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Nine great places to see spring flowers in Japan, as chosen by travelers (with almost no sakura)
- SoraNews24
Mar 9, 2026 - Tweet
Nanohana, fuji, and more reasons to get out and see Japan’s springtime flowers.
- Japan
- (beautiful • cherry blossoms • flowers • gardens • Jalan • Japan travel • Kawazu Sakura • nature • outdoors • parks • plum blossoms • sakura • tourism • travel • ume)
Fives places around Japan to appreciate the plum blossoms this season
- Krista Rogers
Feb 16, 2026
Spring hasn’t quite sprung yet but we can still soak up its essence in the humble yet mighty plum blossoms.
- Japan
- (beautiful • flowers • gardens • Ibaraki • Kanagawa • Kyoto • Osaka • outdoors • plum • plum blossoms • spring • travel • ume)
Now is the time to visit one of Tokyo’s best off-the-beaten-path plum blossom gardens
- Casey Baseel
Feb 15, 2026
The ume of Ikegami grow up a terraced hillside, and under the radar.
- Japan
- (beautiful • COK • flowers • gardens • Ikegami • nature • plum blossoms • plums • temples • ume)
Three beautiful places to see Japan’s plum blossoms after starting your day in downtown Tokyo
- SoraNews24
Feb 5, 2026
It’s time to go out and see the ume.
- Japan
- (Atami • beautiful • COK • flowers • gardens • Japan trabel • outdoors • plum blossoms • plums • tourism • travel • ume)
How to make pickled plums like the Japanese grandparents you may or may not have【Part 1】
- Casey Baseel
Jul 2, 2025
Today in the SoraKitchen, we’re not just making umeboshi, we’re making umeboshi inside our office.
- Japan
- (COK • cooking • food • Go Hatori • pickled plums • pickles • plums • recipe • SNJO • SoraKitchen • ume • umeboshi)
Japan’s plum blossom season is here, and after-dark garden is one of the best spots to see them
- Casey Baseel
Feb 25, 2025
One of Japan’s three most beautiful gardens gets even more beautiful with special ume illumination event.
- Japan
- (beautiful • COK • flowers • gardens • Ibaraki • Kairakuen • light up • nature • plum • plum blossoms • ume)
It’s time to get a jump on beautiful pink blossoms at this forest garden in Japan【Photos】
- Casey Baseel
Feb 1, 2025
Why wait for sakura when ume are already almost here?
- Japan
- (beautiful • COK • flowers • gardens • nature • parks • plum blossoms • plums • Suzuka • tourism • travel • ume)
Pizza Hut Japan’s pickled plum pizza is mercilessly aware of what it is【Taste test】
- Casey Baseel
May 24, 2024
We try to wrap our head around the “Japanese Margherita” umeboshi pizza.
- Japan
- (COK • crazy • food • pickled plum • pizza • Pizza Hut • Pizza Hut Japan • pizza Margherita • plum • SNJO • taste test • ume • umeboshi • weird)
Pizza Hut Japan creates Japanese plum pizza, calls it a “Japanese Margherita”【Photos】
- Casey Baseel
May 21, 2024
Suddenly, Japan’s penchant for putting corn on pizzas seems relatively normal.
- Japan
- (crazy • food • pickled plum • pizza • Pizza Hut • Pizza Hut Japan • pizza Margherita • plum • ume • umeboshi • weird)
Lush releases sakura bath bomb as part of new designed-in-Japan floral lineup【Photos】
- Casey Baseel
Mar 17, 2022
Hanami, Kochi, and Hinamatsuri bath bombs are inspired by Japan’s three favorite springtime flowers.
- Japan
- (bath bombs • baths • cherry blossoms • COK • flowers • Hinamatsuri • Lush • plum blossoms • sakura • ume)
How to make epic umeboshi like a Japanese grandpa
- Oona McGee
Aug 11, 2021
92-year-old shares his recipe for making the best pickled plums.
- Japan
- (COK • cool • food • how to • Japanese food • Japanese recipe • pickled plum • pickles • plums • recipe • recipes • SNJO • SoraKitchen • traditional food • ume • umeboshi)
KitKat releases new Japanese plum flavor to celebrate Japan’s most beautiful winter flowers
- Casey Baseel
Jan 28, 2021
Ume sweets prove there’s more to seasonal desserts than just sakura.
Bug hunt! Some areas offering rewards for alien beetles threatening Japan’s cherry blossoms
- Master Blaster
Aug 9, 2018
Municipalities and prefectures are hoping they can stop the dreaded red-necked longhorn beetle before they get out of hand.
- Japan
- (aromia bungii • cherry blossoms • environment • insects • invasive species • Kamakiri Sensei • Osaka • red-necked longhorn beetle • Sakai City • Teruyuki Kagawa • Tokushima • ume)
Sakura McFizz and fries with plum seasoning on sale now at McDonald’s
- Oona McGee
Mar 4, 2016
The pink-coloured items are a beautiful way to spruce up the menu for spring.
- Japan
- (cherry blossoms • fast food • fries • McDonald's • McFizz • plum • potato chips • sakura • taste test • ume)
Japan getting special spring caramel flavor, but this time it’s not sakura
- KK Miller
Feb 23, 2016
Here’s a hint, this fruity flavor comes before the cherry blossoms.
Like Japan’s plum blossoms, pickled plum and cheese tortilla chips are tragically fleeting
- Master Blaster
Feb 5, 2015
Japanese cuisine is often known for its subtle tastes which some might criticize as being downright “bland.” But there are some exceptions, one of which is umeboshi. This is a dried and pickled ume fruit which is a cross between a plum and an apricot. Umeboshi are very popular in Japan and have a sour and salty taste that will slap you in the face harder than a scorned lover.
