Ahead of cherry blossom season, the ume or plum blossoms brighten up the colder months in Japan. This guide introduces the different varieties. This type of ume is close to the original species ...

While cherry blossoms are often seen as the quintessential Japanese flower, the plum blossom once signaled the arrival of spring. Introduced from China around 1,500 years ago, plums were already ...

Imperial waka anthologies compiled in Japan between 905 and 1439 C.E. usually contain more spring poems composed about cherry blossoms than plum blossoms. The first cherry blossom viewing was held ...

The plum blossoms might get less hype than the cherry blossoms that follow, but they still make for some gorgeous late-winter scenery. This year marks the 68th run of the Yushima Tenjin Ume Matsuri.