Take a tour of famous spots for seasonal flowers in Miyazaki! - Winter -

This vast forest park covers an area of about 10 kilometers stretching north to south. Approximately 30 hectares of that area is tended as a citizen’s forest complete with rest areas, flower beds, walking paths, an observation deck, a recreational area, and a shop. About 160 plum trees blossom here every year from late January through mid February, showing off their white, red, and peach colored blossoms.

Approximately 650 plum trees of numerous varieties have been planted here. The facility includes a hiking course to enjoy a breath of fresh forest air and an observation deck at the top of a massive 458 step staircase that gives a spectacular panoramic view of the streets of Miyazaki, the Pacific Ocean, and Aoshima beyond.

The Saitobaru Burial Mounds is known as one of the largest cluster of burial mounds in Japan. Recognized as a Japan Heritage, there are over 300 burial mounds throughout the vast site which stretches approximately 2.6 kilometers east to west and 4.2 kilometers north to south. There are also about 400 plum trees to the north of the Saitobaru Archaeological Museum featuring white flowers that bloom in early February.

The best time to see the plum trees at Manpukuji temple in Kunitomi Town is mid February. The place is particularly busy with visitors who have come to see the small, refreshing garden filled with the soft fragrance of plum, when the red flowers reach full bloom. There is a famous Kobai plum tree aged at several hundred years located at the center of the elegant garden created from stones, sand, and cedar trees gathered from a variety of places.

Takanabe Castle was also known as Maizuru Castle, so named because the Chinese characters for Maizuru translate literally as “dancing crane” after the local geography that looks much like a crane flapping its wings. Today, the ruins have been redeveloped as a park. There are approximately 100 plum trees in the park, as well as red and white plum trees on either side of the main building of the Maizuru Shrine which were donated from Dazaifu Tenmangu in 2005 in commemoration of the wedding of Sayako, Princess Nori.

Fifty white plum and 5 red plum trees, including one massive plum tree aged over 240 years, bloom here in early February, and a plum blossom viewing festival is held which attracts numerous visitors. Visitors can enjoy matcha green tea outdoors while viewing the trees, or join a guided tour of the historic site.

Located at an altitude between 600 and 700 meters in the Mizushidani district of Misato Town, the Kaigonto Plum Orchard is an orchard where local plum farmers grow the Nankobai variety of plum, and the roughly 5,000 plum trees here reach full bloom around late February of every year. There is also the Mizushidani Ume Festival held in February of every year nearby, centered around the Mizushidani Furusato-mura Auto Campground.