Public Service Announcement for Yokohama City

12th February 2025

This week's edition is on "Plum Blossom Viewing 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.

First up, is Sankeien in Naka Ward’s Honmoku. The garden has long been famous for its plum blossoms, with approximately 500 trees producing some truly beautiful blooms.

Particularly recommended are the rare “Garyobai”, whose shape resembles a dragon crawling on the ground, and “Ryokugakubai”, whose sepals at the base of the petals are green.

The latter was a gift from the Chinese city of Shanghai.

Sankeien is holding its plum blossom viewing event until Monday 3rd March.

As well as this, until Tuesday 4th March, Hina dolls that were made about 100 years ago will be on display.

Combined with the plum blossoms in the garden, which are now in full bloom, visitors can experience the feeling of spring in Japan.

Next, let me tell you about Kohoku Ward’s Okurayama Park. 

This park is home to around 220 plum trees of 46 varieties, from early blooming plum trees to late blooming ones, so the blossoms can be enjoyed for an extended period. 

On 22nd and 23rd February, when the Okurayama Plum Blossom Viewing event will be held, a special stage will be set up, with a variety of performances planned, such as Japanese traditional dance and taiko, so visitors can enjoy Japanese culture.

A local high school tea ceremony club will hold an open-air tea ceremony too, so visitors can enjoy making tea while admiring the plum blossoms.

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

Please come to Yokohama to enjoy the plum blossom season!