Yushima Tenjin Plum Blossom Festival and Monkey Magic

White blossoms on branches in front of a traditional Japanese roof with gold accents under a blue sky. — *Plum blossoms in front of Yushima Tenjin’s main hall*

A sweet, floral, and slightly spicy fragrance permeated Yushima Tenjin Plum Blossom Festival 2022. The flowers graced the halls with their beauty. A huge crowd of admirers had come to enjoy them. Everywhere I turned, I heard the clicks of cameras and smartphones.

Food stalls line the path to a traditional shrine at the Yushima Tenjin Plum Blossom Festival 2022 with city buildings behind. — *Food stalls line the path to the shrine.*

Springtime at Yushima Tenjin

While I was at the shrine, the suddenly warm weather was a sign that winter was over. No one was wearing scarves. Heavy coats were nowhere to be seen. Spring had come.

Visitors photograph pink and white trees at the Yushima Tenjin Plum Blossom Festival 2022 near a traditional shrine.

A note for returning visitors: the tea ceremony, which was a fixture in the garden in past years, was not present on my weekday visit. This is something to keep in mind when planning your trip, as some activities may be limited to weekends.

A komainui lion dog guards it’s plum blossoms.

Yushima Tenjin was relatively crowded. The food stalls probably appreciated them. Cooks hurried around stoves, turning out festival foods for empty stomachs. Takoyaki, okonomiyaki, yakisoba, and cotton candy were all popular.

Weathered stone monument with Japanese characters framed by weeping pink blossoms and a soft blue sky.

A sea of plum blossoms

And the main attraction, the flowers? They were in great shape. Most of them were in full bloom. Some hadn’t formed at all, but those were in the minority. There’s no rush, though. That’s the good thing about them. I imagine the flowers will be with us for another couple of weeks.

White flowers on dark tree branches reach toward a blue sky with soft white clouds, viewed from below.

Monkeys & flowers make magic

Everything was sedate as usual. Plum blossom festivals always are. Everyone seemed to be happy walking among the flowers, taking pictures.

But the scene changed when a monkey and its trainer appeared. All heads turned to them, and people hurried to the performance mat.

A Japanese macaque jumps mid-air during a street performance while its trainer and a masked crowd look on. — *A monkey makes a jump to thrill the crowd.*

Monkeys easily become the center of attention with their comic antics. They effortlessly fly over bar jumps. Walking around on stilts is no problem. Making money for them is no problem either. Once the performance is over, people line up to drop a tip into the trainer’s hat.

Sacred traditions: Ema tablets

Do you know ema? They are votive tablets. You write your wish or desire on them and hang them on symbolic trees at shrines. Hopefully, the gods listen to the petitioner. What do you think?

A tiger-painted ema plaque at the Yushima Tenjin Plum Blossom Festival 2022 with a soft-focus shrine background. — *Ema votive tablets in the Year of the Tiger*

Shrines personalize the tablets to some degree each year. 2022 was the Year of the Tiger. The animal represents strength and courage. Yushima Tenjin used it to decorate its ema.

Photography tips for festival

Leave the tripod at home: Tripods are not allowed on the grounds, so be prepared to shoot handheld.
Embrace the crowds: It will be crowded. Instead of fighting it, use the people in your shots to add a sense of life and scale to the event.
Vary your lenses: This event has it all—grand architecture, sweeping floral scenes, and tight details. Macro, wide-angle, and zoom lenses will all get plenty of use.

Is this flower festival worth visiting?

It was a magical day of beautiful flowers and lively entertainment under great weather. This festival is an annual highlight, and I can’t wait to return.

Detailed close-up of white plum blossoms with yellow centers on dark, textured tree branches.

For flower and travel photographers, this event is a must-visit. You can enjoy offering beautiful blossoms, unique cultural sights, and an atmosphere that has something for everyone.

Have you ever been to this festival? If you have, leave a note in the comments to tell us about your experience. To learn more about this shrine look at [Yushima Tenjin Photography Guide].

Plum blossoms and a traditional shrine roof at the Yushima Tenjin Plum Blossom Festival 2022 against a city backdrop.

My photography gear for this shoot

Camera body: Fujifilm X-T3
Lens: Fujifilm XF 16-55mm F2.8 R LM WR