The annual Plum Festival began on February 22, 2025 at Aoya Plum Grove in Joyo City, known as the largest plum producing area in Kyoto Prefecture. The first day was chilly due to the onset of a cold wave, so there were few visitors, but some people came to buy processed plum products.
Aoya Plum Grove has been popular as a famous plum viewing spot since the Meiji era. The festival is held every year by an executive committee made up of Joyo City and the Joyo City Tourism Association, and usually attracts around 10,000 visitors during the period.
Last year, the plums were in full bloom at the same time, but this year they were late and have only just begun to bloom here and there. According to the executive committee, the best time to see them is expected to be early to mid-March.
Souvenir shops lined up along Nakatenmangu Shrine and the walking trails of the plum grove, selling plum jams, dorayaki, udon noodles, and other products. At a ceremony held in the grounds of Nakatenmangu Shrine, a group of citizens wore masks and performed the "Hyotoko Dance," a humorous dance that drew rapt attention from visitors.
The event will run until March 9. The shop's opening hours are from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
