An ocean of plum blossoms heralds the beginning of spring. Time to get ready for your first picnic of the year.

In February, plum blossoms are in full bloom at the Kishu Ishigami Tanabe Ume Orchards in Wakayama. More than 300,000 ume trees cover the hillsides that stretch out right to the Pacific Ocean in the distance. The view is breath-taking.

This is a Feature article that was published in Kansai Scene magazine in January 2017.

Read the full article here: http://www.kansaiscene.com/2017/01/shake-off-winter-first-blossoms-spring/