When you visit Japan in Spring, especially in Kyoto, Sakura (cherry blossoms) viewing is really famous attraction!! But even before spring's coming, we're already looking forward to another famous beautiful flower in winter... YES, it's Ume, Plum!!! :)
The plum was introduced to Japan from China in very ancient ages like 8th century of Nara period. Since then, this flower has been one of the most popular flowers for us Japanese, lots of poems related to plum had been enjoyed being composed between noble people in those days...they were so impressed especially how the white color of plum was beautiful as purity...
And next, the pink plum has also got a popularity gradually... the dark pink of beauty had been sung in the poems, too, while the white plum has attracted the people with its special fragrance. This dark pink plum was often featured in the kimono design of noble people.
Because the plum enjoy blooming even in such cold winter, people respect this flower as lucky symbol, and in many situation we use the name of plum in order to tell the grade or quality of the things, such as the type of ryokan's room or cuisine's quality etc. Ume (plum) is the third grade from the top. The top grade is "pine", and the second is "bamboo".
Kitano-Tenmangu Shrine
Viewing Ume Blossom at the plum garden
From 5th of Feb to around End of Mar
(the estimated best bloom is abt 25th of Feb)
Kitano Tenmangu has beautiful plum blossom viewing in its biggest plum garden in Kyoto including a grove of nearly 2000 trees. Enjoy feeling like a spring is coming!
Admission fee (for the garden) - 600 Yen
(with green tea and sweet)
Hours: 10:00 - 16:00
Sugawara Michizane, a scholar and politician who was unfairly exiled by his political rivals, is enshrined as Tenjin, the kami ("Shinto god") of education, so many students come to this shrine to pray for success in their studies.
As very famous story in Tenjin shrines; a number of disasters had happened after Michizane's death in exile, so the people were so scared regarding it's because of his vengeful spirit, and then, these shrines were built to appease him.
One more story about Michizane is here... he loved plum trees very much and one tree called tobiume, or flying plum tree in the shrine, has special origin. It's said that the plum petals chased after him from Kyoto to his exile in Kyushu when he was banished.
Baikasai (Plum Festival)
On 25th of Feb
Outdoor Tea Ceremony 10:00 to 15:00
Tickets 1500 Yen
(only for the first reserved 3000 people).
(only for the first reserved 3000 people).
* advance tickets available from 25th Jan.
On 25th of Feb, the memorial day of Michizane's death, ''The Plum Festival" is held. Under the full bloom of trees, around 30 of Maiko and Geiko serve you green tea.
What a wonderful combination of Green tea, Maiko and Plum trees!!
If you visit Kyoto on this day, Don't Miss it! :)
