I went to Shiba Park in spring 2020. The weather was cool, the sky was a perfect, cloudless blue that made the pinks of the blossoms even more vibrant. Looking back, it was the kind of day that was made for flower photography.
The plum blossoms of Shiba Park 2020
There wasn’t much difference from the previous year. I only noticed the lack of cats. There were none. In 2019, I got some excellent shots of them, so it was a little sad not to see them on this occasion. I’m trying to photograph them when possible to build up a gallery. So if they had been there, it would have been a real bonus that day!
The trees weren’t quite their best, judging by how many buds were still on the trees. But, at the same time, there were a few fully-formed flowers. It’s funny how you forget those minor imperfections over time. Looking at the photos now, all I remember is how much fun I had photographing the plum blossoms.
Plum vs. cherry blossoms: Size does matter
One problem was that plum blossoms were smaller than cherry blossoms. That makes a massive difference with photographs. I wished I had a macro lens to deal with that problem.
Tips for visiting Shiba Park and Zojoji
If you go to Shiba Park, it will probably be a quick visit as the flowers are in a small area. The good news is that Zojoji and Tokyo Tower aren’t far away. And as it is in the central part of town, many other places are within easy reach.
Flash photography experiments in the park
Looking at these photos now, I see I was experimenting with a Godox V860 II flash. I can’t remember my settings or the specifics, but I recall the challenge of holding the camera in one hand and the flash in the other. My goal was to add a little ‘pop’ of light to make the tiny blossoms stand out against the bright sky. I remember being thrilled with the results at the time.
Reediting the images in 2026
In 2020, I used the Fujifilm Velvia film simulation for these photos to give the images some ‘pop.’ But that style looks gaudy, too much color for me in 2026. This time, I reedited them only using Lightroom.
Finding the Shiba Park Plum Grove
- Address: 8 Shibakoen, Minato City, Tokyo
- Closest train station: Shibakoen Station
- Opening hours: 24 hours/day.
- Entrance fees: None
- For the most up-to-date information, consult the official Shiba Park website.
- Here is the park on Google Maps:
Were the 2020 Shiba Park plum blossoms worth it?
Revisiting these pictures reminds me why I love photography. It’s not about capturing a perfect, technically flawless image every time. Well, if you can do that, it’s great. But for me, half the fun is the simple act of taking an image. I’ll never rank among the great photographers of history, but joining them on the journey is immensely satisfying.
The other half is just documenting the city. Tokyo is an amazing place. I want to share it with the world. Seeing new places and even older ones is always a thrill. Who knows what changes might happen over the space of a year?
Have you ever been to Shiba Park? It’s a great place for plum blossoms as so many other photo spots are nearby. Share your experiences in the comments below.
Photography gear for this shoot
- Camera Body: Fujifilm X-T2
- Lens: Fujifilm XF 16-55mm F2.8 R LM WR
- Flash: Godox V860 II
