Taura Ume no Sato - Part II: The Blossoms

Taura Ume no Sato

The Pollen season is in full bloom (aka: Haru/Spring!), so we went to Taura Ume no Sato to go see the Ume trees in bloom.  Wes, Carlyn and their kids, Eaton & Emi, joined us for a really great morning hiking up to the top of the plum grove, and playing.  Ume are Japanese Plums (or Apricots - depending on who you ask).  They are tart, small and likely resemble an apricot more than a plum.  Except in color.  However, we tend to call them plums.

Dougie, Stefan and Eaton climb their way up the stairs

Looking down the grove.  You can see the large trees are white or light pink, known as 'pink'. There are a couple of little trees that are a deep pink - these are known as 'red'.    Not all the groves have all the different colored trees.

Pink Ume trees... 

Carlyn and I did a comparison of the white and pink trees.  The pink are more prolific bloomers and they have a stronger smell.  That could be due to higher bloom density, but... we preferred the pink.

Here you can see a white ume on the right and the "sparse" one in the middle.  Pink trees on the left.  See what I mean?

Beers to you! Me, Eric, Wes, Carlyn.  Eric found some Sakura beer in our Sake Machine store.  Of course we had to buy them!  If you look carefully, the men's are dented and crushed.  The women's are pristine.  So typical ;)

Back Row: Me, Eric, Carlyn, Wes
Front Row: Ian, Eaton, Dougie, Emi, Stefan

Looking through the bamboo forest.  A Keikyu train passes behind.  This is the train line that runs right by our house.  The closest stop here is the JR Taura, so we transferred to the other train line.

Another attraction is the incredible park at the top of the hill.  Too many pics for one entry!


Great time at the Plum Grove!  Thank you HansonSmiths for a super fun time enjoying the blossoms!!!