Tsukigase Plum Grove: Around 10,000 Plum Trees in a Scenic Nara Valley
Tsukigase Plum Grove (Tsukigase Bairin), in eastern Nara City, is a scenic destination where you can enjoy valley views alongside approximately 10,000 flowering plum trees.
This guide covers how to check the best time to visit, explore areas such as Hitome Hakkei and Honoura Plum Grove, and get there by bus.
Enjoy the National Place of Scenic Beauty, Tsukigase Plum Grove
Because plum trees spread along the Satsuki River valley, the area is also known as Tsukigase Baikei, or the Tsukigase Plum Valley.
Designated a National Place of Scenic Beauty in 1922, it is distinctive for plum blossoms set against the lake and mountainsides.
Tsukigase Plum Grove was one of the first places in Japan to receive this national scenic designation.
Today's plum groves stretch from the shores of the lake created when Takayama Dam impounded the Nabari River, also known as the Satsuki River, up the mountainsides.
Set aside separate moments to see the blossoms up close and to take in the surrounding terrain to appreciate this distinctive landscape.
Tsukigase Plum Grove History: Ubai Production and Local Life
Plum cultivation in Tsukigase is said to have begun with trees planted in the grounds of Shinpuku-ji Temple during the Kamakura period.
Plum planting expanded in Tsukigase through the production of ubai, smoked plums used in safflower dyeing.
Ubai are made by smoking plum fruit and have long been considered an essential material for safflower dyeing.
During the Edo period, many writers, poets, and artists visited and praised the valley scenery adorned with plum blossoms.
Behind the blossom-viewing landscape lies the history of a community whose livelihood was tied to growing plums.
As you walk, look not only at the colors and fragrance of the flowers but also at the plum orchards extending across the slopes.
Tsukigase Plum Blossom Season and Festival Information
The usual flowering season is roughly mid-February through March, although blooming conditions vary by location even on the same day.
How to Read Bloom Updates: Check the Date and Grove Location
Flowering times differ depending on plum varieties and elevation.
Before visiting, check when official bloom information was updated and which grove the photographs and descriptions refer to.
You can also ask about blooming conditions by calling the Tsukigase Tourism Association at 0743-92-0300, available 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.; it is closed on Thursdays and December 29–January 3, but open every day during the plum festival.
Rather than expecting the entire area to reach full bloom at once, choose where to walk according to the day's flowering conditions.
The following table explains expressions you may encounter in Japanese bloom updates.
| Term | Flowering Stage | What to Look For |
|---|---|---|
| Tsubomi (Buds) | Before the flowers open | Bud colors and shapes |
| Sakihajime (Starting to bloom) | Flowers are beginning to open | Open blossoms viewed up close |
| Migoro (Best viewing period) | Flowers are at a good stage for viewing | Color across whole branches and trees |
| Chirihajime (Starting to fall) | Petals are beginning to fall | Remaining flowers and petals on the ground |
You can also enjoy the changing scenery as flowering progresses from the first blossoms through 30%, 50%, and 70% bloom to the peak viewing period.
Check the Dates of the Tsukigase Baikei Plum Festival
During plum blossom season, the Tsukigase Baikei Plum Festival is usually held from around mid-February to late March.
Festival dates vary each year, so check the announcement for the season of your visit.
Walking along the festival's plum-viewing paths is free, allowing you to enjoy the blossoms as you stroll.
Check the current season's official information for dates and events, and avoid using dates from past announcements to plan your trip.
Blooming conditions change even while the festival is underway, so consult both the event details and bloom updates when choosing your visiting day.
What to See at Tsukigase Plum Grove: Honoura, Hitome Hakkei, and Tenjin
Plum blossoms against the valley and orchards spread across higher ground create different impressions, so decide which scenery you want to see when choosing your walking area.
You can check the locations of the groves in advance using the Mini Walking Map PDF.
Enjoy Valley-Side Plum Blossoms at Honoura Plum Grove
Honoura Plum Grove is located along one of Tsukigase's main blossom-viewing paths.
Often featured on posters and brochures, it is known as one of the representative groves of Tsukigase Plum Valley.
