Ome City Plum Park

In short

Ome City Plum Park is located at the center of Yoshino Baigo, an area home to many plum-growing farmers. The park makes use of the slightly elevated hilly terrain, and approximately 1,200 plum trees are planted there. After all plum trees were felled in 2014, replanting has been underway since 2016, and the park is moving step by step toward its revival as a famous plum blossom viewing spot.

• ​Diverse Varieties​​: Planted varieties include "Baigo," which originated in Ome City, and "Omoi-no-mama," where red and white blossoms bloom on a single tree.
• ​Weeping Plums and Views​​: You can look up at weeping plums from the arched bridge (taiko-bashi) and take in views combining the mountain town and plum blossoms from the ridge path.
• ​Plum Festival​​: The Yoshino Baigo Plum Festival is held at this park during the plum blossom season.

History and Highlights

The plum blossom is the symbol of Ome City. Crossing the Tama River from JR Hinatawada Station toward Yoshino Kaido Street leads to an area with many farmers cultivating plums. This area is called Yoshino Baigo, and at its center lies Ome City Plum Park. The park was opened in 1972 so people could enjoy the plum blossoms, a local specialty.

In the past, the park was one of the foremost plum spots in the Kanto region, with approximately 1,700 plum trees in bloom. However, the plum trees were infected with the plum pox virus, and in May 2014, all plum trees in the park were felled. Replanting began in November 2016, and by February 2019, approximately 1,200 trees had been planted.

Although the plum trees are still small, they bloom with beautiful flowers in early spring, delighting visitors. To regain its former scenery, the park is moving forward step-by-step toward its revival.

Viewing and Experience Points

• ​Diverse Varieties​​: The park makes direct use of the slightly elevated hilly terrain, and about 150 varieties of plum trees are planted there. Deep and pale colored blossoms intermingle, including "Baigo" and "Gyokuei," which originated in Ome City, and "Omoi-no-mama," where red and white flowers bloom in profusion on a single tree.
• ​Arched Bridge and Ridge Path​​: When you look up from the arched bridge, the weeping plum blossoms look like a waterfall. If you walk up the ridge path on the hill, you can enjoy views of the mountain town together with the plum blossoms. As you stroll, the scenery of the plums changes.
• ​Other Seasonal Flowers​​: In addition to plum trees, many seasonal flowers such as wintersweet, daffodils, and azaleas are planted in the park. Around the time the plums bloom, Japanese cornel dogwood (sanshuyu) and Amur adonis (fukujuso) also begin to bloom in succession.

Tips for Visiting

It is about a 15-minute walk from Hinatawada Station on the JR Ome Line. Taking the Toei Bus bound for "Yoshino" from JR Ome Station and getting off at "Yoshino Bairin" leaves about a 2-minute walk. During the plum blossom season, the Yoshino Baigo Plum Festival is held in this park, with music and dancing performed on weekends during the festival period. About 1.3 kilometers to the northwest is the Yoshikawa Eiji Memorial Museum.