Mito Plum Festival

For a historic and dazzling plum blossom festival, stop by the Mito Plum Festival.

What to expect

The Mito Plum Festival takes place in Kairakuen Garden, one of Japan’s most iconic plum blossom parks. With over 3000 trees, the whole park transforms into a forest of blossoms, and the festival makes it even more memorable with decorations and performances.

If the park isn’t eye-catching enough to fill your day, you can also visit the Kodokan building, a martial arts school surrounded by plum trees. The traditional architecture blanketed in blossoms is stunning, making this a popular spot for photos.

Schedule

• Ume The Lights (Feb. 15 to Mar. 9): From 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., see the plum blossoms at night lit bright with lamps and crafted illuminations.
• Daikumachi Night (Feb. 12 to Mar. 31): Head to the nearby Daikumachi area in a free plum-colored tuk-tuk (between Feb. 15 and 22) for evening illuminations and lanterns.
• Daikumachi Snack Bar Hopping (Feb. 12 to Mar. 31): The Daikumachi Shopping Mall hosts snack bar tours and drink tastings, with guides for foreign visitors.

Tickets

Tickets to Kairakuen will set you back ¥320 for adults, and ¥160 for children and the elderly. It costs ¥420 for adults to enter Kodokan.

How to get there

The most direct route to the gardens is to take the Mito Station bound bus from outside Tokyo Station. The trip takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes one way and costs ¥2,250. Alternatively, you can take the JR Ueno-Tokyo Line from Tokyo Station. It’s a little slower, at around 2 hours and 10 minutes, and costs ¥2,310.

If you’re looking to be speedy, you can also take a Limited Express from Tokyo Station to Mito. It’s faster, at around 1 hour and 20 minutes, but will set you back ¥3,890 for the fare and a reserved seat.

Once you get to Mito Station, take the bus for Kairakuen Gardens from stops 4 or 6 outside the north exit. The trip will take about 20 minutes. If you’re looking to get to the Kodokan instead, it’s an 8-minute walk from the station.