Top 10 Plum Blossom Spots and Event Information in Okayama [2025 Edition]

• Table of Contents
• 1. Handayama Botanical Garden ( Kita Ward, Okayama City )
• 2. Kanzaki Plum Garden (Higashi Ward, Okayama City)
• 3. Umenosato Park (Tsuyama City)
• 4. Kanshoji Temple (Yakage Town)
• 5. Kibitsu-jinja Shrine(Okayama City)
• 6. RSK Rose Garden(Okayama City)
• 7. Okayama Korakuen Garden(Okayama City)
• 8. Miyama Park (Tamano City)
• 9. Old Shizutani School(Bizen City)
• 10. Birthplace of Dr. Yoshio Nishina (Satosho Town)
• Conclusion

1. Handayama Botanical Garden ( Kita Ward, Okayama City )

Handayama Botanical Garden is famous for its cherry blossoms, but it also has plum blossoms! The attraction is being able to see a wide variety of plum blossoms, and it's recommended to enjoy the individuality of each one. There are signs with the name and characteristics of each plum blossom, so please enjoy the differences between them. It's located in the city of Okayama, so it's easily accessible and a convenient plum blossom spot.

[Handayama Botanical Garden]

Address: 3-1 Hokaiin, Kita Ward, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture

TEL: 086-252-4183 Business hours: 9:00-16:30 (entrance until 16:00)

Closed: Tuesdays (or the following day if the Tuesday falls on a public holiday), December 29th to January 3rd

Price: 310 yen for adults, 125 yen for children

Access (car): Approximately 15 minutes from Okayama IC on the Sanyo Expressway

Access (public): 15 minutes on foot from JR Hokaiin Station

Flowering period: Late January to early March

The plum grove near the summit and the weeping plum trees in the western flower bed are beautiful, but there are also other plum trees here and there in the park. The photo shows a single white plum tree. On February 11, 2024, the red winter plum trees were in full bloom. The weeping plum trees in the western flower bed are also starting to bloom, so it looks like they will be enjoyable for a long time to come.

This is a double white plum blossom.

There are also double red plum blossoms.

As of February 9, 2024, the wintersweet was still in bloom. The pleasant scent will refresh you. In addition to plum blossoms, you can enjoy other flowers such as flowering peaches and daffodils.

Plum fruit from last June

The plum trees that bloom at this time of year will bear fruit in June. Last year, they sold plums in June, and I bought 1 kg.

I tried making pickled plums using the plums I bought from Handayama Botanical Garden. The beautiful plums you see at this time of year turn into delicious pickled plums! It's a moving thought. Plums are good to look at, and good to eat.

Handayama Botanical Garden "Let's see plum blossoms and early spring flowering trees" After learning about the types of plum blossoms and the key points for observation in a classroom, you will observe the real ones in the garden. If you look at plum blossoms after learning, you will have a deeper understanding and will see them in a different light, making them much more enjoyable.

Okayama City Handayama Botanical Garden

3-1 Hokaiin, Kita-ku, Okayama-shi, Okayama 700-0004

It is a comprehensive botanical garden that manages and grows approximately 3,200 species and 150,000 plants. The entrance has a magnificent view that looks like an open-air opera theater. It is located on a hilly area with an altitude of 10m to 85m, and the view of Okayama from the top is very beautiful. This place is less crowded than the famous cherry blossom viewing spots, so it is highly recommended for people who want to escape from the hustle and bustle, or for families. You will be amazed by the harmony of cherry blossoms, sky, and green colors. Enjoy a leisurely tour of Handayama Botanical Garden, which is approximately the size of 11 Tokyo Domes.

2. Kanzaki Plum Garden (Higashi Ward, Okayama City)

Kanzaki Plum Garden has a plum grove with over 20 varieties and about 500 plum trees. The sight of many plum trees blooming on the wide grounds is a sight to behold. The plum garden can be viewed from the top of a hill. On the day of the plum festival, many people can be seen enjoying the plum blossoms. It makes you feel warm inside to think that strangers are all here to enjoy the plum blossoms just like you and me.

[Kanzaki Plum Garden]

Address: 2322 Kanzakicho, Higashi-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture

TEL: 086-946-0545

Access (car): About 5 minutes from Saidaiji IC on the Okayama Blue Line

Access (public): Take the bus bound for Ushimado via Ushimado from JR Saidaiji Station for about 20 minutes, get off at "Kanzakiguchi", then walk for about 10 minutes

Blooming season: Mid-February to early March

Taihaku Plum Festival

This year, the Plum Festival will be held for the first time in four years. There will be food stalls and a matcha seating area set up in the plum garden, so it's sure to bring back the excitement.

