Experience the Arrival of Spring at Osaka Castle Plum Grove

Plum blossoms are blooming, and the footsteps of spring are approaching...

Experience the Arrival of Spring at Osaka Castle Plum Grove

Spring begins with Lichun (the Beginning of Spring). With the arrival of Lichun, on fine days, we feel the sunlight growing stronger! Although temperatures are still low and cold days continue, we can still feel spring slowly approaching. We await the warm cherry blossom season.

In Japan, before cherry blossom viewing, there is the plum blossom viewing season. Plum blossoms have a long blooming period. In Osaka, from the end of January to March, various varieties of plum blossoms bloom in succession. Speaking of famous plum blossom viewing spots in Osaka, we must mention Osaka Castle Plum Grove. Here, over a hundred varieties of plum blossoms bloom in sequence every year.

At the beginning of the new year, I chose a clear, cloudless day with an endless blue sky to visit Osaka Plum Grove to see if the plum blossoms were about to bloom. The Plum Grove is located on the east side of Osaka Castle Park, about a 10-minute walk from Osaka Metro's "Mori no Miya Station" and "Osaka Business Park Station."

The plum grove looks like this. Ah~ I came too early after all... I felt disappointed.

But I still strolled through the grove...

Oh oh~ I found them! They are blooming! Blooming!!

Seeing these early-blooming plum blossoms gives a feeling of "discovering spring!" It was absolutely delightful.

Some plum trees only had a few blossoms.

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

Every time I discovered scattered blooming flowers, a surge of joy welled up inside me.

Generally, we think flowers won't bloom in cold weather, right? In the lingering cold, the quietly blooming plum blossoms evoke a sense of tenderness.

Even the bees came. Working so hard in this cold weather, little bees~. Creatures in nature are so resilient. These scattered signs of spring gave me courage.

Plum blossoms and cherry blossoms overlap in their blooming seasons and both bloom on trees, so for foreigners, it might be hard to distinguish. Simply put, the difference lies in the petals. Plum blossoms have round-shaped petals, while cherry blossoms have petals that split at the tip into a heart shape. By analogy, cherry blossoms give a gorgeous and cute impression, whereas plum blossoms give a cool beauty vibe.

Looking down, there are daffodils under the plum trees! These are also bulb plants that announce the arrival of spring. Their shapes are quite like trumpets. I feel like they are all smiling at me. So adorable!

Next, as the early plum blossoms reach full bloom, various mid-season varieties also begin to gradually bloom.

It is said that from late January to mid-February, the activity of enjoying these blooming plum blossoms is called "plum blossom viewing" (shang mei). Osaka Castle Plum Grove has about 1,000 plum trees. Red, pink, white, and other varieties bloom together, filling the air with the fragrance of plum blossoms. Strolling through the grove feels like being in another world, allowing you to fully enjoy the spring atmosphere.

After that, from late February, late-blooming plum blossoms gradually appear, then slowly fall, lasting until mid-March. Reluctantly bidding farewell to the plum blossoms is called "seeing off the plum blossoms" (song mei).

By this time, the temperature has warmed up, and true spring is about to arrive. When the plum blossom season ends, the long-awaited cherry blossom season finally arrives. Plum blossoms seem to be messengers that bring us the news of spring.

Japanese people gradually feel the arrival of spring through plum blossoms. For the next period, it's a great time for plum blossom viewing.

Please find a time when there aren't many people and take a walk in Osaka Plum Grove to feel the spring atmosphere. On the official website of Osaka Castle Park, you can also check the 2024 blooming status and the varieties currently in bloom. Additionally, it is said that during the plum blossom blooming period, a special Lawson convenience store is open in the plum grove. The store offers warm drinks, oden, and plum blossom-related products, and also provides restrooms.

In our daily lives, we can feel spring all around us. When you go out, pay attention to your surroundings and try to "explore for spring" (tan chun). Let's welcome the bright and beautiful spring together.

Travel diary directory:

1、● Plum blossom season arrives

2、● The plum grove in mid-January! Come seek plum blossoms

3、● Next joys - plum blossom viewing and seeing off plum blossoms. Spring news

4、● Discover Osaka's spring! Travel Information Hotel Index Strategy Index Flight Ticket Index Website Navigation Travel Index Cruise Index Corporate Travel Index Franchise Cooperation Distribution Alliance Friendly Links Corporate Gift Card Purchase Insurance Agency Agent Cooperation Hotel Franchise Destination and Scenic Area Cooperation More Franchise Cooperation About Ctrip About Ctrip Ctrip Hot Topics Contact Us Career Opportunities User Agreement Privacy Policy Business License Security Center Ctrip Content Center Intellectual Property Trip.com Group Algorithm Disclosure