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Its been a cold year in Japan this year. It was snowing in Fuji city last week. The blossoms are all late this year. This Saturday, we went to Yugawara Onsen, in Kanagawa Prefecture to see some plum blossoms, which were still not fully blooming yet.

The plum trees are on the side of a mountain and the view is quite nice, with crags, where rock climbers ascend and the tree lined mountaintops all around. The park is in a valley formed by a river which runs through the park. When we went, the weather was sunny, but rain was on the way through the night and into the next day, consequently, the park was very crowded, comparatively speaking.

You can get to the park quite easily when the festival is on. Take the train to Yugawara Station, go out of the only exit and turn left, walk alongside the bus terminal to the bus stop, which is roped off for the festival goers to queue up and you'll see an orderly there telling everyone that its the place for the festival. The bus takes about twenty minutes and is the only stop on the way. I think it was 220 yen. It drops you off at the base of the park and you have to walk the last few steps up the road yourself.

On your left will be an open space with stalls and seating, in front is the mountain with the plum blossoms and if you walk past the open space up the path along the river, you can find the hiking paths around the area.

The actual plum orchard is laced with paths running parallel with the incline, going off up into the mountains and just weaving about through the trees.

We walked around the orchard, then bought a couple of plum wines from a stall, some food and ice cream from another and then some more alcohol and sat by the river enjoying the heat, food and drink. After that we went and listened to the little koto concert by the plum trees.

You can sample the wines for free!

A decent beer

and some koto music

Its a very nice place, but was a little overcrowded this time. I think this was due to a collection of different things, the weather, coronavirus easing this year and the place apparently being on a TV program. I hope next year will be a bit quieter again!

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