[Taihaku Plum Festival]

Event period: Sunday, February 16, 2025

Time: 10:00~

Location: Kanzaki Ryokuchi Park area

TEL: 086-946-0545 (Taihaku Plum Festival Executive Committee)

Kanzaki plum garden

2322 Kanzaki-cho, Higashi-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture 704-813...

It is located on a hill called Yurakuyama in Kanzaki Town, adjacent to the south of Kamusaki Shrine. The local neighborhood association has been managing the plum grove since the 1960s. Together with the adjacent Kanzaki Ryokuchi Park, there are about 500 plum trees of over 20 different types, and when the flowers bloom, a ``Plum Festival'' is held, attracting many visitors. During the fruiting season, a ``ume-chigiri'' event is held, and omes are sold on the spot. Plum blossom season: Mid-February to early March

3. Umenosato Park (Tsuyama City)

This is Ume no Sato Park, which is characterized by the fact that the entire mountain area is covered in plum groves. Unlike the Kanzaki Plum Garden, which you look down on, this plum garden is one you look up to. The best time to see the plums is usually around mid-March, so it is recommended for those who have missed the plum blossoms in the southern part of the prefecture and those who want to enjoy even more plum blossoms.

[Umenosato Park]

Location: Jindai, Tsuyama City, Okayama Prefecture

TEL: 0868-57-2075 (Tsuyama City Jindai Plum Village Management Association)

Access (car): Approximately 10 minutes from Innosho IC on the Chugoku Expressway, or approximately 20 minutes from Kuze IC on the Yonago Expressway.

Access (public): 15 minutes by taxi from JR Mimasaka-Chiyo Station

Flowering period: Mid-March to late March

Plum Tunnel

As you go up the mountain path, you will see plum blossoms on both sides, almost like a tunnel. There are many rows of cherry trees, but Ume no Sato Park is the only place where you can enjoy a tunnel of plum trees.

Plum Festival at Kojiro Plum Village Park in Tsuyama City

There will also be a plum festival with a variety of events. They also sell pickled plums and plum jam, which you can buy as souvenirs. These are additive-free pickled plums, which are hard to find. I bought some myself and enjoyed them at home.

[Plum Festival at Jindai Plum Village Park in Tsuyama City]

Event period: Saturday, February 22, 2025 to Sunday, March 23, 2025

Location: Jindai Ume no Sato Park, Tsuyama City

Umenosato Park

709-4621 Kamishiro, Tsuyama City, Okayama Prefecture

Ume-no-Sato Park in Kojiro, Tsuyama City has 14 varieties of plum trees, including red and white plum trees, planted in an approximately 4-hectare garden, including Kagoshima red plums, Yae cold plums, Kanbai weeping plums, Uguisado plums, Nanko plums, and Koshu small plums. Masu. The promenade leading to the mountaintop is covered with red plum blossoms, creating a fantastically beautiful sight that resembles a tunnel of flowers. The view from the observation deck at the top is also outstanding, and you can see the mountains in the distance.

4. Kanshoji Temple (Yakage Town)

So far we have been introducing plum gardens, but the last one is a temple. This is Kanshoji Temple in Yakage Town . The highlight is the Garyubai plum tree, which is said to be over 200 years old.

Address: 3663 Yokoya, Yakage Town , Oda County TEL: 0866-82-1049 (Kanshoji Plum Festival Support Association)

Garyuuume

The Garyuu Plum tree has a long history of 200 years. Take your time to look at the magnificent branches and feel the passage of time.

5. Kibitsu-jinja Shrine(Okayama City)

The shrine grounds, where the main hall and worship hall are designated as national treasures, include a plum grove, where the best time to see the white, red, and weeping plum blossoms is from mid-February to mid-March. It is also a popular spot for photography enthusiasts, as you can take photos of the approximately 400m corridor and the national treasure buildings.

Kibitsujinja shrine

701-1341 931 Kibitsu, Kita Ward, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture

There is a legend surrounding Kibitsuhiko no Mikoto and Ura, who are said to be the origin of the Momotaro (demon slaying) legend. You can experience legendary settings such as Yagi Rock, where it is said that an arrow was placed to kill demons, and Okamaden, where it is said that the head of a demon was buried. The Narukama Shinto ritual, in which fortune is predicted by the sound of a kettle, is familiar to many people. The main shrine and worship hall, which were rebuilt in 1425, are the only ones in Japan to adopt the architectural style Kibitsu-zukuri (hiyoku irimoya-zukuri, hiyoku irimoya-zukuri), and have been designated as national treasures. Additionally, the beautiful 360m corridor that extends from the main shrine is a historic building that is worth seeing.

