The ''Plum Blossom Festival'' commemorating the virtues of Michizane Sugawara was held on February 25, 2024 at Kitano Tenmangu Shrine (Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto City). Despite the unfortunate rain, worshipers warmed their cold bodies as they were entertained by geishas and maikos from the red light district, Kamishichiken, and looked forward to the arrival of spring.
A festival is held every year on the anniversary of Michizane's death, in honor of the plum blossoms that the enshrined deity, Michizane, loved. At the main shrine, a solemn ritual was held in front of the shrine, with special offerings such as twigs of red and white plum blossoms blooming within the shrine grounds placed in front of the shrine.
At the open-air tea ceremony held at the ''Funade Garden'', maikos wearing plum blossom hairpins and geishas wearing gorgeous kimonos entertained the guests. Visitors enjoyed the sight of the plum blossoms, which are at their peak, getting soaked in the rain and the faint sweet scent that wafted through the air, while savoring the warm, steaming scent.
A female civil servant (56 years old) visiting from Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture,
She said with a smile, ''The colorful plum blossoms made me feel like spring. I also saw the beautiful costumes of geishas and maikos, and it was a great memory.''
