The shape of it
About
Tokyo's best-loved late-winter ume (plum) viewing fills Yushima Tenmangu shrine with roughly 300 plum trees, many of the white Shirokaga variety. Across the festival there are taiko drumming, open-air tea ceremonies and weekend stage performances on the shrine grounds.
Highlights
- Around 300 plum trees, many of the white Shirokaga variety, in bloom
- Taiko drumming, open-air tea ceremonies and weekend dance performances
- A centuries-old plum-viewing shrine dedicated to the deity of learning
Plan it well
- Aim for the second half of February for peak bloom, and go on a weekday to dodge crowds
- Walkable from Yushima or Ueno-Hirokoji stations; combine with nearby Ueno Park
- Weekend events change week to week, so check the schedule before you visit
Where it happens
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