 Most viewed - Takao Baigo Plum Blossoms 高尾梅郷 |
Hachioji manhole cover. It depicts a Sanbaso dancer (三番叟). Sanbaso is a well-known dancer in Noh and kabuki. He comes from a Noh prayer dance called Okina (翁) dating from the 14th century as a religious ritual. 361 viewsHachioji's manhole shows the Sanbaso as a Hachioji Kuruma Ningyo puppet (八王子車人形). It's a unique offshoot of bunraku puppetry performed by a troupe based in Hachioji.
Here's a video that shows exactly what it is: https://youtu.be/XV8gVw5Rhwg
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On the top of Kogesawa Bairin, there are benches and picnic area near the plum trees. 208 views
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Plum trees also have lichens growing on the trunk and branches. These lichens form on plum trees in rural areas. We don't see them on plum trees in the city because exhaust fumes from vehicles kill them. 206 viewsSo if you see these lichens on plum trees, it means the surrounding environment is very clean. (Parmotrema tinctorum ウメノキゴケ)
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Takao Baigo was established in 1964 by a local tourist group. They happened to have multiple plum groves in this area, so they decided to market them together as a tourist attraction named "Takao Baigo" (Takao Plum Blossom Area).202 views
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The grove is near the mountains, so there's a nice backdrop.194 views
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Kogesawa Bairin is on a hillside with walking paths along the trees. Mostly white plum blossoms, but a few red and pink flowers too. ("Bairin" means "plum grove.")191 views
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188 views
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188 views
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Since they are so few in Takao, the red plums really stand out.188 views
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Takao Baigo is in the area of the famous Mt. Takao. It's an area with several plum blossom groves mainly along a road called Kyu-Koshu Kaido (旧甲州街道) near JR Takao Station and Keio Line Takaosanguchi Station. 186 views
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186 views
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Kobotoke River and plum blossoms.186 views
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186 views
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186 views
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JR Takao Station. Takes a little over an hour from Tokyo Station on the JR Chuo Line.185 views
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185 views
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185 views
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184 views
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Red plum blossoms really stand out.183 views
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Kogesawa Bairin183 views
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About Takao Tenmangu Shrine. Plum blossoms are associated with Sugawara Michizane because he once wrote a poem for his beloved plum blossoms that "flew through the air" to follow him when he was exiled to Dazaifu, Fukuoka.183 views
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Kogesawa Bairin hillside walking path.182 views
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Steps going down hill of plum trees at Kogesawa Bairin.180 views
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Takao Baigo is near JR Takao Station and Keio Line Takaosanguchi Station. JR Takao Station has this giant tengu mask on the platform. Mt. Takao, which has long been a sacred mountain, supposed to be where one of the major tengu dwells. 179 viewsSo the tengu is a local symbol.
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179 views
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179 views
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Entrance to the walking path to see Yuhodo Bairin (遊歩道梅林). From Takao Station, it's a 15-min. walk to here.179 viewsThe path goes along the river and you can walk all the way to Kogesawa Bairin on the far end, about 5 km away. It would take about 90 min. one way. Then take the bus back to Takao Station.
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178 views
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Other end of Surusashi Bairin.178 views
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177 views
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177 views
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Kogesawa Bairin177 views
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Looking down the hillside of white plum trees.176 views
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Takao Baigo is in the area of the famous Mt. Takao. Plum blossoms here bloom in March, so if you were too busy to see plum blossoms in Feb., you can still see the ume blossoms in mountainous western Tokyo.174 views
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Surusashi Bairin174 views
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174 views
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171 views
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If you want to see the largest plum grove first (Kogesawa Bairin), get off here at the Oshimo stop (大下). Takes about 20-30 min. from Takao Station.170 views
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170 views
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After Kogesawa Bairin, walked along on Kyu-Koshu Kaido road to see more plum groves.170 views
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Surusashi Bairin grove covers a long, rectangular area. This is one end of it.170 views
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170 views
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Next plum grove was Tenjin Bairin. It's somewhat hidden behind trees, but there's a sign and bridge to get there.169 views
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Yuhodo Bairin (遊歩道梅林)169 views
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Walking up to the top of Kogesawa Bairin along this path on the periphery.168 views
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168 views
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Walking path near the Chuo Expressway.168 views
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168 views
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Takao Ume-no-Sato Machi-no-Hiroba168 views
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Kogesawa Bairin plum grove at Takao Baigo, Hachioji, Tokyo.167 views
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Bridge to Tenjin Bairin from the road.167 views
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Kogesawa Bairin166 views
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Tenjin Bairin well.166 views
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Yunohana Bairin165 views
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Takao Ume-no-Sato Machi-no-Hiroba has restrooms.165 views
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The plum grove has walking paths across the slope.164 views
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164 views
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164 views
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Yuhodo Bairin (遊歩道梅林)164 views
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Buses run only once an hour on weekdays and two or three times per hour on weekends. Take the bus going to Kobotoke (小仏).163 views
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Walking to Kogesawa Bairin.163 views
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Gate to Kogesawa Bairin. All the plum groves have free admission. Kogesawa Bairin is open to the public only when the flowers are on bloom. Otherwise, it's closed to the public (surrounded by a fence).163 views
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163 views
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163 views
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At the top of Tenjin Bairin grove is this small Takao Tenmangu Shrine. Tenmangu (or Tenjin) shrines are dedicated to famous Japanese scholar Sugawara Michizane (845–903) deified as Tenjin, the god of learning and scholarship.163 views
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Top of Kogesawa Bairin. Plum tree branches seem to grow in random directions, but the tree always maintains its balance.161 views
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Takao Baigo stone monument at Takao Ume-no-Sato Machi-no-Hiroba.161 views
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Next to Tenjin Bairin is this reforestation area.161 views
