Speaking of plum blossoms in Japan, many Japanese would think of Sugawara no Michizane (菅原道真). The famous scholar from the Heian period (794 – 1185) is known for his love towards plum blossoms. Therefore, most, if not all, of the Tenmangū shrines in Japan have plums planted. The Tsunashiki Tenmangū (綱敷天満宮) in Kobe isn’t an exception. You can find around 120 plums of 30 varieties in the precinct!
Tsunashiki Tenmangū’s Plum Blossoms
The plum blossom season at Tsunashiki Tenmangū is usually between mid-February to early March. The Tsunashiki Tenmangū Plum Blossom Festival is held on the 24th or 25th of February. Nighttime illumination is also usually on.
- In 2024, the Tsunashiki Tenmangū Plum Blossom Festival was held on February 25 between 11 am and 5 pm.
- The nighttime illumination was held from sunset to 9 pm from February 23 to 25.
About Tsunashiki Tenmangū
In 901, Michizane was demoted to Dazaifu in Kyushu. On his way to Kyushu, he was forced to land in Kobe due to severe weather. The local fishermen made a round straw mat so that Michizane didn’t have to sit on the ground when resting under a pine tree. After Michizane passed away, a shrine was erected there to commemorate him. In addition, a round mat called Tsunashiki no Enza (綱敷の円座) is placed in front of the worship hall. It is for you to sit on and focus on praying to Michizane.
Near Tsuneshiki no Enza is a statue of young Michizane with a surfing board. In Japanese, obstacles in life are often described as big waves, making ‘surfing the waves’ a metaphor for overcoming life’s challenges. Thus, the statue has the meaning of hoping that pilgrims will ride the rough waves of the times and find happiness in life.
The Eggplant Stool and the Five Omoutsubo Pots (思うつぼ) at Tsunashiki Tenmangū
Across the approach is a purple eggplant. Everyone can sit on the eggplant stool (なすの腰かけ). It is another auspicious item in the precinct. Because eggplant flowers bear fruit, and its Japanese pronunciation can also mean fulfilment (成す), the shrine priest hopes those who visit the shrines will be rewarded for their efforts.
You will also find five pots called Omoutsubo (思うつぼ) at Tsunashiki Tenmangū. Each of them symbolizes a wish, which we have listed below. You can perform a simple ritual by inserting a small Negai-dama ball (願い玉) while praying in your head. The ball will come out from the bottom of the pot. Then, you can treat the ball as a lucky charm. Refer to the second photo in the Instagram post for how the pot looks like.
- 成: Your goals will be achieved.
- 座: Focus
- 波: Overcome life difficulties
- 愛: Finding a good life partner
- 学: Achieving great academic results
The Negai-dama wish ball can be purchased from the shrine office.
Tsunashiki Tenmangū’s Opening Hours and Access Information
- Tsunashiki Tenmangū is open from 9 am to 4:30 pm.
- It is around a 10-minute walk from JR Suma Station (須磨駅).
- You can also get off at Sanyo Dentetsu’s (山陽電鉄) Sumadera Station (須磨寺駅) and walk for 3 minutes.
Discover Other Plum Blossom Spots in Kobe
Kobe City has a couple more places to see the plum blossoms. Most of them are close to a train station, so you can easily stop by one of them as you explore other parts of Kobe. If you like hot springs, the renowned hot spring town in Kobe, Arima Onsen, also has two places to appreciate the flowers.
Refer to our article on the Guide to the Plum Blossom Spots in Kobe and start planning!
Explore Other Places and Hidden Gems in Kobe
The port city of Kobe has many other popular attractions and hidden gems that are worthwhile to explore. For example, for those who love nature, the Nunobiki Falls ranked the same as the Kegon Falls in Nikkō National Park, is probably the next spot you would want to visit. Moreover, the Akashi-Kaikyō Bridge in the photo to the right offers bridge climbing tours for those who want magnificent views and thrills!
To find out more about this amazing city, please refer to our article on Kobe (=ﾟωﾟ)ﾉ.
