Mar 16, 2025 23:00:00

I went to Ayabeyama Plum Grove, where the mountain with the ancient tomb is now a plum orchard.

If you want to eat Himeji's specialty '

Maneki no Eki Soba ,' there are other sightseeing spots around Himeji. Himeji is known for the World Heritage Site 'Himeji Castle,' but I also wanted to see other places, so I went to Ayabeyama Plum Grove in Tatsuno City, which is adjacent to the west of Himeji City.

Ayabeyama / Ayabeyama Plum Grove | Plum grove with sea view in Mitsumachi, Tatsuno City
https://www.ayabeyama.jp/

A special bus service runs to Ayabeyama Plum Grove only during the plum viewing season. In 2025, the service will run for a total of nine days on weekends and holidays from February 22nd (Saturday) to 16th (Sunday) . The fare is 440 yen from JR Aboshi Station to Ayabeyama Plum Grove, and 310 yen from Sanyo Aboshi Station to Ayabeyama Plum Grove. Transportation IC cards are accepted.

This time I boarded the train from Sanyo Aboshi Station.

We arrived at Ayabeyama Plum Grove in about 13 minutes. Unfortunately, the weather was slightly cloudy with a light rain.

A scarecrow welcomes you at the entrance to the plum grove.

Admission fees are 500 yen for adults and 400 yen for children.

There is a monument commemorating the creation of a farmland plum orchard. The Ayabeyama Plum Grove began in 1968 when 24 hectares of national forest were reclaimed and plum trees were planted. Plum viewing events have been held here since 1974.

Plum trees were planted along the circular route, and monorail tracks for maintenance were also installed.

Due to the severe cold in 2025, the flowering period was late,

with the flowers only half in bloom by March 13th and almost in full bloom by March 16th .

Colorful plum blossoms bloom all over the slope.

At the shop along the way, you can exchange your ticket stub for plum juice. In the past, they also gave out sweet sake, but since COVID-19, they have stopped doing that.

If the weather is good, you can see the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, Awajishima, and even Tokushima.

The scarecrows gathered together as if they thought this was the best position.

Indeed, the plum tree on which the scarecrow was perched was in particularly beautiful bloom.

If the timing had been right, this passage could have become like a plum gate.

At the very back of the plum grove path is an ancient tomb called 'Shogenzuka.'

Its official name is 'Ayabeyama Kofun Group Tomb No. 28,' and it is said to date back to the late Kofun period (around the 5th century). According to the explanation from the Mitsugi Town Board of Education, it has been called 'Shogenzuka' by villagers since ancient times because of its square shape (=sho) and deep, mysterious appearance.

There is a restaurant near the burial mound where you can also eat Maneki no Eki Soba.

It would have been better if the weather had been better, but even in the bad weather the trees were blooming with beautiful flowers.

The plum blossoms were particularly vibrant.

We will also return by bus.

There is a parking lot near the entrance to the plum grove, and the parking fee is 500 yen.

The special bus will run for the last time on Sunday, March 16, 2025, but the plum blossom viewing season will last until Thursday, March 20, 2025 (national holiday). If you want to visit by public transportation, you can use the Tatsuno City Community Bus, which runs from JR Harima-Shingu Station and Hon-Tatsuno Station on the Kishin Line and JR Sanyo Main Line Tatsuno Station to Shinmaiko, which is close to the plum grove. Please note that the community bus does not operate on public holidays.

Tatsuno City / Tatsuno City Community Bus
https://www.city.tatsuno.lg.jp/kikaku/comibus.html