Three Plum Blossom Walks Not to Miss Around Tokyo
Each year I lived in Tokyo, I looked forward to plum blossom season as the first true sign of spring. Lesser known than cherry blossoms, plum blossoms in Tokyo are just as delightful: fragrant, colorful, and quietly uplifting. If you’re planning a trip to Tokyo between February and early March, visiting an ume matsuri (plum blossom festival) in one of the city’s parks, shrines, or temples is a seasonal experience I highly recommend.
In this article, I share three scenic plum blossom walks in and around Tokyo that are especially worth adding to your itinerary. Each walk links beautiful plum blossom spots and is covered in a dedicated guide with practical tips, walking routes, and photos, ideal for flower lovers, photographers, and travelers looking for a exciting way to enjoy early spring in Tokyo.
1. A Walk in Setagaya: Plum Blossoms & the Lucky Cat Temple
🌸 Best for: A relaxed city walk in residential Tokyo, combining blossoms and a visit to a unique temple
Step off the beaten path on a relaxing early spring walk in this quiet area of Tokyo. This walk takes you through two of the area’s gems: the tranquil Hanegi Park (根木公園), with its yearly plum blossom festival, and Gotokuji Temple (大谿山 豪徳寺), known for its iconic lucky cats (manekineko). When I was living in Setagaya, this walk became an almost yearly tradition for me during plum blossom season.
📍 Where: Setagaya, Tokyo
🗓️ Best time to visit: February to early March
➡️ Read the full walk guide: A Walk in Setagaya: Plum Blossoms and Lucky Cat Temple, with the route I took, practical info and other tips.
2. Beautiful Afternoon Plum Blossom Walk in Bunkyo, Tokyo
🌸 Best for: Garden stroll, urban plum blossoms & local festival vibes
This walk links three of my favorite plum blossom spots in central Tokyo: Ushi-Tenjin Kitano Jinja (牛天神北野神社), Koishikawa Korakuen Garden (小石川後楽園), and Yushima Tenmangu (湯島天満宮). I’ve done this route myself on a weekend and had a great time experiencing the three plum blossom festivals. Whether you’re a flower lover or simply looking for a refreshing way to enjoy early spring in the city, I find this itinerary is a lovely way to experience Tokyo’s plum blossoms at their best.
📍 Where: Bunkyo, Tokyo
🗓️ Best time to visit: February (if you don't mind the crowds and want to enjoy the matsuri festivities, it's best to do it at the weekend rather than during the week and to check the festivals’ programs in advance).
➡️ Discover the route + best times to visit: Where to See Plum Blossoms in Tokyo: a Beautiful Afternoon Walk in Bunkyo
3. Soga Plum Festival: Amazing Plum Blossoms Near Tokyo
🌸 Best for: Off-the-beaten-path plum blossom day trip in the Japanese countryside
The Soga Plum Blossom festival is my favorite ume matsuri near Tokyo, thanks to the scale of the blossoms (there are 35,000 plum trees spread across the area) and how easy it is to visit as a day trip. It is easily reached by train from central Tokyo in over an hour. I had never seen so many plum trees in my life and I had a great time at this festival, which seems to be little known to foreigners and is a great opportunity to have an authentic experience of Japanese countryside and of a seasonal festival. And on a clear day, you might even be rewarded with a stunning backdrop of Mount Fuji behind the blooming plum trees.
📍 Where: Soga Plum Grove, Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture
🗓️ Dates of the festival: 07 February to 01 March 2026
➡️ See full guide + access details: Amazing Plum Blossoms Near Tokyo: the Soga Plum Festival
Practical Tips for the Plum Blossom Season in Tokyo
When to go: Mid-February to early March is prime plum season in the Tokyo region.
Best time of day: Early morning or late afternoon for fewer crowds.
Transport: All three walks are easily accessible by train. Each guide includes specific station info and walking routes.
Looking for more plum blossom spots ideas? Here is a list of places that are still on my plum blossom bucket list around Tokyo and that I hope to visit in the future:
Kairakuen (偕楽園) in Mito, about a two-hour train ride from Tokyo
Naritasan park (成田山公園), in Chiba prefecture, about 1.5 hours by train from Tokyo
Ikegami Plum grove (池上梅園) in Ota-ku, southern Tokyo
Sankeien (三溪園) in Yokohama
To Conclude
What I love about these three plum blossom walks in and around Tokyo is that each offers a different experience, whether you’re drawn to the lively atmosphere of a festival, a quiet neighborhood stroll, or the countryside. For practical details, I’ve written a dedicated guide for each route with step-by-step directions, photos, and travel tips to make planning easy. If you try one of these walks, I’d love to hear about your experience, feel free to leave a comment. Happy exploring!
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