Spring has arrived and with it so too has blossom season begun.  While the world famous sakura (桜 – cherry blossoms) steal top billing every year, the first blossoms on the scene are the plum blossoms.  More colourful and sweetly scented, mid March is their peak season.  Two top places to see them in Mie are Yuki Jinja in Tsu (結城神社, 津市) and Nogyo Park in Inabe (農業公園, いなべ市).

Yuki Jinja is a 15 minute bus ride south of Tsu station.  It holds a special plum blossom festival every year.  Entry into the gardens to view the blossoms is 500 yen and well worth it. The tress there are in full bloom as of March 10 so drop by soon.

A little behind the Yuki Jinja trees progress wise are the trees in Nogyo Park in Inabe.  There are over 4,500 trees in the park and they tend to bloom a…