This blog is made by staff of J-Hoppers Kyoto, Hiroshima and Osaka. We usually write about travel information on Kyoto, Hiroshima and Osaka. Also you'll see information about other guest houses and backpacker's hostels and local information like events or festivals. We are very happy if we could enrich your stay in Kyoto, Hiroshima and Osaka.

February 4, 2008

Cherry foretaste ...



You can't wait for Cherry Blossom ? I can't either, but Nature send us some help to keep patient until April with ... Plum Blossom ! Actually flowers are so similar that on my first year in Japan I've been mistaken and thought it was Cherry blossom ... f(^_^;) Plum blossom starts from around now and last until middle/end of March. So let me introduce you some good places to enjoy plum blossom ...

In Osaka area :

* The best place of all is surely Tenmangu Shrine. It will hold a Plum Matsuri from 10th of February to 9th of March
100 trees in its precinct
open from 9:00 to 17:00
special exhibition of bonsai, 500 yen
on the 17th and 24th of February, you can experience yourself handicraft made of fabric, 300-500 yen, 10:00 to 15:00
on the 2nd and 9th of March, you can experience yourself handicraft made of paper, 500 yen, 10:00 to 15:00
on every saturday, sunday and national holidays, you can eat a special "plum bentou", 2000 yen including bonsai exhibition ticket, you have to order it at least 3 days before
Tenmangu station on the JR loop line

* Osaka castle park
open 24h a day, free, 1250 trees
Osakajokoen station on the JR loop line

In Kyoto area :

* At Kitano Tenmangu shrine there will be a little matsuri on the 25th of February
2000 trees
open from 10:00 to 16:00
600 yen including tea and cake

* In the Nijo castle park
130 trees
open from 8:45 to 16:00
600 yen

* Kyoto Botanical garden
open from 9:00 to 16:00
150 trees
200 yen

And if you look for something more "offroad", you can try :

* Ishiyama temple
open from 8:00 to 16:30
400 trees
500 yen
If you climb up the mountain there you will probably find a beautiful view of Lake Biwa
from Osaka : take a Keihan train at Kyobashi station (linked to the loop line) bound to Sanjobashi station in Kyoto (40mn, 400 yen), then ...
from Kyoto : take a Keihan train from Sanjobashi station to Ishiyamadera station (40mn, 540 yen), then walk 10mn toward south.

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