Golden Hour Hanegi Park Plum Blossoms 2021

Hanegi Park in Setagaya, Tokyo, is renowned for its 650 plum trees. During the golden hour, the low-angled sunset light transforms the plum blossoms (ume) into a glowing canopy of pink and white. This 2021 photography series captures the peak bloom at Hanegi Park, showcasing the interplay between warm ‘magic hour’ light and delicate spring flora.

Editor’s Note: These golden hour Hanegi Park plum photos were originally taken in the spring of 2021. It captured a moment at the Setagaya Plum Blossom Festival during the pandemic, when the usual crowds had vanished. We’re keeping it online as a time capsule of that blossom season.

The golden hour Hanegi Park famous plum trees

In the spring of 2021, I went to Hanegi Park to photograph its plum blossoms. They were excellent. Not all had bloomed, but enough had to make me happy. Some of the ones I saw were perfect. If I’m not mistaken, it was the first time I went in the late afternoon. With the sun’s golden glow surrounding us at sunset, it was heaven on earth (or very close to it!).

The only thing lacking was Mount Fuji. I think the last time I saw it from Hanegi Park was in 2017. Not seeing it is no big problem. But if it appears, that is something special. This time, far too many clouds obscured it. Of course, the sunlight was starting to fade anyway.

Capturing a unique Setagaya Plum Blossom Festival

What was most striking, however, was the quiet. Normally bustling with blossom-viewers, the park was nearly empty—a direct result of the ongoing pandemic. While the circumstances were somber, experiencing the park with that level of tranquility felt surreal. With no crowds, it offered a rare and easy opportunity for unobstructed photography.

Photography techniques: HSS flash at golden hour

I used High-Speed Sync (HSS) flash to darken the background, which brought out the golden glow of the sun while keeping the flower illuminated. The results were most pleasing.

Let me expand on the timing of these shots. Some of these shots were clearly shot during daylight. About half were taken in fading light with a beautiful glow around them. If you don’t know, it is the result of “golden hour.” That starts about sixty minutes before sunset and can end as much as thirty minutes after the sun goes down. For precise timing, consult an app like PhotoPills.

Golden hour is an excellent time of day to shoot. Next time you’re out, you should try it. Looking back on that shoot, it’s hard to imagine Hanegi Park (official Japanese website) more peaceful during its peak season. It serves as a reminder of that strange, quiet spring.

My photography gear for this shoot

Camera body: X-T2
Lens: XF 16-55mm F2.8 R LM WR
Flash: Godox V860II

Are you ready to see the blossoms for yourself? I’ve compiled [A Guide to the Setagaya Ume Matsuri at Hanegi Park] which has all the information you need to know about the event.