Public Service Announcement for Yokohama City

8th February 2023

This week's edition is on plum blossom viewing events in Yokohama.

Every year around this period, plum blossoms start to bloom in Japan, heralding the approach of spring. This week, I’ll be introducing some plum blossom viewing spots in Yokohama City.

Sankeien, in Naka Ward’s Honmoku, has long been famous for its plum blossoms. Approximately 500 trees produce some truly beautiful blooms. Particularly recommended are the uncommon “Garyobai”, which has branches that sway like a dragon heaving its body along the ground, and the “Ryokugakubai”, where the calyx at the base of the petals is green. The latter was gifted by the city of Shanghai in China. 

To coincide with this period when the blossoms are at their best, Sankeien will hold a plum blossom viewing event from Sunday 12th February - Sunday 26th February.

Between Friday 10th February and Wednesday 8th March, visitors to the gassho (deeply slanted thatched roof) style "Former Yanohara Family Residence" will be able to view Hina dolls that were made in Kyoto and Tokyo about 100 years ago.

Together with the plum blossoms in the garden, which are now in full bloom, visitors can experience an early taste of spring in Japan.

At Okurayama Park, there are around 220 trees of 46 varieties, from early blooming plum trees to late blooming ones, so the blossoms can be enjoyed for an extended period.

On 25th and 26th February, when the Okurayama Plum Blossom Viewing event will be held, a special stage will be set up inside the plum grove, with a variety of performances planned, such as Japanese traditional dance, taiko, and shakuhachi, so visitors can enjoy Japanese culture.

There will also be sales of Okurayama plum sake, 'Ume no Kaori', and stalls set up by the local shopping street too.

The Okurayama Plum Blossom Viewing event will take place between 10am and 4pm on both Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th February.

Please come to Yokohama to enjoy the plum season!