Mito Plum Blossom Festival
Four Seasons in Mito
Welcome to Mito, the City of Plum Blossoms.
The “Mito Plum Blossom Festival,” which has a history of nearly 130 years, is held annually from mid-February to mid-March at [Kairakuen] and [Kodokan].
Invited by the fragrance of plum blossoms, why not embark on a journey to discover the beauty of Japan that is still unknown?
The 129th
Mito Plum Blossom Festival
Venue：Kairakuen・Kodokan
February 11(Tuesday)-March 20(Thursday), 2025
Venue Information
Kairakuen
Kairakuen, renowned as one of Japan’s Three Great Gardens, was established in 1842 by Tokugawa Nariaki, the 9th lord of the Mito Domain. The garden embodies Nariaki’s profound vision of the harmonious balance between “yin and yang.”
The “yin” world of dense bamboo and cedar groves and the “yang” world bathed in bright sunlight—this beautiful contrast is most vividly experienced during the Plum Blossom Festival when the “yang” world is adorned with blooming plum blossoms.
The garden features approximately 3,000 plum trees of about 100 varieties. During the Plum Blossom Festival, visitors can enjoy the blossoms over an extended period as the trees bloom in succession—from early to mid-season and late bloomers.
Entrance Fee Kairakuen:
| Adults: (High school students and older) | ￥320 |
|---|---|
| Children:(Elementary and middle school students) & Seniors (70 years and older) | ￥160 |
Kodokan
Kodokan, established in 1841 by Lord Nariaki Tokugawa, was Mito’s domain school and the largest of its kind in Japan. Today, it is renowned alongside Kairakuen as a famous spot for plum blossoms, with around 800 plum trees of approximately 60 varieties blooming beautifully.
Entrance Fee Kodokan
| Adults: (High school students and older) | ￥420 |
|---|---|
| Children:(Elementary and middle school students) & Seniors (70 years and older) | ￥210 |
Recommended Events
Various events are held during the Plum Blossom Festival. Enjoy viewing the plum flowers, participating in unique events from Mito and Japan, and creating wonderful memories of your trip to Japan.
*Tickets for the following events are available for purchase at the venue on the day.
Kairauen UME The Lights
venue：KAIRAKUEN
Event Dates: Saturday, February 15（Tuesday） to March 9( Sunday), 2025 (weekends and public holidays) for a total of 9 days
Enjoy the illuminated plum blossoms and sea of clouds.
| Admission | Adults ￥500, children ￥300 *Pre-school children free |
|---|
夜・梅・祭 2025 ~Mito Castle~ (Night Plum Blossom Festival2025)
Venue：Kodokan・Mito Castle Ruins
February 22 (Saturday) 17:00 – 20:00
Enjoy a magical evening of plum viewing at the Mito Castle ruins.
Outdoor tea ceremony
venue：KAIRAKUEN
February 23 (Sunday) – March 16 (Sunday) every Sunday 10:00 – 15:00
You can casually participate in an authentic tea ceremony while enjoying the blooming plum blossoms.
￥500 per seat (including sweets).
National Plum Wine Festival in Mito 2025
venue：Tokiwa Shrine（Next to Kairakuen）
February 28 (Friday), March 1 (Saturday), and March 2 (Sunday) from 10:00 to 16:00 (until 15:00 on March 2)
Enjoy a variety of plum wines gathered from all over the country, plum wine beer, and pairings of plum wine with dishes.
Access Information
| Getting to Mito | About 75 minutes by limited express on the JR Joban Line (Ueno-Tokyo Line) from Tokyo Station. |
|---|---|
| To Kairakuen（from JR Mito Station） | From the North Exit Bus Terminal at Mito Station, take the bus to Kairakuen (about 15 minutes) from platform 4. Alternatively, you can take the bus to “Kairakuen” from platform 6 at Mito Station’s North Exit (about 15 minutes). |
| To Kodokan（from JR Mito Station） | Approximately a 10-minute walk from JR Mito Station North Exit |