Kairakuen

**Bloom strategy:** The 100 plum varieties bloom in sequence over 4 weeks. Early bloomers (wase, late February) are mostly white and lightly fragrant. Mid-season (early March) brings the deepest pink 'Omoi-no-mama' variety. Late bloomers (mid-March) include the double-petaled 'Yae-kanbai' with intense fragrance. **Best route:** The western slope has the densest concentration of mature trees and is less crowded than the central promenade. **Kobuntei tea ceremony:** The pavilion offers matcha and wagashi (traditional sweets) for ¥500, served in a tatami room overlooking the plum valley. The experience is informal — no reservation needed, just queue. The same matcha costs ¥1,200 at Tokyo tourist sites. **Photography spots:** The 'Plum Tunnel' near the southern entrance frames a natural archway of intertwined branches (best light 2:00–4:00pm). The view from Kobuntei's third floor at sunrise captures mist rising from Senba Lake with plum trees in the foreground — a classic ukiyo-e composition. **Combine with:** Mito Kodokan, the former samurai school, houses one of Japan's finest historical archives. Free entry, rarely visited.