Plum Blossoms & Early Spring Flowers in Japan

A Quiet, Fragrant Beginning to Spring — With Seasonal Flavors to Match

Before the world turns its eyes to cherry blossoms, Japan quietly welcomes spring with plum blossoms (Ume) and other early flowers. From late February through March, parks, shrines, and gardens begin to bloom in soft shades of white, pink, and deep magenta — often while winter’s chill still lingers in the air.

For travelers seeking a more serene and culturally rooted spring experience, this is one of the most beautiful times to visit Japan.

📍 Best Places to See Plum Blossoms in Japan

Some of Japan’s most famous plum-viewing spots include:

• 偕楽園 (Ibaraki) – One of Japan’s Three Great Gardens, with over 3,000 plum trees.

• 北野天満宮 (Kyoto) – A historic shrine known for its elegant plum garden.

• 湯島天満宮 (Tokyo) – A popular early-spring flower destination in the capital.

Many of these locations host plum festivals featuring tea ceremonies, traditional performances, and seasonal street food.

🌼 Other Early Spring Flowers to Enjoy

March in Japan also brings:

• Kawazu-zakura (early-blooming cherry blossoms)

• Camellias (Tsubaki)

• Nanohana (rapeseed blossoms), bright yellow fields that signal warmer days ahead

These flowers create a colorful transition between winter and full sakura season.

🍡 Taste of Early Spring: Seasonal Plum & Flower-Inspired Foods

Spring in Japan is not only seen — it is tasted.

🌸 Ume (Plum) Specialties

Plum blossoms mark the season for ume-based foods, including:

• Umeboshi (salted plums)

• Ume syrup drinks

• Ume-flavored sweets and wagashi

• Plum blossom–shaped confectionery served with matcha

Their balance of sweet and tart flavors reflects the refreshing feeling of early spring.

🌸 Spring Wagashi & Floral Sweets

Traditional Japanese sweets begin to incorporate floral motifs and seasonal ingredients:

• Sakura mochi (available slightly later in March)

• Strawberry daifuku

• Light, pastel-colored nerikiri sweets inspired by plum petals

Seasonality (shun) is central to Japanese cuisine, and early spring offers delicate flavors that mirror the subtle beauty of the blossoms.

🌿 Why Visit Before Cherry Blossom Season?

While sakura draws massive global attention, visiting Japan during plum blossom season offers:

• Fewer crowds

• Lower accommodation costs

• A more traditional atmosphere

• A chance to experience spring gradually unfolding

It is a softer, more intimate introduction to Japan’s seasonal culture.

✨ A Different Side of Spring in Japan

If cherry blossoms are a celebration, plum blossoms are a quiet poem.

From fragrant gardens to plum-infused sweets enjoyed with warm tea, early spring in Japan offers a refined, sensory experience — one that combines nature, tradition, and seasonal cuisine in perfect harmony.

Before sakura takes center stage, consider discovering the elegance of Japan’s first flowers of the year.