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A Fragrant Arrival: Experiencing Plum Blossom Season in Japan
Before the cherry tree became so popular in Japan, the plum tree was the most important tree in Japanese culture. Today, people still adore the plum blossom for its beauty, symbolism, variety, and delicious taste. This post explores all of the facts about the Japanese plum and its role in historical and modern society.
Introduction to Plum Blossoms
Plum blossoms are the flowers of the Prunus mume, a deciduous tree species native to China, Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. Most people know this type of tree as a plum tree or apricot tree. The Prunus mume that grows in Japan is known as Japanese plum or Japanese apricot. Natives simply call it “ume” in Japanese.
Japanese plum blossoms are one of the first signs of spring. This is because they tend to open up in February and March, which is earlier than other springtime bloomers in the country. In honor of the blossoming of plum trees, various plum festivals take place in parks, temples, and shrines across the country. Family and friends gather at these events to enjoy food and umemi (plum-viewing). Before hanami (cherry blossom viewing) became mainstream in Japan, umemi was the more popular spring tradition.
A typical plum blossom has five petals, and its color could be white or pink. It has a sweet fragrance that only adds to its natural appeal in gardens and parks. Plum fruits are processed in a variety of ways and eaten as food. There are so many cultural, symbolic, and culinary layers to Japanese plum blossoms and their trees. Read on to find out more!
The Symbolism of Plum Blossoms
There are several meanings associated with plum blossoms in Japanese culture. Since ancient times, these flowers have been nature’s announcers of the coming of spring, reminding people that the harshness of winter is about to give way to the mildness of spring. As a result, Japanese plum blossoms symbolize endurance, vitality, renewal, and hope. They also represent inner strength because people believe the blossoms silently endure great hardship before turning into something so beautiful.
These flowers have also been celebrated in Japanese poetry, where they’re commonly mentioned in reference to spring, beauty, and elegance. Both the haiku and renga genre of Japanese poetry use plum blossoms as a kigo, which is a term used to represent a season. In such pieces, plum blossoms represent early spring.
The blossoms are also associated with the uguisu (Japanese bush warbler), an elusive bird that sings a loud breeding song at the start of spring. The two spring symbols are depicted on a card category in hanafuda, a type of Japanese playing cards.
The art scene is not left out, as hand-drawn images of the blossoms grace greeting cards and spring festival invitations. Ink paintings of the flowers are also common in Zen Buddhist temples.
Plum Blossoms vs. Cherry Blossoms
Some may mistake plum blossoms (ume) for the more internationally known cherry blossoms (sakura). Although both flowers look alike, there are many ways to tell them apart. Let’s take a look at their common differences:
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Shape: Plum blossoms have rounded petal tips, while cherry blossoms have a notch on each petal tip.
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Branches: The flowers on each plum branch are well-spaced with almost no leaf stalk but those on a cherry branch are clustered and have long leaf stalks.
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Color: Plum blossoms are typically white, pink, or crimson red, while cherry blossoms are white, dark pink, or light pink.
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Scent: Plum has a stronger, sweet fragrance similar to jasmine, while cherry’s scent is a lot milder.
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Blooming times: Plum trees start to bloom in late January, while cherry trees start blooming in mid-March.
Famous Plum Blossom Spots in Japan
Looking for the best places to see plum blossoms in Japan? We asked around and curated a list of top umemi spots in the country. Enjoy!
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Kairaku-en Garden (Mito): Located in Mito City, Ibaraki, the Kairaku-en Garden has the enviable reputation of being one of the finest landscape gardens in the country. Its main attractions are its 3,000 plum trees that tend to bloom from late February to the end of March. There are over 100 different varieties of plum trees in the garden, including those with red, pink, and white flowers. Kairaku-en Garden hosts Mito Ume Matsuri, one of the biggest plum-viewing festivals in Japan. During your visit, be sure to also check out the other attractions such as its bamboo grove and traditional Japanese-style buildings.
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Yushima Tenjin Shrine (Tokyo): Yushima Tenjin is a shrine in Tokyo dedicated to Sugawara Michizane, a 9th century government official and scholar. People travel to the shrine to partake in religious activities that bring good luck. They also come to see the 300 plum blossoms that grace its grounds in spring. The shrine boasts 20 plum varieties. In February, it hosts a plum blossom festival with the bright flowers on full display for visitors.
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Hanegi Park (Tokyo): Also located in Tokyo, but offering a unique perspective to plum blossom viewing, Hanegi Park is one of the most famous spots to see ume flowers in Japan. It’s famous for having more than 600 blooming plum trees and hosting a sensational plum festival every February. You can mix flower viewing at the park with sports like soccer, tennis, and baseball. Kids will love having fun at the playground.
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Kitano Tenmangu Shrine (Kyoto): There’s a lot to love about Kitano Tenmangu Shrine in Kyoto City. However, from February to March, its grove of 2,000 plum trees steal the spotlight. One of these trees, called the tobiume tree (flying plum tree), is believed to have followed Sugawara Michizane from Kyoto to Kyushu. On February 25, you might catch the famous Baikasai, an annual tea ceremony that takes place in the plum grove.
