Another representative plum blossom spot in Shiga Prefecture is on the grounds of a traditional confectionery maker, Kanou Shojuan Sunai no Sato (叶 匠壽庵 寿長生の郷). As many as 700 plums produce fruits for the company to make Japanese sweets. The head office in Ōtsu was renovated from an abandoned village in 1985. The company takes full advantage of the natural scenery of the location to make its customers’ visits more pleasant. In addition to the plum grove and confectionery factory, there are various facilities in the village, including restaurants and a tearoom. There are even farm animals for you to meet!
Table of Contents
- Kanou Shojuan and the Plum Blossoms
- Kanou Shojuan’s General Information Center (総合案内所)
- Kanou Shojuan’s Traditional Cafe, Baisouan (梅窓庵), and Tearoom, Seikankyo (清閑居)
- Bakery&Cafe Noza (Bakery&Cafe 野坐)
- Kanou Shojuan’s Opening Hours and Access Information
While in Japanese, HERE is Kanou Shojuan’s map
Tip: Give the plum juice (梅ジュース) at Kanou Shojuan’s shop a try. The balance between the subtle sourness and sweetness is perfect.
Kanou Shojuan and the Plum Blossoms
The plums at Kanou Shojuan are mainly Joshū White (城州白), a Kyoto specialty variety. As its name suggests, the plum species has white flowers. The plums are planted across a slope. You can either adore the flowers from the bottom of the hill or hike up to the observation deck (山のテラス). Before climbing up, grab a couple of sweets and bread from the shop so you can eat while overlooking the gorgeous scenery. Beautiful red plum blossoms bloom near the parking lot.
During the plum blossom season, the Flower Party Plum Festival (花の宴 梅まつり) is usually held for the locals to celebrate the start of spring. Although the plum grove wouldn’t be illuminated, various events and special menus are on offer. There was even a sumo wrestling session during the 2024 event!
Of course, temporary stalls are set up to satisfy your mouth and stomach. Many foods sold at the stalls are plum-infused. Fresh fruits and vegetables are also on sale.
In 2024, the festival period was from the 23rd of February to the 20th of March from 10 am to 5 pm.
From early June to early July, the plum grove is open for visitors to enjoy plum-picking.
Kanou Shojuan’s General Information Center (総合案内所)
The general information center at Kanou Shojuan is a 150-year-old folk house. Besides the greenery in the village, the cafe space is where you can enjoy a relaxing time enjoying the blessing of nature in summer.
The shaved ice served here is made from natural ice from the famous Nikkō (日光) in Tochigi Prefecture (栃木県). The ice is made by filling a reservoir with natural spring water and slowly freezing it utilizing the Nikkō’s cold winter. Apparently, there are only five companies in Japan that produce natural ice.
If you are wondering what the big deal is about natural ice, it is about its taste. Compared to ice made from freezers, natural ice is much gentler and unlikely to give you a brain freeze. As soon as you put it in your mouth, it melts, making you crave more.
Because Himuro (氷室) is where natural ice is stored, the dessert is called Himuromori (氷室守). While there are various Japanese-style dressings, we recommend the one topped with homemade sauce made from plums harvested from the premises and apricots.
Kanou Shojuan’s Traditional Cafe, Baisouan (梅窓庵), and Tearoom, Seikankyo (清閑居)
The best spot to adore the plum blossoms is the traditional cafe, Baisouan. It is located past the confectionery shop. The plum grove can be seen from the cafe’s floor-to-ceiling window. When you are tired from all the walking around Kanou Shojuan, rest at Baisouan and enjoy the Matcha Cream Anmitsu (抹茶クリームあんみつ). The bowl is filled with shiratama rice cakes, seasonal fruits, matcha ice cream, bean paste, and agar.
If you would like to experience the traditional tea ceremony, you can do so at Kanou Shojuan’s tearoom, Seikankyo. After serving a premium Japanese sweet, the host will make you a bowl of matcha tea. The staff will show you the proper way to enjoy tea as a guest. The tearoom, surrounded by rich nature, is the best place to take in Japanese culture.
To make a reservation for your tea ceremony session, please do so at the confectionery shop or the information center.
Bakery&Cafe Noza (Bakery&Cafe 野坐)
Traditional confectionery isn’t the only product that Kanou Shojuan makes. It also has bread for the visitors to enjoy.
Many are unaware that the amount of bread that the citizen of Ōtsu City consumes ranks first or second in Japan. So, considering this fact, Kanou Shojuan opened a bakery cafe several years ago. The bakery cafe is now so popular that the locals would come for breakfast right when it opens.
The bread sold at the bakery is made from dough fermented at low temperature using natural yeast. If you are unsure which bread to try, how about the top seller, red bean paste and butter (あんこバター)? The red bean paste was made specifically for bread. The bean variety is Asai Dainagon (浅井大納言), harvested locally.
Above the bakery is a cafe space surrounded by greenery. Siphon-brewed coffee or tea made to order is served with toast or a sandwich for breakfast. The cups used in the cafe are fired in a climbing kiln in the pottery studio on the premises called Toeaji (十◯地). The clayey soil used is from Shiragaki (信楽), a town in the nearby citi, Kōka (甲賀).
Kanou Shojuan’s Opening Hours and Access Information
- Kanou Shojuan is open from 10 am to 5 pm from Thursday to Tuesday.
- The last order is taken at 4:15 pm.
- Bakery&Cafe Noza closes at 4 pm or until sold out.
- Free shuttle buses depart from Ishiyama Station (石山駅) north exit. Refer to the end of the English Official Website for the bus timetable.
- The parking fee is 1,000 yen, but you will get a 1,000 yen coupon. So, it is technically free to park at the store!
Discover Other Attractions in Ōtsu City
Ōtsu, the capital of Shiga Prefecture, is filled with rich cultural and historical elements. Although it only lasted for five years, we are sure after you admire the scenery of Japan’s biggest lake – Lake Biwa, it won’t be hard to understand why Emperor Tenji (天智天皇) wanted to stay close to it!
For more information, please refer to our article on Ōtsu City (=ﾟωﾟ)ﾉ.
