Yutagawa Onsen Plum Grove Park

Plum Grove Park sits on a hill above Yutagawa Onsen, a scenic spot surrounded by bamboo groves with Mt. Kinbo in the background. Approx. 300 plum trees are planted here, and red and white blossoms usually bloom all at once from mid-March to early April.

During the Plum Festival, held to coincide with the best viewing season, women proprietors of hot spring inns host an outdoor tea ceremony where visitors can enjoy matcha and sweets outside. There are also a variety of events, including performances of Yutagawa Kagura, a traditional performing art long cherished in Yutagawa Onsen. At each inn, hanami bento lunch boxes called “Umemi de Lunch” are offered, along with Moso soup and Moso rice made with moso bamboo shoots, a spring delicacy of the Shonai region. Even facilities that are not usually open offer day-use hot spring bathing, helping the whole onsen town celebrate the festival.

After the plum blossoms, visitors can also enjoy cherry blossoms, as well as fresh greenery in early summer, autumn leaves, and quiet snowy scenery in winter, offering seasonal charm throughout the year. It is within walking distance from the onsen town and is also perfect for a stroll after a bath.