[Saitama ]Four plum blossom viewing spots decorated with red and white flowers in early spring.
![[Saitama ]Four plum blossom viewing spots decorated with red and white flowers in early spring.](https://assets.deep-exp.com/assets/img/uploads/media/818/main_front_detail.jpg)
As the severe cold eases and the arrival of spring is felt, ume (plum) blossoms begin to bloom. There are many attractive ume viewing spots throughout Japan. Saitama Prefecture also has many ume viewing spots, and we will introduce four of them: Koshu Bairin, Koshigaya Bairin Koen, Omiya Daini Koen, and Hodosan Ume Hyakkaen.
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Table of Contents
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Koshu Plum Grove, one of the three major plum groves in the Kanto region
Plum planting started in the Nanbokucho Period
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The Ogoosebairin plum grove extends over the town of Ogo, Iruma-gun, located roughly in the center of Saitama Prefecture. It is one of the three largest plum groves in the Kanto region, along with Mito Kairakuen in Ibaraki Prefecture and Atami Plum Garden in Shizuoka Prefecture. Usually from mid-February to mid-March, the area is brightly decorated with red and white plum blossoms. "The Koshu Plum Grove Ume Festival "is held every year.
The history of ume cultivation in Echigo is very old and seems to date back to the Nanbokucho Period (1350s), when the Tenmangu Shrine was built in Echigo as a branch shrine of the Tenmangu Shrine in Dazaifu, Fukuoka Prefecture. It is said that Sugawara Michizane, who is enshrined as the deity of the shrine, was a great lover of plum blossoms. Plum trees were planted one after another along the Koshibe River that runs west of the shrine, and a vast plum grove was completed.
About 1,000 red and white plum trees grow in the Koshu Plum Grove.
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About 1,000 plum trees are grown in the Echigo Plum Grove, including "Shirakaga ", "Ogoose Yabai "and others. The ratio of red and white plums is approximately 30% red and 70% white. The scent of plum blossoms wafts through the park for about a month until mid-March.
The park has a promenade where visitors can take a leisurely stroll through the endless plum grove. The plum blossoms are constantly covering your head, making you feel as if you are wandering through a tunnel of plum blossoms.
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Spread out your lunch box on a leisure sheet in your favorite spot and the flavor will be doubled.
A gazebo is also located in the southwest part of the area.
The gazebo offers a 360-degree panoramic view of the plum grove below, so you can look down at the plum blossoms from different angles. You will be overwhelmed by the plum blossoms spreading as far as the eye can see.
"Ume Festival "Mini SL operated in the park during the festival
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The "Echu Plum Grove Ume Festival "is usually held in conjunction with the blooming of the plum trees. 2022 was held from February 11 to March 21. During the festival, a mini-slide train runs through the park on Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays from 10:00 to 15:00. It runs on a 250-meter-long rail that weaves through the plum trees, giving off steam as it goes. Even though the size of the miniature train is for children, adults will want to ride it as well. Not only parents and children, but also grandchildren and children will surely have a great time.
"During the Plum Blossom Festival ", the plaza in the northwest part of the plum grove will become a stall village. Gourmet food stalls of various kinds, including snacks, refreshments, and sweets, will surround the benches for resting.
"Facility Information "
Facility Name: Ogoosebairin (plum grove)
Address: 113 Doyama, Koshu-cho, Iruma-gun, Saitama
Tel. No. 049-292-1451 (Koso Town Tourist Association)
Access From "Koshio Station on JR Hachiko Line and Tobu Koshio Line ", take Kawagoe Kanko Bus "bound for Kuroyama ", get off at "Umebirin Iriguchi "stop, and walk about 1 minute.
Koshigaya Plum Orchard Park, where gradations can be created with many varieties of red and white plum blossoms.
A plum blossom viewing spot transformed from a peach blossom viewing spot
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Koshigaya Bairin Koen (Koshigaya Plum Grove Park) is a park along the Moto-arakawa River in Koshigaya City, located in the southeastern part of Saitama Prefecture, developed by planting plum trees. Approximately 300 ume trees are planted in the park. Usually from late February to mid-March, the ume blossoms create a gradation of red and white.
Since the Edo period (1603-1867), the Moto-arakawa River basin area in Koshigaya City has been a good soil for fruit production, and peaches and plums were actively cultivated there. "The Tokugawa Jitsuki "lists Koshigaya's peach blossoms as one of the three best places for flower viewing near Edo. In the 1950s, plum trees began to replace peaches in production. The area is now a plum grove park of about 20,000 square meters.
About 40 varieties of red and white ume that blend together in perfect balance.
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A major feature of Koshigaya Bairin Park is the well-balanced cultivation of red and white plum trees. There are approximately 40 varieties. In early spring, red and white plum blossoms bloom in sequence, creating an exquisite color contrast. In the red plum family alone, "Toubai ", "Fuji Botan Shidare ", "Yae Kanko ", "Yae Toubai ", "Beni Toji ", "Nishikishibai ", "Tsukushikou ", "Naniwa ", "Kurokumo ", "Oosazuki ", "Suohoubai " , "Hime-chidori ", "Jitsuzuki ", "Gofuku-shidare ", "Michishirube ", "Sabashi-hong ", "Benibotan "and many more.
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In the white plum family, "Shirakaga ", "Bai Gou ", "Gekkyuden ", "Omo no Omama ", "Nishikishou Ume "add colorful accents to the red plum trees. You can even see a unique variety called "KENKYO "that changes its color from light red to white after flowering.
Walking on the boardwalk requiring good observation skills.
