Ibaraki’s Prefectural Tree: The Japanese Plum (Ume)

While cherry blossoms steal the spotlight across much of Japan, Ibaraki’s heart belongs to the Japanese plum tree (ume), which was officially designated as the prefectural tree in 1966. Hardy, fragrant and blooming before spring truly arrives, the plum blossom has long been revered in Japan as a symbol of resilience and renewal.

Nowhere is this heritage celebrated more grandly than at Kairaku-en in Mito City. Established in 1842 by feudal lord Tokugawa Nariaki as a public park to be enjoyed by local citizens, Kairaku-en is celebrated as one of Japan’s "Three Great Gardens." Every February and March, its grounds burst into life as roughly 3,000 plum trees across 100 varieties bloom in shades of white, soft pink, and deep crimson during the famous Mito Plum Blossom Festival. The divine smell would even reach my apartment by Mito Station.

Beyond their beauty, the trees also produce tart, flavorful plums used for pickled umeboshi and local plum wines. On Ibaraki Prefectural Day, the ume stands as a proud emblem of the prefecture's rich cultural roots.