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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nPlum Grove: 60 varieties, 150 trees<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Kyoto Prefectural Botanical Garden is one of the largest botanical gardens in Japan. It has 150 plum trees, but more than 60 varieties\u2014more than Kitano Tenmangu Shrine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Starting in January<\/strong>, early-blooming plum blossoms\u2014such as Yaekan-ko<\/strong>, Osakazuki<\/strong>, Michishirube<\/strong>, Toji<\/strong>, and Tamabotan<\/strong>\u2014begin to bloom one after another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a botanical garden, it is very helpful that every tree has its variety name written on a sign<\/strong>. In a typical year, by mid-February<\/strong>, the early-blooming plums in the grove are at their best time to see<\/strong>. Varieties such as Kagoshima-beni<\/strong>, Koshu-koume<\/strong>, Mikaikou<\/strong>, Fujibotan<\/strong>, and Yokihi<\/strong> also start to bloom one after another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Kyoto Prefectural Botanical Garden, plum trees are not only in the main plum grove. There is also a group of plum trees near the Wild Garden<\/strong> in front of the Kitayama Gate<\/strong>. This area is also highly recommended. In the plum grove at Kyoto Prefectural Botanical Garden, early-blooming varieties<\/strong> are mostly on the southeast side<\/strong>, and late-blooming varieties<\/strong> are mostly on the northwest side<\/strong>. Visitor Information<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A large park centered around Takaragaike Pond<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Takaragaike Park spreads out behind \u201cMyo\u201d and \u201cHo,\u201d which are known as part of the Gozan Okuribi<\/strong> (Kyoto\u2019s bonfire event). The park has a plum grove with about 200 trees<\/strong>. On the slope toward Matsugasaki Higashiyama<\/strong>, the land is leveled in terraces<\/strong>, and about 200 plum trees<\/strong> red and white are planted there. Takaragaike Park is a large park of about 7.6 hectares<\/strong>, centered around Takaragaike Pond<\/strong>, which is about 1.8 km<\/strong> around. The park has areas such as a plum grove<\/strong>, a cherry forest<\/strong>, and an iris garden<\/strong>. You can also enjoy Kobano-mitsuba azalea<\/strong>, fresh green leaves<\/strong>, and autumn colors<\/strong>, so there are beautiful views in every season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visitor Information<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Throughout the year, plum blossoms are the next most popular after cherry blossoms and autumn leaves. However, compared with cherry blossoms and autumn leaves, there is not much information about plum blossoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But MK Taxi sightseeing drivers have a lot of knowledge about plum blossoms, too. With an MK sightseeing charter taxi, you can enjoy Kyoto\u2019s plum blossoms to the fullest. For sightseeing in Kyoto, leave it to MK\u2019s chartered sightseeing taxi.<\/strong> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":1034,"template":"","article_category":[],"class_list":["post-1019","article","type-article","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","en-US"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article\/1019","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/article"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1034"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1019"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"article_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article_category?post=1019"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/furitsu2-600x311-1.webp\")
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Some signs also explain the features<\/strong>, so it\u2019s fun to look closely and compare things like the flower color<\/strong>, how the flowers grow<\/strong>, and the shape of the branches<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/furitsu4-600x400-1.webp\")
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When you enter from the Kitayama Gate<\/strong>, which connects directly to Subway Kitayama Station<\/strong>, you can smell the sweet scent<\/strong> of plum blossoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/furitsu7-600x400-1.webp\")
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In a typical year, when March<\/strong> begins, the northwest side also reaches its best time to see, after the southeast side.
Some early plums are still blooming, and late varieties such as Dairi<\/strong> and Gekkyuden<\/strong> start to open one after another, so early March is the most colorful time<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/furitsu8-600x311-1.webp\")
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Greenhouse admission included<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\nTakaragaike Park (Sakyo Ward) | Late February to Mid-March<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/takaragaike1-600x450-1.webp\")
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The park is large and centered around Takaragaike Pond. The plum grove is mainly in the southwest area<\/strong> of the park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/takaragaike3-600x400-1.webp\")
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They are usually at their best from late February to mid-March<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/takaragaike4-600x400-1.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAbout Takaragaike Park<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The pond was built in the Edo period<\/strong> as a reservoir to supply water to rice fields.
Only a small amount of river water flows into the pond. Its main water source is spring water<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/takaragaike5-600x450-1.webp\")
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Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
We introduced two places this time, but each driver also has their own personal recommendations.
They can guide you not only in Kyoto, but across the Kansai region as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why not try a different kind of Kyoto trip with a professional guide and driver?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your private driver is a Kyoto expert who handles both transport and guiding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/\u30d0\u30ca\u30fc\u8cb8\u5207\u89b3\u5149E-2.png\")
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