Last week I went to Yushima Tenmangu shrine to see plum flowers.
I have visited there several times at this season. However, I only remember the coldness and hot foods sold at the stalls in the shrine precincts.
This year, thanks to the unseasonable warmth, I enjoyed the plum flowers to my hearts’ content.
Other than white and deep pink plum flowers, they have pale pink ones.
Some have branches hanging down.
The shrine enshrines Sugawara-no-Michizane, a famous scholar, poet and politician at the 9th century. A legend says that he was so fond of plum flowers that when he was sent to province plum trees followed him (meaning wherever he goes plum trees grew spontaneously).
There are more than a hundred shrines which relates to Sugawara-no-Michizane, most of which feature beautiful plum flowers.
Since Sugawara-no-Michizane was an excellent scholar, a lot of people come to pray for success in the examinations.
Winter is the season for entrance examinations that is because the shrine attracts young people as well.