With a route overlooking plum blossoms in the valley, it is an option for visitors who want to enjoy both flowers and waterside scenery.
During blossom season, many stalls line the viewing paths, offering food and shopping alongside the flowers.
After looking at the plum branches, turn your gaze to the distant mountains to appreciate the layers of near and far scenery.
See Plum Blossoms and the Lake from Hitome Hakkei
Hitome Hakkei is a viewpoint reached by climbing a slope, with views down over plum blossoms and the reservoir.
It is around a 10-minute leisurely walk from the main parking area, including a somewhat steep slope along the way.
As well as filling your frame with flowers, include the lake to capture a sense of Tsukigase's terrain.
If you are unsure about walking uphill, do not push yourself to reach it; turn back within a distance where you can comfortably enjoy the scenery.
Explore the Hillside Orchards at Tenjin Plum Grove
Tenjin Plum Grove is the highest of the Tsukigase plum groves, next to Plum Grove Park and Tenjin Shrine.
It is also considered one of the largest in the area, with fragrant plum orchards covering the slopes.
This is a place where you can enjoy blossoms relatively late in the season.
Check conditions at Tenjin Plum Grove itself before adding it to your route, rather than relying only on bloom updates from other locations.
Compare Around 40 Plum Varieties at Plum Grove Park
Plum Grove Park contains approximately 270 plum trees representing around 40 varieties collected from across Japan.
Previously called the Variety Garden, it is now maintained as a relaxing area.
It suits visitors who want to notice differences between trees, such as flower colors and shapes or the way branches grow.
Combine a walk for distant views with time to examine the blossoms closely.
How to Get to Tsukigase Plum Grove and Tips for Taking the Bus
If you are using public transportation, work out your outward and return services before deciding how far to explore so that you do not need to rush.
Buses to Tsukigase Plum Grove from Nara and Uenoshi Stations
From JR Nara Station or Kintetsu Nara Station, take a Nara Kōtsū bus for about 80 minutes and get off at Oyama bus stop.
From Nara Station, use a bus toward Tsukigase, such as one bound for Ishiuchi, and check that it stops at Oyama bus stop.
From the Iga area, one option is a Mie Kōtsū bus bound for Momoganoguchi from Uenoshi Station on the Iga Railway; the ride to Oyama bus stop takes about 30 minutes.
Choose a departure station with convenient connections from your accommodation, and check the train and bus journey together.
Check Return Bus Times and Seasonal Services First
Consult the official Nara Kōtsū or Mie Kōtsū information for the timetable on your travel date.
Scheduled buses toward Tsukigase are infrequent, so planning your time on-site around the return service is a sensible approach.
If you plan to use extra buses during plum blossom season, check that season's information for operating dates and the stops served.
During blossom season, paid seasonal buses may run on selected dates from Tsukigaseguchi Station on the JR Kansai Main Line.
Check the following points before departure.
- Available outward and return services on your visiting day, and the bus boarding point at the station
- The locations of your arrival stop and return boarding stop
- Train connections after your return bus journey
As well as time to enjoy the blossoms and take breaks, allow time to return to the bus stop.
Driving: Check Satsukibashi Interchange and Parking
If driving, the grove is approximately 4 km, or about 5 minutes, along local roads from Satsukibashi Interchange on the Meihan National Highway.
The journey is estimated at around 50 minutes from the Nara area via Yagyū, or around 90 minutes from the Osaka area via the Nishi-Meihan Expressway and Meihan National Highway.
Paid parking is available nearby.
Around 200,000 people are said to visit during plum season, so leave with plenty of time to allow for busy roads and parking areas.
What to Wear and Where to Rest at Tsukigase Plum Grove
Because the groves spread across slopes, choosing comfortable walking shoes and adjustable layers will leave you more time to enjoy the flowers.
Choose Whether to Walk Daikanzaka According to Your Stamina
Daikanzaka is a switchback slope on a walking route connecting the lakeside with Tenjin Plum Grove and the blossom-viewing paths.
The hiking course runs from Kohan no Sato via Momiji no Komichi, a maple-lined path, to Tenjin Plum Grove and the blossom-viewing paths.
