Mito's Kairakuen, one of Japan's three great gardens, hosts the Mito no Ume Matsuri each year from late February, when its 3,000 plum trees representing over 100 varieties bloom in waves of white, pink, and red. The festival is among the largest and longest-running plum festivals in Japan, drawing over 300,000 visitors annually to the hillside garden overlooking Lake Senba. Special evening illumination events called 'Yoru no Ume' light up the blossoms after dark, and traditional performing arts including mito kagura dance and koto recitals take place on the festival stage. The adjacent Kobuntei villa and surrounding parkland are fully open during the festival period.
- Type
- Festival
- Category
- Snow/Winter
- Season
- Winter
- Month
- Late February to Late March
- Region
- Kanto
- Prefecture
- Ibaraki
- City
- Mito
Highlights
- ◆3,000 plum trees in over 100 varieties
- ◆Evening 'Yoru no Ume' illumination of blossoms
- ◆Traditional kagura dance and koto performances
- ◆Historic Kobuntei villa open to visitors
- ◆Panoramic views over Lake Senba