6. RSK Rose Garden(Okayama City)

Although it is famous as a rose viewing spot, 150 plum trees of 15 varieties bloom with pretty flowers from mid-February to mid-March, making you feel the arrival of spring a little early. It is also recommended to enjoy the combination of these with the winter peonies, which are popular as a feature of early spring.

RSK rose garden

1592-1 Nadekawa, Kita-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture 701-0164

This is one of the largest rose gardens in Japan, with 15,000 roses in 450 varieties, including large and medium-flowered varieties. You can enjoy seasonal flowers including roses. There are also restaurants, rose shops, and dog runs.

7. Okayama Korakuen Garden(Okayama City)

In the plum garden within the park, you can enjoy about 100 plum trees, both red and white, from early February to early March. The park's opening anniversary (March 2nd) falls during the peak viewing period, and around that time, Japanese cultural experiences are held under the title "Japanese Hospitality in the Spring."

Okayama Korakuen Garden

703-8257 1-5 Korakuen, Kita-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture

A large garden built by Tsunamasa Ikeda, the second lord of the Okayama domain, as a place for relaxation. The spacious garden, decorated with seasonal flowers, is a different world just like the Edo period. In 1952, it was designated as a “Special Place of Scenic Beauty” as a historical and cultural heritage site, and received a three-star rating in the Michelin Green Guide Japan. Various events are held throughout the four seasons, such as tea gathering and moon viewing, and for a limited time, you can enjoy the ``Fantasy Garden,'' which is specially opened at night and lights up the garden in a different way than during the day. Volunteer guides (free of charge) are also popular with tourists.

8. Miyama Park (Tamano City)

The park is a famous flower spot with over 300 varieties of 150,000 trees planted, including about 7,000 cherry trees, plum trees, camellias, azaleas, and maples. The early-blooming plum tree "Yang Guifei" is characterized by its deep pink flowers and sweet fragrance. The best time to see them is from around mid-February.

Miyama Park

2-4490 Tai, Tamano City, Okayama Prefecture 706-0001

This park is located in the center of Tamano City, adjacent to National Route 30, and has five ponds dotted around it and is surrounded by green pine trees, with an elevation of 50m to 180m. There are approximately 150,000 trees planted in the park, including over 300 species, including approximately 7,000 cherry trees, plums, camellias, azaleas, and maples.

9. Old Shizutani School(Bizen City)

At the Old Shizutani School, a national historic site, you can see the pretty red and white plum blossoms blooming against the backdrop of the tiled roofs and stone walls of Tsurumaru Gate every year from mid-February. The best time to see them is expected to be from mid- to late March.

Former Shizutani School

705-0036 784 Shizutani , Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture

In 1670, Ikeda Mitsumasa, the feudal lord of Okayama, founded Japan's first "public school for the common people." Built deep in a valley, the school was named Shizutani School. Many capable leaders who would go on to shape Japan's history came from here. The stately lecture hall with its gabled roof is worthy of being called the "Hall of Learning." It has been designated a national treasure. The area is dotted with facilities designated as important cultural properties by the nation, including the shrine where a statue of Confucius, the father of Confucianism, is enshrined. In 2015, it was recognized as the first Japan Heritage Site along with the "Special Historic Site of the Former Kodokan (Ibaraki Prefecture)," "Historic Site of the Ashikaga School (Tochigi Prefecture)," and "Historic Site of Kan'i-en (Oita Prefecture)" as "Educational Heritage Sites of Early Modern Japan - The Source of the Spirit of Learning and Etiquette."

10. Birthplace of Dr. Yoshio Nishina (Satosho Town)

This is the mansion where Dr. Yoshio Nishina, the "father of modern physics in Japan," who was born in Satosho Town, spent his childhood. The old plum tree in the garden of the mansion, built in the late Edo period, still blooms beautifully today. Every year on the second Sunday in March, a plum viewing event is held with the cooperation of local volunteers.

Conclusion

What did you think? ・If you want to casually enjoy various kinds of plums and flowers, then "Handayama Botanical Garden" ・If you want to look down, then "Kanzaki Plum Garden" ・If you want to look up, then "Umenosato Park" is the plum tunnel ・If you want to feel the history of the magnificent branches, then "Kanshoji Temple" Each has its own charm. There are many other recommended plum spots in Okayama Prefecture. Please check them out!

Plum blossom information

Map of the spots introduced