Ume: Japan’s Most Beautiful Early Spring Blossoms
Whether you like the flowers, the pickled fruit or the liqueur, Japanese plums are one of the most charming early signs of spring—and soon they’ll be in full bloom across the city. Despite the snow that seems to be falling more regularly even in Tokyo lately, starting in early February, most regions in Japan become decorated in beautiful shades of pale to fuchsia pink. No, these are not early sakura blossoms (which, of course, also exist)—these are ume (梅), or the beautiful, often underappreciated early symbols of the Japanese spring: plum blossoms. From February to the end of March, you’ll fi...