Soga Plum Grove

Overview

Located in Odawara City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Soga Plum Grove is a vast plum orchard with approximately 35,000 plum trees, recognized as one of the three major plum groves in the Kanto region. During the blooming season in February, a profusion of white plum blossoms, including the delicate Juro, Shirokaga, and Sugita varieties, create a stunning spectacle. Red plum blossoms and magnificent weeping plum trees also reach their peak during this time. A stroll through the grove offers breathtaking views of Mount Fuji. Soga Plum Grove has a long history as a plum-producing area. During the Edo period, Odawara feudal lord Okubo Tadazane is said to have encouraged plum cultivation, further boosting its prominence. Today, most of the grove is dedicated to cultivating plums for eating, but during the blooming season, many tourists visit to appreciate the beauty of the blossoms and the majestic scenery of Mount Fuji. During the plum festival, events such as the Kotobuki Shishimai (lion dance), street vendors selling uiro (a type of sweet rice cake) with their captivating sales pitches, and plum pit-spitting contests add to the festive atmosphere. Soga Plum Grove is a place where you can experience the rich nature and history of Odawara. Why not take a relaxing stroll surrounded by the fragrant plum blossoms in spring?