2014/02/12
Atami Baien is know as the earliest-flowering place in Japan for the plum and also as the place where maple trees turn red in the latest moment.
The garden was opened in 1886. There are 464 trees of 58 breeds including old tree of over 100 years old (according to Atami City official, November, 2012). Begin to bloom plum first in the spring and soon cherry trees follow, next fresh green colors spring leaves, this plum garden are full of attraction all throughout the four seasons.
In the garden there are “plum-view waterfall”, “Shinpei Nakayama Memorial Museum” “Korea Garden”, and “Masahiro Sawada Memorial Museum” next to it.
“Atami Plum Festival” in mid Jan to Mar and “The Firefleis Admiration Night” from early to mid June are held every year.
Sensai Nagayo who was the first hygiene chief of the bureau of the Department of the Interior proposed Atami Baien as follows in 1885 (in 18 Meiji) when he left for new post and at the completion of “Kyuuki Han” (meaning steamer house, former “O-yu”) which was a hot spring medical treatment facility in Atami.
“Hot spring bath works well to cure for a disease is not only for the water hold the salt and the iron in solution but doing adequate exercises. If you stay in the room all day soaking yourself in the hot spring, it boards you, tires you and you’ll miss the whole point of rehabilitation.” (from “Atami BaienTopographical Record” )
By this proposal, business magnates of Yokohama including Sobei Motegi, Member of Kanagawa Prefectural Assembly Mr. Nakayama, City Assembly .members Hiyoshi, Komatsu, Tsuyuki responded to it and they started the preparation and completed the facility..
Baien established – in 1886
Authorized as Atami’s second Crown lands – in 1888 (management: an inn association)
Authorized as Atami’s third Crown lands – in 1924 (management: Atami City)
Authorized as national land in 1945
Transferred free of cast to Atami City (by the law of International Tourist hot spring culture city construction) – in 1960
Area /4.4ha (44,000 square meters: approximately 14,000 tsubos)
Basic Information
※ Please doublecheck the latest information before you go.
| Name | Atami Baien ‘Plum Garden’ |
|---|---|
| Address | 8-11, Baiencho, Atami City(near Kinomiya Station) |
| Business hours | There is no limit in time for admission (no light up facility) |
| Fees | Free (Except during Plum Festival period, 300 yen for adults, 200 yen for group of over 11 persons, 100 yen for citizens and city hotel guests. Free for smaller than junior high student. *identification is required for citizens, hotel guests and student lower than a junior high school. |
| Parking lot | N/A (available only for the event time, toll ) ※ Plum Festival 600 yen for private car, 300 yen for motor vehicle, 1,500 yen for coach |
| Contact | Atami Tourist Construction Department. Urban Development Division, Park Greening Office TEL: 0557-86-6218 |
| Getting there | ・from Atami Station, bus for “ainohara” for 15 minutes →” Umezono” ・from Atami Station take Ito Line to Staion (abut 3 minutes) → from Kinomiya Station about 10 minutes on foot |
| Website | http://www.ataminews.gr.jp/ume/index.html |
※ Please make sure the info you see is the latest in advance.
