you can experience the beauty of the four seasons in Japan even more. Why not visit a famous place to see Japanese apricot blossoms this winter and spring?