Kuriyagawa Bairin

厨川梅林

Est. 30 minFreeMorioka, Tohoku

Local PickA distinctive place, off the usual route.Plum blossoms · peaks mid-MarchYear-round venue. Peak bloom is editorial guidance and varies by year and weather.

Read about Ma (the space between)

Overview

A quiet plum blossom grove on the site of a Heian-era fortress, blooming weeks after the rest of Japan has moved on to cherry blossoms.

This small plum orchard sits on the remains of Kuriyagawa no Saku, a fortress from the Heian period. Because of Tohoku's late spring, the plum blossoms here peak in mid-to-late April, when southern Japan's hanami season is already over. The site is maintained by local volunteers and rarely appears in guidebooks, offering a peaceful alternative to Morioka Castle's crowded cherry blossom viewing.

Local tips

The plum blossoms typically peak around April 20. Far later than Tokyo. Bring a bento and sit on the old fortress earthworks for an almost private hanami experience.

Practical info

Japanese name: 厨川梅林
Nearest station: Kuriyagawa Station (IGR Iwate Galaxy Railway)
Payment: Cards accepted

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