Osaka: Osaka Castle Plum Grove

While most people associate cherry blossoms with Japan, I actually prefer plum blossoms. As luck would have it, our trip’s timing just happend to coincide with the plum blossoms season. A little research revealed Osaka Castle is one of the best places to view plum blossoms, with over a thousand plum trees in its plum grove and the majestic Osaka Castle in the background. Then as our day back to Osaka approached, forecast showed rain ALL day long. But I was not about to let a little rain stop us, so we charged on with our umbrellas…As it turned out, the rain was probably the best thing that could have happened: not only did the rain deter most of the tourists, leaving a nearly deserted plum grove all to the few of us brave souls, the rain-soaked plum blossoms were particularly breathtaking. Walking around in the rain under the fragrant plum blossoms, snapping away at will was without a doubt, the highlight of the trip for me.