UME (PLUM) FESTIVALS in TOKYO (FEB)Sakura in Atami is finishing in a week or two but you can enjoy plum blossom (now blooming all over Tokyo) viewing this month. In the past, plum was more popular than sakura symbolizing luck and hope reassuring everyone warmer weather will come soon! It will be nice and sunny all week so please enjoy the plum blossom festivals!

Hanegi Park Plum Festival
From February 8 to March 1
Hanegi Park in Setagaya-ku, featuring around 650 plum trees. During this festival, on weekends, vendors sell plum-themed food and there are some performances.
Address: 4-38-52 Daita, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo
Access: 5-minute walk from Umegaoka Station (Odakyu Line)

Yushima Tenjin Plum Festival
From February 8 to March 8
Yushima Tenjin Shrine in Bunkyo-ku, featuring around 300 plum trees commemorates the plum blossoms with a month-long festival filled with performances, a mikoshi (portable shrine) procession, and food stalls.
Address: 3-30-1 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
Access: 2-minute walk from Yushima Station (Chiyoda Line), 10-minute walk from Hongo-Sanchome Station (Marunouchi or Toei Oedo Line) http://www.yushimatenjin.or.jp/pc/ume/index.htm

Koishikawa Korakuen
From February 7 to March 1
Bunkyo-ku, featuring around 90 plum trees. There are not usually booths or special performances; it’s all about enjoying the fragrant blossoms in tranquility.
Admission: ¥300
Address: 1-6-6 Koraku, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112-0004
Access: 8-minute walk from Iidabashi or Korakuen Station
http://teien.tokyo-park.or.jp/en/koishikawa/

Kameido Tenjin (shrine)
From February 9 to March 10
Downtown Tenjin shrine has over 300 plum trees. There is also a famous tree which has both red and white blossoms.
Address: 3-6-1 Kameido, Koto-ku, Tokyo
Access: 15-minute walk from Kameido Station (Sobu Line)
http://kameidotenjin.or.jp/gallery/ume/

Ushi Tenjin Koubai Matsuri
From February 1-February 25
This shrine is known for its red plum blossoms (koubai) and pink weeping plum blossoms. You can try amazake (a fermented rice drink, which is actually non-alcoholic) and ginger tea on Saturdays. On Sundays, they offer plum sweets, dried plums, and umeshu (plum wine) that’s been fermented for 5-10 years.
Address: 1-5-2 Kasuga, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
Access: 10-minute walk from Korakuen (Marunouchi or Nanboku Line) or Kasuga Station (Toei Mita Line)
http://www.ushitenjin.jp/

Odawara plum blossom festival
From February 1- March 1
It an hour and a half away by train from Tokyo. 35,000 plum trees that offers a clear view of Mt. Fuji. There are different kinds of plum blossoms there’s a yabusame (horseback archery) demonstration, lion dances, a calligraphy performance, concerts and more.
Access: 15-minute walk from Shimosoga Station (Gotemba Line)
http://soganosato.com/index.html

Shiba Park Ume festival
Mid Feb
Plum blossom (70 trees) viewing with Tokyo Tower in the background.
Admission: ¥400
Address: Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Access: 1-minute walk from Shiba-Koen Station (Toei Mita Line) / 6-minute walk from Akabanebashi (Oedo Line)
http://shiba-italia-park.jp/shiba/