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Vegetarian's Japan Guide

The Top Plum Blossom Spots on Awaji Island

While not as famous as Kobe, Awaji Island across the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge is one of the top tourist destinations in Hyōgo Prefecture. Many visit the island for the stunning scenery. It is also a historical and cultural rich part of the Kansai region. So, if Awaji Island is on your itinerary and you plan to visit it in early spring, consider to stop by a plum blossom spots on the island. We are sure it will be a highlight during your visit.

The Plum Blossom Spots on Awaji Island

Hirota Bairin Park (広田梅林 ふれあい公園)

The best spot to adore the plum blossoms on Awaji Island is Hirota Bairin. It is the island’s vastest plum grove, with around 450 plums of 9 varieties growing across 5,000 square meters of land. During the flowering season, the area is dyed pink and white. The sweet scent of plums wafts through the air, pleasing visitors’ five senses.

The Hirota area has long been known as a famous spot for plum blossoms. However, due to a food shortage during World War II, the plum grove was turned into a potato field. Missing the beautiful plum grove, members of the local elderly club planted 300 plums in 1966 in an attempt to make their hometown renowned again for plum blossoms.

In 2005, the scale of the plum grove in Hirota continued growing. The space next to the plum grove was turned into a park called Hirota Bairin Fureai Park. 150 more plums and 50 cherry blossoms were planted. Plum festivals and events have been held during the flowering seasons, keeping visitors entertained.

  • The plum blossom season at Hirota Bairin is between mid-February and early March.
    • In 2024, the Hirota Bairin Plum Festival (梅まつり) was held from February 18 to March 10.
    • Usually, local guides introduce visitors to the Hirota plum grove in Japanese. Local specialty, fresh vegetables, and refreshments are also sold.

How to Get to Hirota Bairin Park by Public Transport

  • From JR Miko Station(舞子駅), take a bus to Sumoto Kōsoku Bus Center (洲本高速バスセンター).
    • From there, change for Awaji Kōtsū’s (淡路交通) bus services bound for Fukura (福良) and get off at Hirota (広田). Hirota Bairin Park is then a 10-minute walk.
    • You can also take the Nagata Line (長田線) bound for Minato (湊) and get off at Miyanoshita (宮の下). The park is then a 5-minute walk.
  • You can use one of Japan’s Transport Apps to plan your visit.

The Weeping Plum Blossom in the Yagi Umamawari Area (八木のしだれ梅)

South of Hirota Bairin Park, there is a famous weeping plum blossom in the Yagi Umamawari Area. While there is only one tree in the front yard of the Murakami residence (村上邸), the 70-year-old tree is so stunning when the bright pink flowers cover it. We are sure you will be enchanted when you see the fantastical scene of the bright-colored flowers raining down from the 8-meter-tall tree. Standing close to the weeping plum would look like you are being showered with flowers!

The weeping plum was purchased and planted by Murakami-san’s grandfather. Upon purchase, the tree was only around two meters tall. Apparently, pruning is required for each of the numerous branches. It can be easily imagined how much effort has been required to take care of the tree over the last 70 years for it to be so healthy and bloom beautifully today. It is determined that the weeping plum would have over 100,000 flowers each season!

About the Weeping Plum Blossom at Murakami Residence

The residence’s owner is kind and doesn’t want to keep such a breathtaking view to himself. So, during plum blossom season, he opens his front yard to the public. He even set up lighting so the precious tree could be illuminated at night!

  • The weeping plum at Murakami residence usually blooms between late February and early March.
  • Except for the days when nighttime illumination is held, the spot is accessible from 9 am to 5 pm.
    • The last admission is at 4:30 pm.
    • The nighttime illumination is usually held for a week at the end of February for a week. During this time, the garden is open till 9 pm.
  • While an entry fee isn’t enforced, please leave 200 yen per person in the donation box set up for the tree’s maintenance costs.

How to Get to the Weeping Plum Blossom in the Yagi Umamawari Area

You will need a car to get to Murakami-san’s residence. The rice field around a 5-minute walk from the residence is used as a parking lot during the flowering period.

The roads around the parking lot will be one-way only during the flowering season, as congestion is expected. Go straight up the slope from the public road and enter the narrow, unpaved private road leading to the car park.

From the parking lot, turn right and go down the slope to enter the public road.

  • Currently, no parking fee is charged.
  • It has a capacity of 30 cars.
  • On weekends and public holidays, you might need to wait for over 30 minutes to park

Oishi Park (生石公園)

The last plum blossom spot on Awaji Island we want to introduce is Oishi Park. In early spring, you can see the plum blossoms blooming on the slope leading to the sea from the observation deck close to the car park.

Oishi Park was opened in 2010 after 260 plums were planted on the hill and roads are paved. The plum blossom season is usually between late February and mid-March.

Refer to our Oishi Park article for more information!

Ⓒ ひょうご観光本部

Discover the Plum Blossom Spots in Kobe

Hokura-Plum-Grove-Kobe-Hyogo-Japan
© photo-ac.com

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!

Plum-Grove-at-Domyoji-Tenmangu-Shrine-Fujiidera-Osaka-Japan
Click the photo to discover the plum blossom spots in Osaka!

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