Plum Blossom Festival「To a Garden Fragrant with Plum Blossoms」【向島百花園】

Enjoy one of the largest plum blossom displays among the nine Tokyo Metropolitan Gardens!

When Mukojima Hyakkaen first opened in the late Edo period, about 360 plum trees were planted, and it was cherished as a famous plum-viewing spot known as "Shin Umeyashiki." Today, you can still view more than 20 varieties, including 鴛鴦（えんおう）・紅千鳥（べにちどり）・藤牡丹（ふじぼたん）しだれ・冬至梅（とうじばい）・白加賀（しろかが）.
Timed to the peak bloom, we will hold events where you can enjoy Edo culture along with the plum blossoms. Spend a refined moment in early spring at Mukojima Hyakkaen, savoring the fragrance of plums and the atmosphere of Edo.

Details

1. Composing poems on plums　※Canceled in case of severe weather

Date and time: Every day during the period, 9:00–17:00
Place: Azumaya (arbor) beside the wisteria trellis
Content: Guests write haiku and waka on the theme of "plum" on tanzaku paper strips.
Participation fee: Free (garden admission charged separately)

2. Edo street performance　※Canceled in case of rain

Date and time: Sat, Feb 7 and Mon (holiday), Feb 23 at 11:40, 13:00, and 15:00 (about 30 minutes each)
Place: Plaza in front of the shop
Content: Performances of street arts such as Daikokumai and hōkagei (放下芸).
Performers: Asakusa Zatsugeidan（あさくさざつげいだん）
Viewing fee: Free (garden admission charged separately)
How to view: Free viewing on the day

Asakusa Zatsugeidan（あさくさざつげいだん）
A research and performance group launched in Showa 60 (1985) with the aim of "having fun with street performance." Under the guidance of the late Hiroshi Sakano, they both inherit his arts—such as the toad-oil hawker, candy seller, and banana peddler—and work on revivals of the peep-show and rokurokubi (sideshow). Since Heisei 13 (2001), centering on the auspicious art harukoma, they have also taken on door-to-door and procession-style performances. Once a year, they stage a theater performance exploring Japanese street arts.

3. Suzume-odori (Sparrow Dance)　※Canceled in case of rain

Date and time: Sun, Feb 8 and Sun, Feb 22 at 13:00 and 15:00 (about 30 minutes each)
Place: Plaza in front of the shop
Content: A performance of "suzume-odori," which originated in Sendai—the hometown of the garden’s first owner, Sahara Kiku’u（きくう）—and also appears in "Hokusai Manga（ほくさいまんが）" by the ukiyo-e artist Katsushika Hokusai（かつしかほくさい）, who has ties to Sumida City.
Performers: 福来雀（ふっくらすずめ）
Viewing fee: Free (garden admission charged separately)
How to view: Free viewing on the day

[Performer profile]
福来雀（ふっくらすずめ）
A group mainly of Sendai natives, active in Tokyo to promote "suzume-odori."

4. Tea ceremony

Date and time: Sat, Feb 14 and Sun, Feb 15, 11:00–16:00 (about 30 minutes per session, 10 sessions in total)
Place: 御成座敷
Content: A tea-service (temae) demonstration and matcha will be offered by the Mukojima Hyakkaen Tea Gathering.
Capacity: 13 people per session (first-come, first-served on the day)
Participation fee: 1,500 yen per seat (garden admission charged separately)
How to participate: Register in front of 御成座敷 from 10:30 to 15:30 (closes when full)

5. Wild plant watching　※Canceled in case of rain

Date and time: Sat, Feb 21 at 11:40 and 14:40 (about 60 minutes each)　
Content: Observe wild plants in the garden with commentary by the lecturer.
Lecturer: Mr. Wakabayashi Yoshiki（わかばやしよしき） (plant researcher)
Capacity: 20 people per session (first-come, first-served on the day)
Participation fee: Free (garden admission charged separately)
How to participate: Register at the plaza in front of the shop from 10 minutes before the start time

6. Garden Stroll～How to Enjoy Mukojima Hyakkaen～　※Cancelled in case of rain

Date and time：February 15 (Sun) 10:00, 13:00（about 45 minutes）
Content：Guided by staff, we will stroll around the garden while introducing ways to enjoy Mukojima Hyakkaen’s unique flowers and garden scenery.
Capacity：20 people（first-come, first-served on the day）
Participation fee：Free（admission fee required separately）
How to participate：Reception beside the Service Center starting 10 minutes before the start

Other

※Regarding decisions to cancel due to rain or severe weather for each event
In case of cancellation, we will make an announcement on Mukojima Hyakkaen’s official X（formerly Twitter）.
If you have any questions, please contact the Mukojima Hyakkaen Service Center.