Kitano Tenmangu Shrine is known as one of the best plum blossom viewing spots in Kyoto. About 1,500 plum trees of 50 varieties, all related to Sugawara Michizane, the god of the shrine, are blooming in red and white all over the shrine grounds. The ume garden is one of the "Three Gardens of Snow, Moon, and Flowers," said to have been created by Sadanori Matsunaga, a poet of the Edo period, and was rebuilt as the "Flower Garden" of Kitano Tenmangu Shrine after an interval of about 150 years. During the nighttime illumination, about 700 candles light up the plum blossoms, creating a fantastic scene different from that of the daytime.

Umeen "Flower Garden
Best time to visit: Mid-February to mid-March
Opening period: January 28, 2022 (Friday) to late March, 2022 9:00 - 16:00 (last admission at 15:40)
Light up / February 25 (Fri.) to March 13 (Sun.), sunset to 20:00 (last admission at 19:40)
Admission (with tea cakes): Adults (junior high school students and older): 1,000 yen, elementary school students: 500 yen
Scheduled Events / Plum Blossom Festival Nodate Grand Tea Ceremony February 25 (Fri.) 10:00-14:00
Nodate ticket and first fee are required.
*Opening period depends on blooming conditions.
(The content of the Ume-en and Ume-bana Festival may be changed depending on social conditions.

Mimuroto-ji Temple, known as one of the most famous flower temples in Kyoto, started to open its weeping ume (Japanese apricot) garden to the public this year. On a hill overlooking the urban area of Uji, approximately 250 trees, including 5-meter-tall Fuji-button and Kureha weeping plum trees, have been planted. Visit this new ume viewing spot where you can enjoy red and white weeping ume along with the scenery of Uji.

weeping plum garden
Best time to visit: Early to mid March
Opening Period / February 19, 2022 (Sat) - March 27, 2022 (Sun) 8:30 - 16:00
Admission: Adults 800 yen, Children 400 yen
*Opening period is subject to change depending on blooming conditions.

Shimogamo-jinja Shrine is a power spot with the longest history in Kyoto. At the foot of the vermilion bridge over the Mitarashi River that runs through the shrine grounds, beautiful and vivid plum blossoms called "Korin-no-Ume" (plum blossoms of Korin) bloom. It is said that the plum blossoms depicted in the National Treasure "Red and White Plum Blossoms" by Ogata Korin, a painter of the Edo period, were modeled after Korin's plum blossoms.

Best time to visit: Early February to early March
Visiting hours/6:30-17:00
Entrance fee/free in the precincts

Umemiya-taisha Shrine is famous as a god of fertility and safe childbirth, and it is said that if you step over the "Matoge-ishi" stone, you will be blessed with a child. The precincts of the shrine are planted with 400 ume trees of 35 varieties, and the "As you wish" (red and white blooming on a single tree) and the "Kinde Ume" (golden branches) are a must-see. You may also see a cute combination with the cats kept in the precincts of the shrine.

Best time to visit: Mid-February to mid-March
Hours of visitation: 6:30-18:00, Shrine Garden 9:00-17:00 (reception ends at 16:30)
Entrance fee/free in the precincts, 600 yen in the shrine garden
Scheduled Events / Ume-Ume Festival March 6 (Sun.) Rituals from 9:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Jonangu Shrine was built on the occasion of the relocation of the capital to Heian-kyo to pray for the safety of the capital and the protection of the country, and is widely worshipped as a shrine for "Houyoyaku" (protection from the elements). Of the five gardens in the shrine garden, the 150 weeping plum trees in the "Spring Mountain" area are a sight to behold. When the plum blossoms are falling, the carpet of light red plum petals and the camellia falling on the green moss make for a beautiful sight.

Weeping Plum and Camellia Festival
Best time to visit: Late February - early March
Open: February 18 (Friday) to March 22 (Tuesday), 2022
Shinen garden hours: 9:00-16:30 (Last entry: 16:00)
Entrance fee for Shin-en Garden: Adults (junior high school students and above) 800 yen, Elementary school students 500 yen
* 400 yen for those who present a disability certificate and one attendant