"Mito Kairakuen: A Poetic Dream Amongst a Thousand-Year-Old Plum Forest"

👍️Recommended reasons: Mito Kairakuen is one of Japan's three great gardens, famous for its vast plum forest and picturesque natural scenery throughout the year. Every spring, the plum blossoms in the garden bloom, and the fragrance of nearly a hundred varieties of plum blossoms fills the air, making you feel as if you are in a sea of flowers. In addition, the historical buildings and garden design in the park also showcase the beauty of Japanese garden art during the Edo period. 📅Travel tips: • Opening hours: Open all day (some facilities, such as the Tōkogaku, are open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm). • Recommended visit duration: 2-3 hours to savor every view of the garden. • Featured attractions: • Plum blossom sea: About 3,000 plum trees, the best time to view plum blossoms is from February to March. • Kōbuntei: Once the study of a Japanese feudal lord, you can overlook the entire garden from here. • Tōko scenery: Kairakuen is built by Tōko, and the lake reflects the garden scenery, especially charming in the morning mist and sunset. 🚗Transportation tips: • From Mito Station: • Bus: Take a bus to "Kairakuen," and it takes about 20 minutes to get there. • Taxi: About 10 minutes, costing about JPY 1,000. • Walk: About 30 minutes, and you can enjoy the street view of Mito City along the way. • Self-driving: There are several parking lots in the park, costing about JPY 300-500. 💗Other tips: • Best time to view flowers: February to March is the plum blossom season, and the park will hold a "Plum Festival" with lights decorating the night plum blossoms, which is very romantic. • Cultural experience: • Experience traditional matcha at "Kōbuntei" and feel the ancient tea culture. • The park holds cultural activities such as waka and calligraphy from time to time, which are worth participating in. • Dining recommendation: There are many Japanese tea houses outside the park, and it is recommended to try snacks made with plums or sweet plum wine. • Souvenirs: You can buy exquisite handicrafts or plum sachets with plum blossom themes at the visitor center. • Photography tips: • The plum blossom forest is suitable for shooting in the early morning, and the plum blossoms under the soft light are more moving. • The sunset view of Kōbuntei is worth taking a picture of, and the excellent composition makes the photo more layered. Kairakuen is not only a garden but also a quiet and distant journey through time. Wandering in the sea of plum blossoms, you will find that every plant and tree here carries the essence of Japanese garden culture. Come and let your heart immerse in this poetic fragrance! 🌸🏯