As it turns out, mid-February through mid-March is the perfect time to catch the plum blossoms in Tokyo. They don’t carry the fame or multitudes of cherry blossoms, but they have a certain charm.
Several parks around the city have plum tree groves, including Shinjuku Gyoen and the gardens at the Imperial Palace.
These photos are from a recent afternoon in Koishikawa Korakuen.
There’s a month-long festival to celebrate the plum blossoms at Yushima Tenjin, one of Tokyo’s most well-known shrines.
Much like festivals in other parts of the world, vendors at Yushima offer a variety of deep-fried foods. Scott recommends the squid balls.
There are also performances such as this one involving traditional Japanese drumming.
Oh, the first scent of spring.. it’s a magical time.