Highlights
- Said to be Japan's earliest-blooming plum grove
- Taiko, geisha dances, tea ceremony and live events
- Pairs with Atami's hot-spring atmosphere
Background & story
Laid out in the 1880s, Atami Plum Garden is celebrated for some of Japan's earliest plum blossoms thanks to its mild seaside climate.
Good to know for visitors
- Getting there
- ~10 min walk from JR Kinomiya Station, or ~15 min by bus from JR Atami Station. Open directions in Google Maps ↗
- Booking & entry
- Check tickets and details on the official page (button above).
- Paying
- Modest garden admission during the festival (recent years a few hundred yen).. Smaller venues in Japan are often cash-first — carry some yen (cards/IC not guaranteed).
- Language
- Mostly in Japanese — a translation app on your phone helps.
- Good for
- culture seekers, families, date night
Good to know
Combine the festival with a soak in Atami's onsen and nearby Kinomiya Shrine.
Frequently asked questions
- When is the Atami Plum Garden Festival 2027?
- The Atami City Tourism Association's festival page lists the next edition as 9 January (Sat) to 7 March (Sun) 2027, with details still to be announced (checked 11 October 2026). The 82nd festival ran 10 January to 8 March 2026, the same dates shown on Atami City's official site. Confirm the final 2027 schedule on the official page (ataminews.gr.jp/event/355).
- Where is it held and how do I get there?
- The venue is Atami Plum Garden (Atami Bairin), 8-11 Baiencho, Atami, Shizuoka. Take the Ito Line one stop (about 3 min) from JR Atami Station to Kinomiya Station, then walk about 10 minutes; or ride the Ainohara-danchi bus from JR Atami Station about 15 minutes to the Baien stop (Atami City Tourism Association, checked 11 October 2026). The association warns that the garden car park and nearby roads are congested every day during the festival, so public transport is recommended.
- How much is admission?
- In 2026, admission was charged only during the festival between 8:30 and 16:00: 300 yen for adults, 200 yen for groups of 11 or more, 100 yen for Atami residents and guests staying in Atami, and free for junior high school students and younger (Atami City Tourism Association, checked 11 October 2026). From 25 February 2026 entry became free for the rest of the season. Check the official page for the 2027 fees and charging period.
- What are the highlights?
- The garden has 469 plum trees of 60 varieties, with early, mid and late varieties flowering in turn from January to March, and is known as the earliest-blooming plum grove in Japan (Atami City official site and Tourism Association, checked 11 October 2026). In 2026 the programme included Atami geisha performances on the central plaza (10:30 and 13:30), on Sundays and holidays free amazake (from 10:00) and plum tea (from 13:00), each for the first 200 visitors, plus a foot bath and souvenir stalls inside the garden.
- What about rain or crowds?
- Events inside the garden can be changed or cancelled depending on the weather; in 2026 a geisha performance was called off because of a bad-weather forecast (Atami City Tourism Association, checked 11 October 2026). In 2026 the 100-space car park in front of the garden (700 yen per car, open 1 January to 8 March only) and surrounding roads were reported as congested every day, so walking from Kinomiya Station is the most reliable option. Check the official page for the 2027 parking period and the day's programme.
Getting there
Atami Plum Garden (Atami Bairin) — 8-11 Baiencho, Atami, Shizuoka