Before Sakura season, Ume(Japanese apricot) becomes full bloom.
In this article, I’ll introduce Ume Festival, Hanegi Park, Setagaya-Ku, Tokyo,Japan.
During middle February to early March, here can enjoy 650 Ume trees blooming!
At the same time,Ume Festival is held here. In 2016,its period is from February 11 to March 6.
Here is entrance. About 5 minutes walk from Odakyu Line Umegaoka Station.
Here is small hill. Visitor can walk through among Ume trees. Footpath is well prepared.
Here can see colorful Ume trees.
Pink.
White.
Yellow.
Strong Pink.
Silhouette of tree. I always think Ume tree is interesting form.
There are Japanese style restroom and tea room in Ume forest. Here is entrance.
This is Japanese style room “Seishindo”. Visitors can take rest here for free. But during festival period, Saturday, Sunday Holiday is not available. Maybe because those days will be heavy crowded.
This is tea room “Nichigetsuan”. Here needs reservation. And only Setagaya-Ku resident and commuter for Setagaya are available. Here is place for Setagaya citizen.
At the top of the hill, there are food stands. Here can buy foods and drink. Here and middle of hill,there are some benches. So visitors can eat foods while watching Ume.
I found some birds on the tree. Starling. They are really cute! They move quickly. It was fun to trace them through finder!
Varied tit.
Japanese white-eye.
Japanese white-eye was sucking honey. I can understand because I like sweets!
With circle bokeh. Ume flower is not dense like Sakura. But because of it, to make circle bokeh is easy.
Close up. I don’t have macro lens. All close up photos are taken with AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED lens on D810. It means 110-300mm Focal length. But cropped.
Twisted.
This weeping apricot was particularly beautiful!
Then I found the moon on the sunny sky.
F22. I tried to make clear image both Ume and moon. But it was imposssible.
Double exposure. It looks like blur. Not beautiful. I gave it up.
Flowers became beautiful bokeh.
Double exposure made soft images.
Sunset. Sun light made beautiful silhouette. If you take sunset photo, please use display. Not finder. Or you’ll hart eye.
It looks like raising hands toward the sun.
This tree was after full bloom. I could enjoy collaboration with sun.
After dark. Shiny moon and silhouette of Ume.
Overlap, Ume and moon.
Playing nature is really fun! It’s depend on situation. How will be your time?? Please find your exciting way in your own situation!
One more.
If you go Umegaoka, there is famous Sushi restaurant.
Its name is “Midorizushi”. Lunch time is cheaper than dinner, and really delicious!
I recommend here. But here is so crowded. There is always long line. It is better to go open(11:00AM) later, please enjoy Ume blooming!
Midori(English, Chinese, Korean)
Information
Hanegi Park Ume Festival
Nearest Station: Umegaoka Station(5 minutes walk) / Odakyu Line, Higashimatsubara Station(10 minutes walk) / Keio Inokashira Line
Open: 10:00AM – 4:00PM (Depend on weather)
Period: February 11 to March 6,2016
Entrance Fee: Free
Address: 52-38-4 Daita,Setagaya-Ku,Tokyo,Japan
Web: Setagaya Ume Festival,Hanegi Park (Japanese Only)