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Yuhodo Bairin. There's usually a Plum Blossom Matsuri festival on one of the weekends, but it was canceled in 2021 and 2022 due to Covid-19.161 views
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Kogesawa Bairin plum grove at Takao Baigo, Hachioji, Tokyo.160 views
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A grove named Takao Ume-no-Sato Machi-no-Hiroba. 160 views
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Takao Ume-no-Sato Machi-no-Hiroba is more for picnicking.160 views
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This is near the entrance to this walking path.160 views
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159 views
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Toward the end (or beginning) of the trail are more plum blossoms called Yuhodo Bairin (遊歩道梅林).159 views
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Kogesawa Bairin is on a hillside.158 views
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158 views
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Surusashi Bairin (するさし梅林) is also gated and open to the public only when the flowers are in bloom.158 views
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158 views
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Walked further along the road for the next grove named Yunohana Bairin (湯の花梅林). 158 views
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Takao Ume-no-Sato Machi-no-Hiroba158 views
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Turn left to see another plum grove, but I was too tired and just went straight.158 views
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Top of Kogesawa plum grove hill has this small area for picnickers. A few benches and tree stumps to sit on. Good idea to bring takeout food. Pleasant to have lunch here.157 views
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157 views
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157 views
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157 views
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Walking to Kogesawa Bairin near the Chuo Expressway overhead. (木下沢梅林)156 views
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Top of Kogesawa Bairin with benches and picnic area near the plum trees. 156 views
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156 views
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156 views
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156 views
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155 views
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People in this Takao area have been worshipping Tenjin for centuries. Most all Tenmangu/Tenjin shrines (thousands of them) have plum blossoms.155 views
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154 views
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The next plum grove was Surusashi Bairin (するさし梅林). This might be the second largest plum grove in Takao Baigo.154 views
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Takao Ume-no-Sato Machi-no-Hiroba is right under the expressway.154 views
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Red plum blossoms in a small park.154 views
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JR Takao Station. Get out the north exit (Kitaguchi).153 views
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153 views
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Riverside path.153 views
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Map of Takao Baigo.153 views
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153 views
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Top of Kogesawa Bairin.152 views
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152 views
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Kogesawa Bairin151 views
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Other end of Surusashi Bairin.151 views
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Yunohana Bairin151 views
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However, it seems most people first take the bus from Takao Station to Kogesawa Bairin and then start from there which is what I did.151 views
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Bus stop150 views
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150 views
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When I took the bus from Takao Station in mid-morning, it was packed even on a weekday during peak bloom.149 views
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149 views
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Pruning plum trees.149 views
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Yunohana Bairin149 views
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Another noted plum grove is Tenjin Bairin (天神梅林) named after Takao Tenmangu Shrine on the top of this hill. 149 views
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149 views
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From the Oshimo bus stop, walking to Kogesawa Bairin. A short walk.148 views
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148 views
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148 views
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148 views
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The public cannot enter Yunohana Bairin, so you just see it from the road.148 views
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147 views
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147 views
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Surusashi Bairin has just one main path in the middle. The Chuo Expressway (goes to Nagoya via Nagano) is in the background.147 views
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Yuhodo Bairin (遊歩道梅林)147 views
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Bus stops between the two nearest train stations and Takao Baigo.146 views
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Some plum trees with pruned branches. May they flower again someday.146 views
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146 views
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146 views
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Kogesawa Bairin145 views
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Walking path along the river.145 views
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Top of Kogesawa Bairin with benches and picnic area near the plum trees. 144 views
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Another nice spot for a picnic.144 views
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144 views
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Surusashi Bairin144 views
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144 views
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Plum blossom bus at Takao Station (North exit). They have two buses running at the same time between Takao Station (North exit) and the plum groves. 144 views
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It's a quiet, rural, residential area along a small river. As you keep walking, you see plum trees here and there.143 views
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143 views
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Map of Takao Baigo.143 views
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From the north exit,go left to the bus stops to catch a us to Takao Baigo. Otherwise, it's a 15-min. walk. 142 views
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Surusashi Bairin141 views
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Go up the hill to see the shrine.141 views
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Yuhodo Bairin (遊歩道梅林)141 views
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You can see the plum groves either from the start of the road or from the end of the road where the largest plum grove is located. I took the bus to the end and walked back toward the train station.140 views
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Kogesawa Bairin from outside the fence at ground level.140 views
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Riverside path map.140 views
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Kogesawa Bairin near the Chuo Expressway overhead.139 views
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Top of Kogesawa Bairin. 139 views
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Homes along the river.138 views
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This part of the river was dry due to construction work upstream.138 views
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135 views
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Takao Baigo stone monument at Takao Ume-no-Sato Machi-no-Hiroba.122 views
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120 views
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