Public Service Announcement for Yokohama City

14th February 2024

This week's edition is on Yokohama’s plum blossom viewing events (plum blossom information).

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. 

Sankeien’s plum blossom viewing event is being held until Sunday 3rd March.

As well as this, until Wednesday 6th March, visitors to the gassho (deeply slanted thatched roof) style "Former Yanohara Family Residence" will be able to view Hina dolls that were made about 100 years ago.

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

At Okurayama Park in Kohoku Ward, 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 23rd and 24th 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 drumming, and shakuhachi (bamboo flute), so visitors can enjoy Japanese culture.

There will also be an open-air tea ceremony held by a local high school tea ceremony club, where visitors can enjoy making tea while viewing the plum blossoms.

As well as this, there will be sales of Okurayama plum sake, 'Ume no Kaori', and stalls set up by the local shopping street.

The Okurayama Plum Blossom Viewing event will take place between 10am and 3pm on both Friday 23rd February (national holiday) and Saturday 24th February.

Please come to Yokohama to enjoy the plum season!