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Plum Blossom at the Imperial Palace Park

February 27, 2015 By Michael Lambe 4 Comments

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On my way home from Kitano Tenmangu Shrine the other day, I stopped by the Imperial Palace Park to enjoy the plum blossom. The trees at Kitano Tenmangu are probably more famous, but the shrine grounds were also a lot more crowded. Though each tree in the park had its admirers, there was really only a small scattering of people around, and so I could enjoy the blooms in a more relaxed and pleasant manner.

Every tree has its admirers...
Every tree has its admirers…

And there is something very calming about viewing plum blossom.

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The scent of plum blossom is subtle, not strong, but deep like wine and very rich. I love to stick my nose in a spray and take a big sniff!

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梅が香に追い戻さるるさむさかな [松尾 芭蕉]

ume ga ka ni
oimodosaruru
samusa kana
~ Matsuo Bashō

plum blossom scent –
this chases off
the cold!
( tr. Michael Lambe)

Filed Under: Culture & Tradition, Parks, Poetry Tagged With: haiku, plum blossom, 梅, 俳句

Comments

  1. Yukio Kuze says

    February 27, 2015 at 7:00 am

    Thank you for this nice article ,photos and translation!
    Still a little cold in Kyoto, plum blossom make me feel happy for the coming spring.

    I’ve read Deep Kyoto Walk for a couple of times. Love it!
    Thank you.

  2. Michael Lambe says

    February 27, 2015 at 9:54 am

    Thank you for the kind words, Yukio!

  3. Rosemary Jeffcott says

    January 29, 2016 at 10:55 am

    I lived close to Tama Reien (多摩霊園), a very large and old cemetery in Fuchu, Tokyo, for more than ten years. It is a wonderful old cemetery-cum-garden of spring blooms, including plum and cherry blossom avenues and the fragrance of many daphne bushes. Actually, Edo castle does a pretty impressive blossom display, too, come to think of it. Here in Australia, as I write, the dogwood flowers have been replaced by leaves, early roses are blooming, the first apricots and mulberries are ready to eat, and the birds are having a gustatory ball!! Will look for Deep Kyoto Walk.

  4. Michael Lambe says

    February 22, 2016 at 6:19 pm

    Thank you for sharing your memories, Rosemary!

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