Plum Blossoms (Ume/梅の花) in Central Tokyo

I went out today to see if I could find any plum blossoms nearby central Tokyo, and some lists on line suggested Saigoyama Park (西郷山公園), which is also adjacent to Sugekari Park (菅刈公園).

The plum trees start to bloom from early February, and will probably peak in the next week or so in Tokyo this year. Definitely also check out this list of the 20 best places to see Plum Blossoms in Tokyo if you are here in February! It is in Japanese, but Chrome can translate for you!

obligatory starting the trip on JR photo

Because it’s a work day, and there’s a Coronavirus scare, there were very few people out and about — just some local families with very small children.

Saigoyama Park

Just a 15–20 minute walk from Ebisu or Shibuya Station

When you enter the park, there is one Ume tree just starting to bloom, sitting atop a slight mound with a view overlooking a bit of Western Tokyo.

If you come down from the hill, and walk around the circular path, you’ll come to a small Ume grove, which is currently also very popular with a few types of birds!

The grove of white and red flowering Ume

One kind of bird we saw

Another kind — saw about four types in total.

When you’re done you can walk down a series of stairs to the adjacent Sugekari Park, which has an exterior section, and a Japanese garden.

Sugekari Park

Outside the Japanese garden, there is a row of plum trees in full blossom:

Inside, you’ll find some sculpture, running water, Koi fish, ducks, and a few lazy cats.

If you leave the Japanese garden and turn round the corner to the main park, you will find a few huge cedar trees — keep going towards the back, and when you come to an upwards sloping path…

There is what I believe is a kind of early-blossoming Sakura (cherry blossom) tree! Please comment if I am wrong, but the petals look right to me :)