[Kanagawa ]Six plum blossom viewing spots in Yokohama City that are decorated with red and white blossoms in early spring.

Sankeien was opened to the public on May 1, 1906 by Sankei Hara, a businessman who made his fortune in the raw silk trade in Yokohama during the Meiji Era. 170,000 square meters of historically valuable buildings from Kyoto and Kamakura (1185-1333) have been skillfully relocated to the park.

In the center of the park is the Oike Pond, with its calm surface. The ume (plum) grove extends from Kanshin Bridge, which crosses the southeastern part of the pond, to the eastern shore of the pond.

The most widely planted is "Garyubai (臥竜梅) ". It is named for its branches, which resemble a dragon crawling on the ground.

The old main building of the temple, formerly known as the Lantern Hall, which was moved to the side of the pond, will be covered with the pure white flowers of "Garyubai (lying plum tree) ". The building was constructed in Kizugawa, Kyoto during the Muromachi period.

Daffodils are also in bloom on either side of the promenade that winds through the plum grove, softly decorating the foot of the plum blossoms.

"Facility Information "
Facility Name Sankeien
Address: 58-1 Honmoku Minotani, Naka-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Phone number 045-621-0634
Opening hours: 9:00 to 17:00 (admission until 30 minutes before closing)
Closed December 29 through 31
Admission Adults (high school students and older): 700 yen / Children (elementary and junior high school students): 200 yen
Access JR Negishi Line/Yokohama Line "Negishi Station "to "Take City Bus No. 58/101 "about 10 min. " Honmoku stop "about 10 min. walk

Within the park, which stretches over a vast area of land, the plum grove is located in the western part of the park, past the main gate and lawn area. Around 300 ume trees are planted in the forest.

Benches and azumayas are set up at the sights so that visitors can sit back and admire the ume blossoms.

The greatest feature of the plum grove in Negishi Forest Park is the wide variety of ume varieties. Approximately 130 varieties of ume (Japanese apricot) grow in the park, making it one of the largest in Yokohama City.

In the red plum family, "Kuroda ", "Kekyo ", "Gosecho-no-mai ", "Miyuki ", "Beni-chidori ", "Sabashi-kohaku ", "Toki-no-mai ", "Haru no utage ", "Yae-to-bai ", "Yanagawa-shibori ", "Rengyu "" , ", , , and others compete in shades of red.

In the white plum tree family, "Ryuho ", "Hitoe Yabai ", "Tsuki no Hikari ", "Kokinshu ", "Miyoshino ", "Kasugano ", "Taninoyuki ", "Hasegawa Shibori ", "Tagonoura ", "Momoyama ", "Jitsugatsu " , "White crepe ", "Muyushibori ", "Rinchigae "and others intertwine colorfully with the red plum blossoms.

"During the Negishi Forest Park Plum Blossom Festival ", not only will there be various events such as Nodate (outdoor tea ceremony), Koto (Japanese harp) performances, and flower arrangement performances, but also ponies and other animals will appear from the horse museum in the park for visitors to experience petting them.

"Facility Information "
Facility Name Negishi Forest Park
Address: Negishidai, Naka-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Phone number 045-641-9185
Access 15 min. walk from JR Keihin Tohoku Line and Negishi Line "Negishi Station "or "Yamate Station "

The plum grove, which stretches long and narrow from east to west, is home to about 220 plum trees of 46 varieties.
A paved path through the forest winds through the ume blossoms, and benches and azumayas are provided.

The plum grove is filled with people strolling around viewing the plum blossoms, but there is one area in the center where the circle of people never stops. They seem to stop in their tracks, overwhelmed by the "Awajishidare (Awaji shidare) "light red flowers that cover them from overhead.

In addition, the pure white "Shirataki shidare (Shirataki weeping plum) "is nestled to the east of the light red "Awaji shidare ". The red and white weeping plum trees provide an exquisite contrast of color.

"When the Okurayama Plum Viewing Party "is held, a special stage is set up in the plum grove for events such as Japanese drum, koto, and shakuhachi performances, dances, and lion dances. Tasting and selling Okurayama's plum wine "Ume no Kaoru "also seems to be an annual event.

"Facility Information "
Facility Name Okurayama Park
Address: 2-10 Okurayama, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Phone number 045-353-1166 (Parks and Open Space Office)
Access Tokyu Toyoko Line "Okurayama Station "about 7 minutes on foot

Under the "green calyx kasugano (Ryokugaku kasugano) "that opens pure white flowers in the center, I saw a group of people enjoying eating and drinking on leisure sheets.

Early-blooming cherry trees "Kawazu-zakura (Kawazu-zakura) "also bloom during the plum blossom period. The "Kawazu-zakura "trees planted along the waterway that runs south of the plum garden also bloom at the same time as the plum blossoms. In Hodogaya Park, you can see not only plum blossoms but also cherry blossoms.

"Facility Information "
Facility Name Hodogaya Park
Address: 4-2 Hanamidai, Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Phone number 045-333-5515
"Access From the West Exit of Hodogaya Station on the JR Tokaido Honsen Line "" , take a local bus bound for Yokohama Station West Exit "or Hodogaya Station West Exit "or Hodogaya Station Circular ", about 10 minutes. "Get off at Hodogaya Baseball Stadium Mae "stop.

Ume no Sato is located in the south area of the park and dates back to 2000, when about 100 ume trees were planted as part of a project to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Yokodai. in 2020, the red ume "Benichidori "was planted.

In Ume-no-Sato, red and white plum trees are planted in perfect balance, framing the entire area in soft colors.

In the central azumaya, visitors will be able to relax and immerse themselves in the Japanese atmosphere in a residential area.

"Facility Information "
Facility Name Yokodai Nishi-Koen (Yokodai West Park)
Address: 2-2 Yokodai, Isogo-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Phone number: 045-750-2335 (Isogo Ward General Affairs Department, Ward Administration Promotion Division)
Access 10 min. walk from JR Negishi Line "Yokodai Station "

The plum grove is located eastward along the stream after entering the main entrance and crossing the central plaza. About 300 ume trees are planted on the northern slope of the parkway. Red and white plum trees grow in perfect balance, creating a fascinating contrast of vivid colors.

Plum blossoms are folded three-dimensionally, so visitors can look up from the parkway or up the slope and look down from above to appreciate the seasonal flowers from different angles.

Although the plum grove is spread out on a slope, groups of people can be seen enjoying lunch on leisure sheets in the flat areas found in some places.

"During the Kodomonokuni Plum Blossom Festival ", a variety of events are planned, including "Let's search in the plum grove! Stamp Bingo "games, "Ume Kazaguruma "crafts, and many other events will be planned during the festival.

"Facility Information "
Facility Name Kodomo no Kuni (Children's Land)
Address: 700 Naramachi, Aoba-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Phone number 045-961-2111
Opening hours: September to June: 9:30 to 16:30 (last admission at 15:30) / July and August: 9:30 to 17:00 (last admission at 16:00)
Closed: Wednesdays (open if Wednesday is a national holiday)/December 31/January 1
Admission fee adult, high school student = 600 yen / junior high school student, elementary school student = 200 yen / infant = 100 yen
Access Tokyu Kodomonokuni Line "Kodomonokuni Station "soon