Experience the Arrival of Spring at Osaka Castle Plum Grove

📍 Osaka · 👁 833 reads

The plum blossoms are blooming, and spring is approaching...

Lichun is the day spring begins. As it arrives, on fine days the sunlight feels stronger, doesn’t it?

Though temperatures remain low and cold days continue, you can still feel spring drawing nearer, little by little. I am waiting for the warmth and the cherry blossom season.

In Japan, before cherry blossom viewing, there is plum blossom viewing.

Plum blossoms have a long blooming period. In Osaka, from the end of January to March, various colors of plum varieties bloom in sequence.

Speaking of famous plum viewing spots in Osaka, one cannot miss the Osaka Castle Plum Grove. Every year, over a hundred kinds of plum trees bloom there in succession.

At the start of the new year, I chose a clear, cloudless day with an endless blue sky to visit the Osaka Plum Grove, to see if the plum blossoms were about to open.

The plum grove is located on the east side of Osaka Castle Park, about a 10-minute walk from Osaka Metro's 'Morinomiya Station' and 'Osaka Business Park Station'.

This is what the plum grove looks like. Ah... as expected, I came too early... I felt disappointed. But I still wandered among the trees...

Oh! I found them! They're blooming! They're blooming!!

Seeing these early-blooming plum blossoms gave me a feeling of 'discovering spring!' — it made me so happy.

There were also some plum trees with only a few blossoms.

Since ancient times, the refined pleasure of searching one by one for early-blooming plum blossoms has been called 'seeking the plum' (xun mei).

Every time I find a few scattered blossoms, a sense of joy wells up inside me.

Normally, you’d think flowers wouldn’t bloom in cold weather, right? In the midst of lingering chill, the quietly blooming plum blossoms evoke a tender affection.

Even bees have come. Working hard in this cold weather, little bees. Creatures in nature are so resilient. These scattered signs of spring give me courage.

Plum and cherry blossoms overlap in their blooming seasons and both bloom on trees, so for foreigners, it might be hard to tell them apart.

Simply put, the difference lies in the petals. Round-shaped petals are plum blossoms; petals with a split at the tip, heart-shaped, are cherry blossoms. To use an analogy, cherry blossoms give a gorgeous, cute impression, while plum blossoms feel like a cold beauty.

Looking down, I found daffodils under the plum trees! These are also bulb plants that announce the arrival of spring. Their blooms look like trumpets. It feels like they’re all smiling at me. So endearing!

Next, as the early plum blossoms reach full bloom, various middle-season varieties begin to slowly open.

It is said that from late January to mid-February, the activity of enjoying these plum blossoms in full bloom is called 'plum blossom viewing' (shang mei).

About a thousand plum trees are planted in Osaka Castle’s plum grove — red, pink, and white varieties all bloom together, filling the air with the fragrance of plum blossoms. Strolling through the grove feels like stepping into another world, where you can fully enjoy the breath of spring.

After that, from late February onward, late-blooming plums gradually show their faces, then slowly wither, continuing until mid-March. Reluctantly bidding farewell to the plum blossoms is called 'seeing off the plums' (song mei).

By this time, temperatures have warmed, and true spring is about to arrive. When the plum blossom season ends, the long-awaited cherry blossom season finally begins. Plum blossoms are like messengers that bring us news of spring.

Japanese people slowly feel the arrival of spring through plum blossoms.

For a while now, it’s a great opportunity to view plum blossoms. Please find a less crowded time and take a stroll in the Osaka Castle Plum Grove to feel the spring atmosphere.

On the official website of Osaka Castle Park, you can also check the 2023 blooming status and which varieties are in season.

Additionally, it is said that during the plum blossom season, a special Lawson convenience store set up in the plum grove will be open. It offers warm drinks, oden, and plum-related products, as well as restrooms.

In our daily lives, we can feel spring all around us. When you go out, try to notice your surroundings and 'search for spring.' Let’s welcome a bright and beautiful spring together.

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Travel Journal Contents

1. Plum blossom season has arrived

2. The plum grove in mid-January! Let's seek plum blossoms

3. Next pleasures — plum viewing and seeing off the plums. Spring messengers

4. Discover spring in Osaka! Travel info

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