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Atami Plum Garden (Atami): One of the best things to do in Atami City, Shizuoka is to visit the local plum garden. It’s a popular picnic hot spot in the spring. The garden’s annual plum festival showcases over 500 plum trees in 59 varieties. From January to March, some plum blossoms bloom early while others bloom late.
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Inabe Plum Grove (Inabe): The Inabe City Nogyokoen is a park famous for its plum grove containing 4,500 plum trees. These beautiful blossoms grow in 100 unique varieties, making it one of the most diverse collections in the country. The grove hosts a massive ume festival in March.
Plum Blossom Festivals
Ume festivals take place in different places across Japan during plum blossom season. These events offer you the chance to look at plum blossoms in parks, gardens, shrines, and temples. You also get to eat different foods and explore other attractions at the festival grounds. Japanese plum blossom festivals typically start in mid-February and end in late March, just before cherry blossom festivals begin. These ume celebrations allow you to enjoy an outdoor event without facing the same problem of overcrowding that plagues the cherry blossom festivals.
A typical plum blossom festival features various spectacular events, including illuminations, fireworks, dance performances, calligraphy demonstrations, archery, ninja shows, guided tours, and plum liquor (umeshu) ceremonies. A big part of the experience involves exploring food shops and stands at the venue. Most vendors sell local farm produce, including pickled plums, oranges, citrus fruits, and jams. They also sell street food like oden, taiyaki, udon, and soba, along with sake and other beverages. The following is a list of some of the best plum blossom festival in Japan with their venues and estimated dates:
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Mito Plum Blossom Festival at the Kairaku-en Garden, Mito (Late February to Late March): 3,000 plum trees
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Soga Plum Festival at the The Soga Plum Forest, Odawara (Early February to Early March): 35,000 plum trees
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Inabe Plum Festival at Inabe Plum Grove, Inabe (Late February to Late March): 4,500 plum trees
Varieties and Colors of Plum Blossoms
Japan boasts a wide variety of plum trees. Some of them are native to the country, while others were imported from other nations. Most Japanese plum tree variants have been human-cultivated for centuries. The majority of Japanese plums have five petals that exhibit colors ranging from pale pink and deep red to deep pink and vibrant white. Some of the blossoms have double flowers. Popular Japanese plum trees are Formosa, Burbank, Emerald Beaut, Catalina, Methley, Shiro, Elephant Heart, and Mariposa.
Plum Blossoms in Japanese Gardens
The incorporation of plum trees and flowers into the design and aesthetics of traditional Japanese gardens is very different from how plants are placed in Western gardens. Like with the other garen elements, plum trees are added with spiritualism in mind. The placement and arrangement of these trees typically follow the aesthetic principles of traditional Japanese gardens, which include miniaturisation, concealment, and asymmetry.
The aim of plum blossoms in most Japanese gardens is to create a picturesque scene. They beautify the locations with a bright display of their seasonal contrasting colors. Gardeners tend to the trees by regularly trimming them to keep them from blocking the views of other trees.
Plum Blossoms in Japanese Art and Literature
The ethereal beauty and cultural symbolism of plum blossoms translate perfectly into Japanese art and literature. During the Edo period, landscape illustrators like Ogata Kōrin were famous for their works with seasonal flowers like cherry blossoms and plum blossoms. One of his pieces, Red and White Plum Blossom, created in the 18th century, arguably the most intimate artistic depiction of ume. Plum blossoms are also heavily referenced in poems, where they often represent the coming of spring season.
Culinary Uses of Plum Blossoms
The flowers and fruits of plum trees have extensive applications in Japanese cuisine. The spring flavors of plum blossoms can be infused in other ingredients, including syrups and creams. After the plums have lost their vibrant hue, you can pluck their plums and eat them fresh or process them into tasty food.
The most popular of these foods is umeboshi, a sour and salty pickled plum. The traditional process of making umeboshi could take several weeks. First, ume plums are pickled in a jar of salt for several days before introducing red shiso leaves. The pickled plum is left to dry in the sun for several more days before it’s ready. Umeboshi is often served with steamed rice or used as a filling for onigiri.
Japanese plums are used to make umeshu, also known as plum wine. This alcoholic beverage is a mixture of unripe ume, sugar, and distilled liquor that has been allowed to sit for several months.
Planning Your Visit During Plum Blossom Season
If you want to enjoy the plum blossom season in Japan, the best times to visit are February and March. If you’re staying for a week or more, we recommend that you get a Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass) before you arrive. The pass will give you unlimited rides on JR trains, allowing you to explore as many plum blossom spots as you like without spending too much money. Some of the best umemi spots in the country are located in or near Tokyo, so you should consider getting accommodation in the city.
Conclusion:
The unique charm of plum blossoms is just as evident today as it was centuries ago. Only a few flowers have had as much impact on Japanese culture and arts. Visit Japan at the start of spring season to experience this lesser-known but equally enchanting aspect of Japanese spring firsthand.
No matter the season, Bokksu Boutique offers you the chance to share Japanese culture with your friends, families, and coworkers. Explore our collection of gift items perfect for any occasion.
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