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A promenade runs through the park, where the colors of red and white blend together. If you take a stroll and look closely at neighboring plum blossoms, you will notice subtle differences in branching, flower color, and shape. However, you may need to be very observant to distinguish among the 40 varieties of ume blossoms.
Finding your favorite plum tree and eating your lunch while looking up at the flowers will give you a picnic feeling.
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The "Koshigaya Plum Orchard Park Plum Festival "is usually held in conjunction with the best time to view the plum blossoms. Numerous stalls line the banks of the Moto-arakawa River, and free amazake (sweet sake), field stands, and musical events are planned in the central plaza.
"Facility Information "
Facility Name Koshigaya Bairin Koen (Koshigaya Plum Grove Park)
Address: 203-1 Obayashi, Koshigaya-shi, Saitama
Phone number 048-963-9225 (Parks and Greenery Division)
Admission Free
Access Tobu Skytree Line "Kitakoshigaya Station "20 min. walk from West Exit
Omiya Daini Park, where a 22-hectare ume (plum) grove will be established.
Park straddling Omiya and Minuma wards in Saitama City
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Omiya Daini Koen was established in 1980 by developing the Minuma-tanbo area in Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture. A ume (plum) grove has been established on a vast site of approximately 22 hectares within the park. Usually from mid-February to mid-March, the ume trees bloom and the park is enveloped in the colors of early spring.
The plum grove is located near the northwestern edge of the park. Follow the signboard to enter the forest.
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Numerous benches are set up along the parkway so that visitors can sit and enjoy the plum blossoms that surround them from front to back and left to right.
Plum grove where about 500 ume trees of about 40 varieties are grown
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About 500 ume (plum) trees of about 40 varieties are grown in the ume grove of Omiya Daini Park. Early-blooming red plum trees begin to bloom in late December, but the best time to see them is from mid-February to mid-March, when the entire forest is in full color.
Among the approximately 40 varieties of ume, you can see "Beni-botan (red peony) ", "Akatsuki-shidare (dawn weeping) ", "Kensyo ", "Bungo ", and "Uji-no-Haru (white plum) ", among other famous trees. If you carefully observe the branches and the color and shape of the flowers, and notice the differences between the species, your interest in ume will surely deepen.
Held every year "Omiya Daini Park Plum Blossom Festival "
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The "Omiya Daini Park Plum Blossom Festival "is held every year, coinciding with the best time to view the plum blossoms. During the Plum Blossom Festival, stalls appear in the plaza in front of the gallery building in the center of the park.
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Special venues are set up in the plaza, and events such as monkey shows are sometimes held. The plaza is filled not only with plum blossoms, but also with all kinds of fun.
"Facility Information "
Facility Name Omiya Daini Koen (Omiya Second Park)
Address: Jyuno-cho, Omiya-ku, Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture; Owada-cho, Minuma-ku, Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture
Phone number 048-642-2228
Admission Free
Access JR "Omiya Station "about 30 min. walk from East Exit, Tobu Urban Park Line "about 20 min. walk from Omiya Koen Station "
Hodosan Ume Hyakkaen (Plum Blossom Garden), where the mountainsides are decorated with seasonal makeup of the top-class varieties in the Kanto region.
Plum orchard at the top of Hodo Mountain in Nagatoro
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Hodosan Ume Hyakkaen (Plum Blossom Garden) is located in Hodosan, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Nagatoro, located in northwestern Saitama Prefecture. The entire area around the summit of the 470-meter-high mountain is a forest of ume plum trees. The area is usually decorated with seasonal flowers from early February to late March.
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At the Hodosan Plum Blossom Garden, which is located on a mountainside, plum blossoms bloom in three-dimensional layers. Although the path is not flat, it is gently sloping, so you will not get tired.
Over the plum blossoms, you can see the mountains of Chichibu and the city of Nagatoro with the Arakawa River quietly flowing through it, providing a varied view of the city.
Approximately 170 varieties are top class in the Kanto region
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There are approximately 170 varieties of ume plum trees that adorn the mountain surface of Hodosan. It boasts one of the top-class varieties in the Kanto region. "Winter Solstice ", "Beni Touji ", "Kankoubai ""Full Moon ", "Toumai no Tsuki ", "Cangmei no Tsuki ", "Yae Yabai ", "Yae Kanko ", "Shouokucho ", "Gyokken "etc. Checking all varieties It would take a considerable amount of time to check all the varieties.
Hodosan ropeway connects the base and summit of Mt.
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The plum orchard is built near the summit of Hodosan, but there is no need to worry about access. The Hodosan ropeway runs from the foot of the mountain to the summit station. The ropeway is approximately 960 meters long and takes about 15 minutes. The entrance to the plum garden is located adjacent to the plaza at the summit station, so there is no need to climb a slope.
"Facility Information "
Facility Name: Hodosan Ume Hyakkaen (Plum Blossom Garden)
Address: 2195 Nagatoro, Nagatoro-cho, Chichibu-gun, Saitama
Phone number 0494-66-3311（Nagatoro-cho Tourist Association)
Admission Free
Access Hodosan Ropeway "Adjacent to summit station "
summary
We have introduced four ume (plum) viewing spots in Saitama Prefecture: Koshu Bairin, Koshigaya Bairin Koen, Omiya Daini Koen, and Hodosan Ume Hyakkaen. In all of these spots, red and white plum trees are dyed with the colors of the season in early spring. If you get close to the plum trees and pay attention to the varieties of plum trees, plum viewing will be more enjoyable.
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