Atami Plum Garden, Atami

With 472 trees of 59 varieties, some over a century old, Atami Plum Garden provides a true smorgasbord of plum trees. Famous for some of the earliest plum blossoms in Japan, as well as an abundance of red maple leaves in fall, the garden surrounds a stream with a small waterfall. Opened in 1886, the plum grove dotted with maple trees and azaleas nowadays also features an art gallery and a Korean garden. A huge ancient camphor tree overshadows a small temple, where devotees come to pray for help with alcoholism. Geisha performances, folk songs, and sweet sake festivals occur during the blooming season, from January to March. Take a bus or walk 15 minutes uphill from Kinomiya station to reach the garden. A visit to Atami Plum Garden represents just the start of the adventure when you use our Atami trip itinerary maker to plot your vacation.