Each year from around late January through to early March, Ehime's Nanrakuen Garden is home to a plum festival which showcases the beauty of around 160 trees in bloom. During the event, free plum tea, amazake (a traditional Japanese drink made from fermented rice), and zenzai (a type of red bean soup served with mochi) are offered to visitors, and there are also plants and flowers available to purchase for any green thumbs out there.
If you can't make it to the park during plum season, there are a host of other flower events here throughout the year, including sakura, azalea, and iris festivals.
Admission to the park is priced at 310 yen for adults, and 150 yen for school-aged students and those who are 65 years of age and above.
Getting there
The Nanrakuen Garden is located around 40 minutes by bus from JR Uwajima Station, which is served by the Yosan Line and the Yodo Line.