By now you’re probably be thinking, “That vinegary plum sounds great! But what it really needs is some cheese mixed in.” Well, you’re in luck! Frito Lay Japan is way ahead of you and just released Ume & Cheese flavored tortilla chips. We sat down with a bag to see how this combination plays out in chip form.
- Japan
- (junk food • tortilla chips • ume)
Sad news: 1,266 famous Tokyo plum trees get the axe to prevent spread of “plum pox”
- Jessica
Apr 5, 2014
It’s cherry blossom time in Tokyo, which means that the plum blossom season is just coming to a close, and one of Tokyo’s most popular spots to see plum blossom, Umeno Park in Ome, has finished the season with a sad announcement: it is chopping down all 1,266 of its famous plum trees to prevent the spread of a disease called plum pox.
Chocolate covered shrimp chips are back in Japan!
- Michelle Lynn Dinh
Mar 4, 2014
We’ve seen our fair share of interesting and often downright weird snacks in Japan, from Mountain Dew poofs that actually fizz in your mouth to chocolatey dried squid. Now we’ve got one more for you: Chocolate covered shrimp chips. If you wrinkled your nose at the thought of crunchy shrimp snacks, you’ll double over at the sight of these sweet and savory snacks that smell of the sea.
- Japan
- (food • Kappa Ebisen • shrimp chips • snacks • ume • weird)
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Recent Posts
- Visiting Kagawa’s popular cooking class where you make noodles with your feet
- Pokémon Adidas crossover sneaker line releases in Japan, gives your feet Pikachu hugs [Pics]
- Starbucks and clothing brand Beams team up for launch of second collaborative core collection
- Ghibli/Kyoto crossover artwork decorates goshuin papers for Zen and Ghibli art exhibition [Pics]
- Japan’s new delicious dark horse sweet potato dessert drink is waiting at a beef bowl chain
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MOST POPULAR
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Today
Making the latest social media snack sensation in Japan, Dot Butter
Can hanging a handy fan on your crotch keep you cool in the Tokyo summer? SN24 investigates
7-Eleven Japan’s Ramen Machine is a viral hit, but there’s one glaring problem
Japan’s new delicious dark horse sweet potato dessert drink is waiting at a beef bowl chain
The confusing enjoyment of our day-trip bus tour from downtown Tokyo to Yamanashi [Photos]
Burger King goes viral in Japan for opening new store in a Japanese-style building
7-Eleven Japan releases a Kebab Sandwich… but does it really taste like a street-stall kebab?
Studio Ghibli releases new onigiri rice ball-shaped lunch bag for Kiki’s Delivery Service fans
Ghibli/Kyoto crossover artwork decorates goshuin papers for Zen and Ghibli art exhibition [Pics]
Hot pot in cans coming to Japanese vending machines this fall
Weekly
Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
Studio Ghibli releases new onigiri rice ball-shaped lunch bag for Kiki’s Delivery Service fans
How to watch Studio Ghibli’s new anime in Japan, with a special after-dark outdoor screening for Halloween
Two American women attempt to smuggle US$1 million worth of cannabis into Tokyo for a free trip to Japan
Japan’s Suica Penguin character is “graduating”, and you can choose its successor
Mt. Fuji may soon require off-season climbers to register with government or pay for their rescues
New Shinkansen platform vending machine sells local-flavor treats from 127-year-old snack maker
Megadeth guitarist becomes voice of reason regarding tourists dancing at shrine in Japan
Can hanging a handy fan on your crotch keep you cool in the Tokyo summer? SN24 investigates
Burger King goes viral in Japan for opening new store in a Japanese-style building
Monthly
12-year-old British girl who went missing in Tokyo found safe after visiting anime sites around Yokohama
7-year-old boy left behind on Mt. Fuji by his own dad
Japan’s final Penguin Suica train cards have already shipped, and when they’re gone, they’re gone
Sushi Bus: Japan’s first conveyor-belt bus lets you eat sushi while sightseeing around Tokyo
Studio Ghibli unveils new anime calendars and diary planners for 2027
Japan approves foreign resident visa renewal fee increases of up to 967 percent, starts soon
Japan tripled its departure tax to fund tourism but is using the money on cherry blossoms and bears
Solo travel in Japan: Hidden beer garden in Tokyo is a haven for single visitors
Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
Kyoto temple bans visitors from wearing kimono
Yearly
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
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RECOMMENDED STORIES
Burger King goes viral in Japan for opening new store in a Japanese-style building
7-Eleven Japan releases a Kebab Sandwich… but does it really taste like a street-stall kebab?
Studio Ghibli releases new onigiri rice ball-shaped lunch bag for Kiki’s Delivery Service fans
Ghibli/Kyoto crossover artwork decorates goshuin papers for Zen and Ghibli art exhibition [Pics]
Hot pot in cans coming to Japanese vending machines this fall
Starbucks and clothing brand Beams team up for launch of second collaborative core collection
Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
Does washing rice in this Japanese pouch really make it more delicious?
Mt. Fuji may soon require off-season climbers to register with government or pay for their rescues
Japanese pudding gets a massive big-eats upgrade at this Tokyo cafe
Starbucks Japan unveils first-ever vending machine, with an exclusive coffee drink
Ghibli store Donguri Kyowakoku now has special frames to protect your anime art Paper Theater kits
Two American women attempt to smuggle US$1 million worth of cannabis into Tokyo for a free trip to Japan
Visiting Fukui can teach travelers how to make, and smash, Japanese kawara tiles [Photos]
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