The slope is somewhat demanding, so choose this route according to your fitness.
Routes between the lakeside and higher ground involve climbs and descents, so do not judge walking difficulty by map distance alone.
Discuss a comfortable walking range with your companions and check your return route before heading downhill.
Prepare Clothing and Belongings for Early-Spring Blossom Viewing
Choose shoes you are used to walking in and pack your belongings so that you can keep both hands free as much as possible.
For an outdoor walk in early spring, it is useful to bring an outer layer you can remove and put back on, along with rain protection.
On rainy days or wet paths, watch your footing on slopes and avoid taking photos while walking.
Take a Break with Yamato Tea and Plum Flavors
Plum products and Yamato tea are popular in Tsukigase, and there are places to eat and drink along the blossom-viewing route.
Tsukigase is also known for Yamato tea.
At Kohan no Sato, you can enjoy homestyle meals prepared with seasonal ingredients by local women, as well as plum soft-serve ice cream with a valley view.
The Kohan no Sato dining area generally opens 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m., extending to 4:00 p.m. depending on the day and blossom season; it is closed on Thursdays but opens daily from mid-February through the first week of April.
Checking which shops are open and taking breaks lets you combine scenic viewing with a taste of the region.
When choosing souvenirs, check the ingredients and storage instructions of tea and plum products, and select items that fit your itinerary.
Tsukigase Plum Grove Etiquette and Photography Tips
Treating the blossoms with care and sharing the viewing paths considerately are the foundations of an enjoyable walk.
Do Not Disturb Plum Branches or Fruit
Picking plums in the plum valley without permission is prohibited.
Even after flowering ends and the fruit develops, you may not pick it without permission.
When viewing blossoms, do not pull or break branches; enjoy what you can see from the paths.
You may not be allowed to enter the orchards, so check access signs and do not leave the viewing paths to get closer.
Put Other Visitors and Clear Paths First When Taking Photos
Choose a place where you can stop safely to compose your shot, and make room when others pass.
Follow any photography notices posted in the area.
The following table outlines considerate behavior for different blossom-viewing and photography situations.
| Situation | What to Do | What to Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Close-up flower photography | Compose your shot from the path | Pulling branches toward you |
| Landscape photography | Stop in a safe position | Stepping beyond fences |
| Photographing people | Check that they agree to be photographed | Taking close-ups of others without permission |
| After eating or drinking | Take your trash away | Leaving containers behind |
Places to Visit Near Tsukigase Plum Grove: Hot Springs and Local Products
Knowing which facilities you can visit before or after blossom viewing helps you plan breaks and souvenir shopping.
Warm Up After Your Walk at Ume no Sato Tsukigase Onsen
Ume no Sato Tsukigase Onsen is a hot spring facility in Tsukigase Oyama with an open-air bath, rest areas, and a souvenir shop.
At the on-site Umekokoro restaurant, a specialty is Takayama Dam Curry, topped with a soft-cooked hot spring egg designed to evoke the moon reflected on the lake.
The hot spring opens 10:30 a.m.–8:30 p.m., with last admission at 8:00 p.m.; it is closed on Tuesdays, except public holidays, and opens daily in February and March.
Some Nara Kōtsū buses travel via Ume no Sato Tsukigase Onsen, so check both the destination and stops of your service.
Choose Local Specialties at Romantopia Tsukigase
Romantopia Tsukigase is a facility around a 5-minute walk from Tsukigase Plum Valley.
Its local products section sells Tsukigase specialties such as sencha green tea, powdered tea, umeboshi pickled plums, and other pickles.
Check operating days and hours with the facility before setting out.
Final Tips: Check Bloom Conditions and Return Transport Before Visiting Tsukigase
At Tsukigase Plum Grove, the experience changes depending on where you walk, from valley views and hillside orchards to the subtle differences between blossoms.
Checking bloom conditions and round-trip transport before departure, then choosing a manageable route on the slopes is the key to enjoying your first plum blossom visit.
Choose your walking area around the scenery you want to see, take breaks for tea or a meal, and savor early spring in Nara.
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