
Plum Blossoms vs. Cherry Blossoms
Cherry blossoms are pretty much synonymous with Japanese culture meaning most people are probably aware of them. What some may not be aware of, however, are the equally beautiful but less famous Japanese plum blossoms! Plum blossoms, like cherry blossoms are a signal for the beginning of spring, and though they are often overshadowed by the popular cherry blossoms, the flowers are stunning in their own right. Though they are similar in some ways, they are also quite different in appearance, variations and blooming period. So if you’re interested in viewing some of Japan’s beautiful blossoms this spring, here’s a brief outlook on plum and cherry blossoms.
Difference in Appearance

If you are unaware of plum blossoms but are aware of cherry blossoms then you may mistake the former for the latter! As they are similar in some ways it is easy to make this mistake and people often confuse plum blossoms (especially in pink variations) as cherry blossoms! Despite often being mistaken, their appearances do differ in several ways. Here are some differences so you can spot which blossom you have found.
The first difference is the variety of hues that the flowers come in. Plum blossoms, depending on the tree, can be white, pink (dark and light), dark red and occasionally a light yellow, whereas cherry blossoms usually come in only pink/white variations.

Secondly the actual shape of the flowers is different too. Plum blossoms have rounder petals and round buds, compared to the more oval shaped petals and buds of cherry blossoms. Cherry blossom petals also have a split at the end whereas plum blossoms do not.

As well as these two differences, there is also another way to spot the difference. The leaves on both trees are quite different. Cherry blossom leaves are green and unfolding, unlike the plum blossom leaves which are a reddish purple (except for on some white plum blossom trees which can have green leaves).

Finally though cherry blossoms tend to have little or no smell, plum blossoms on the other hand have a rather strong, sweet fragrance, making them a treat for the eyes and nose!
When to See Them

In addition to aesthetic differences these two blossoms actually bloom at different times (although occasionally there can be crossovers). The best time to see cherry blossoms is typically at the very end of March or very early April (this can vary slightly depending on the year). Normally the flowers start to bloom in late March meaning the perfect time to see the full blossoms is in the last few days of March. Cherry blossom season usually lasts around 2 weeks and so there is only a short period that you are able to see the pretty blossoms. As for plum blossoms, the flowers start to bloom a lot earlier than cherry blossoms, usually starting around mid-February (depending on the variation). These blossoms are best to see towards the end of February when they are reaching full bloom and usually last until mid March!
Where to See Them

Now that you know the difference between the two blossoms and when they bloom, it’s key to also know where you can view both flowers.
For Plum Blossoms Some Great Places Are:
Osaka Castle Park (Osaka)

Cost: Free
Address: 1 Osakajo, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 540-0002
Accessible by: Osakajokoen Station on the JR Osaka Loop Line or Tanimachi-4-chome Station on the Tanimachi and Chuo subway lines
Osaka Expo ’70 Commemorative Park (Osaka)

Cost: 250 yen
Address: 1-1 Senribanpakukoen, Suita, Osaka 565-0826
Accessible by: Bampakukinenkoen Station on the Osaka Monorail
Kairakuen (Ibaraki)

Cost: Free
Address: 1 Chome Tokiwacho, Mito, Ibaraki 310-0033
Accessible by: Mito Station on the JR Joban Line
Hanegi Park (Tokyo)

Cost: Free
Address: 4-38-52 Daita, Setagaya, Tokyo 155-0033
Accessible by: Umegaoka Station on the Odakyu Line
Kitano Tenmangu Shrine (Kyoto)

Cost: 700 yen for the plum grove (shrine access is free)
Address: Bakurocho, Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture 602-8386
Accessible by: Kyoto City Bus 50 or 101 from Kyoto Station
Nara Park (Nara)

Cost: Free
Address: Nara, Nara Prefecture
Accessible by: Nara Station on the Kintetsu or JR Lines
For Cherry Blossoms Some Great Places Are:
Osaka Castle Park (Osaka)

Cost: Free
Address: 1 Osakajo, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 540-0002
Accessible by: Osakajokoen Station on the JR Osaka Loop Line or Tanimachi-4-chome Station on the Tanimachi and Chuo subway lines
Shinjuku Gyoen (Tokyo)

Cost: 500 yen
Address: 11 Naitomachi, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0014
Accessible by: Shinjuku Station on the JR Line
Himeji Castle (Himeji)

Cost: 1000 yen
Address: 68 Honmachi, Himeji, Hyogo 670-0012
Accessible by: Himeji Station on the JR Line
The Philosopher’s Path (Kyoto)

Cost: Free
Address: Tetsugaku-no-michi, Sakyō-ku, Kyōto-shi, Kyōto-fu
Accessible by: Kyoto City Bus 5 from Kyoto Station
Yoshino (Nara)

Cost: Free
Address: Yoshino District, Nara Prefecture
Accessible by: Yoshino Station on the Kintetsu Line or Yoshino-guchi on the JR Line, then take a shuttle bus