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Vegetarian's Japan Guide

Sone Tenmangū: One of the Best Plum Blossom Spots Near Kobe

Sone Tenmangū (曽根天満宮), enshrining Sugawara no Michizane (菅原道真), was erected by his fourth son and 13 retainers after he passed away in Dazaifu, Kyushu. It is the spot that proves Michizane was wrongly demoted for a crime he didn’t commit. In addition to the pine that is the shrine’s symbol, around 200 plums of 40 varieties bloom between late February and mid-March.

About Sone Tenmangū Shrine and the Sacred Pine

In 901, when Michizane was on his way to Dazaifu, the group stopped by Iho Port (伊保港) for a break. He climbed up Mt. Hikasa (日笠山), west of the shrine, and planted a small pine while praying. He asked the god to let the tree grow healthy if he wasn’t guilty. Judging by the pine grew into a fine tree, Michizane was truly innocent.

The pine once had a trunk circumference of 6 meters, but it weakened after Toyotomi Hideyoshi took down the southwestern Hyōgo Prefecture and died in 1798. However, the tree that is now known as Sone’s Pine (霊松曽根の松) still has its trunk preserved. And the Sone’s Pine in Sone Tenmangū’s precinct is the fifth generation.

Moreover, the Kokoro Pond (心池) next to the pine was constructed for the first generation of the Sone’s Pine. The head priest was worried about the tree’s health at the time and got an oracle to create a pond in the shape of the word “Heart (心)” at the base of the pine. By keeping the pond filled with water at all times, the pine would stay healthy.

The Buildings in Sone Tenmangū’s Precinct

While Sone Tenmangū was destroyed in 1578 when Toyotomi Hideyoshi suppressed the feudal lords in southwestern Hyōgo Prefecture, it was restored in 1590. The shrine’s scale was expanded when Tokugawa Ieyasu’s daughter donated money to build the Haiden Hall (拝殿) in 1609. Its territory increased in 1648 under Tokugawa Iemitsu’s (the third Shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate) order. Knowing the Tokugawa shogunate took Sone Tenmangū seriously, many feudal lords visited the shrine when they traveled passed the southwestern Hyōgo Prefecture.

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The oldest architecture in Sone Tenmangū is the main gate, Zuishinmon (随神門), built in 1717. The second oldest is the Heiden (幣殿), completed in 1765. The Haiden (拝殿) was renovated in 1766. The main worship hall, Honden (本殿), was rebuilt in 1870. Most of the wooden structures were built using zelkova.

When you see the cute cow statue, remember to stroke it for blessings!

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The Plum Festival at Sone Tenmangū Shrine

A Plum Festival is usually held on the first weekend in March at Sone Tenmangū. Traditional art performances take place throughout the two-day festival. Plum-infused tea and confectionery can be enjoyed for 400 yen. A couple of stalls are also set up during the event.

In 2024, the Sone Tenmangū Plum Festival was held from 10 am to 3 pm on March 2nd and 3rd.

How to Get to Sone Tenmangū Shrine

  • Sone Tenmangū Shrine is a 5-minute walk from Sanyo Dentetsu’s Sone Station (曽根駅).
  • From JR Sone Station (曽根駅), it is a 20-minute walk.

Tip: If you eat eggs, get some traditional manjūs from the confectionery maker, Murata no Castella Manjū (むらたのカステラまんじゅう), opposite Sone Tenmangū.

Discover the Plum Blossom Spots in Kobe

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Kobe City next in the same prefecture also has a couple of places where you can see the plum blossoms. As most of them are close to a train station, you can easily stop by one of them as you explore other parts of Kobe. If you like hot spring, the renowned hot spring town in Kobe, Arima Onsen, also has two places for you to appreciate the flowers.

So, refer to our article on the Guide to the Plum Blossom Spots in Kobe and start planning!

Discover the Plum Blossom Spots in Osaka

We are sure Hyōgo Prefecture is one of many destinations you will visit in the Kansai region. Osaka Prefecture, for example, has many plum groves awaiting you to discover, too. If you fly into Osaka, there are a few plum blossom spots close to the Kansai Airport!

So, refer to our article on the Plum Blossom Posts in Osaka to plan your trip!

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Click the photo to discover the plum blossom spots in Osaka!

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