sangimi no yado

Sennan-shi, famous for its flowers. A trip to visit the famous Ume blossoms.

Sennan-shi, Osaka Prefecture, has a concentration of popular tourist spots on the ocean side, including Sennan Long Park (Sennan Rinku Park) and Marble Beach and Southern Beach.
The location has been selected as one of the best 100 sunsets in Japan, beautiful beaches where sea turtles come to lay their eggs, glamping areas and marche have made the city popular.
There are also fashionable restaurants and a large shopping mall with a movie theater, which has been developed across the adjacent cities of Izumisano and Hannan.

On the mountain side, on the other hand, mountain trails, hiking and camping spots, and flower spots offer a peaceful, natural mountain scene.
This article introduces the “Kinyu-ji Temple” Ume (Japanese apricot) Grove in Sennan-shi.

Kinyu-ji Temple Ume-grove, a beloved Ume tree-lined area since the Edo period.

The Ume grove at Kinyu-ji was born from a revelation.

The Ume grove at Kinyu-ji Temple, located in the Higashi-Shindachi district in the mountains of Sennan-shi, has long been known as one of the best plum groves in Senshu.
The history of the ume grove dates back to the early Edo period (1647), when the Yano clan, the Shinto priest of Shindachi Shrine adjacent to Kinyu-ji Temple, was told that if they planted ume trees in this area, their domain would flourish even more.

• Kinyu-ji Temple in Higashi-Shindachi Ward. The name of the temple derives from the fact that both Kinpu and Kumano deities were invoked and enshrined together with Shindachi Shrine.
• Shindachi Shrine, the shrine where the revelation was given. There is a nagi tree, a natural monument designated by Osaka Prefecture.

In the past, there was a wide area of Ume grove and it was a major recreational area.
In the Meiji period (1868-1912), the politician Takashi Hara, who later became the Prime Minister and was then the editor-in-chief of the Osaka Mainichi Shimbun newspaper, once visited the area to view the plum blossoms on the newly-opened Nankai Railway.

Special ume only available in this area. Rare umeboshi are excellent!

Kinyu-ji Temple Ume grove is home to many white ume trees called “Kinyu-ji Ume,” which are unique to this area. It produces small white blossoms and small but thick fruits that are perfect for making umeboshi (pickled plums)!
During the blooming season, the small white blossoms bloom in a sparkling and shining manner.
And the Umeboshi (pickled plums) made from them are a rare gem with very low production. The traditional sour Umeboshi, made by adding only salt and red shiso to the pesticide-free plums, are rarely found on the market.
Locally produced for local consumption, Kinyu-ji Temple Umeboshi are also loved by local school lunch programs. In addition to being available locally, in recent years they can also be obtained as a tax return gift from hometowns.

• Kinyu-ji Temple plum trees have small white blossoms.
• ”Kinyu-ji Temple Ume” is a short, side-branching white Ume tree with thick flesh and small seeds that produces a good quality harvest.

 

Let’s go to “Kinyu-ji Temple Ume grove” in spring.

Let’s go to a Ume grove right away.

To get to Kinyu-ji Temple Ume grove, visitors can take the Sennan-shi Community Bus from the nearest station on the JR Hanwa Line or the Nankai Line, or drive a car.
If you are driving your car, there is a parking lot in the Ume grove where about 20 cars can be parked only when the ume trees are in full bloom.
The community bus stop is also located near the parking lot. (The community bus is available all year round.)
From this parking lot, we will take the promenade up the hill where the Ume grove spreads out.

• 
• Ume grove parking lot.
  On Sundays during the Ume season, events are sometimes held in front of the parking lot.

Take the blooming promenade to the Ume grove.

The promenade in Kinyu-ji Temple Ume grove winds its way between fields.
The promenade is carefully guided by signs and signs with “Kinyu-ji Temple Ume grove” banners along the path.
During the Ume blossom season, canola flowers are also in bloom, and the path is a peaceful place where one can feel the warm spring-like weather.

• Entrance to the Ume grove promenade.
• The weeping plum trees that had fallen in a typhoon in 2018 had recovered enough to produce beautiful flowers.
• The red-roofed building in the distance is the school building of a local elementary school.

The path continues through the field for a while, and after passing the middle of the promenade, it enters the Ume grove.
Because the Ume grove is built on the slope of a mountain, the promenade is always uphill, but the slope is gentle. The ground is also paved, making it easy to walk on.
You can view the ume blossoms so close that you can almost touch them, but all the trees are important trees grown by farmers.
Please do not touch them or get too close to them.

• The promenade is a gentle ascent.
• The density of Ume trees is high, and when the trees are in full bloom, the view is breathtaking.
• Kinyu-ji Temple Ume trees are short, so when you walk along the promenade, the plum blossoms seem to appear right next to you.

A panoramic view of the Ume grove from the top of the hill!

At the end of the promenade, there are stairs that lead up to the top of the hill.
The Ume grove is built along the slope of the mountain, and if you climb up to the side of Kinyu-ji Temple and Shindachi Shrine, you can see the entire Ume grove spread out on the hillside.
The retro and nostalgic atmosphere of the school building matches with the pretty white Ume blossoms and the Satoyama landscape, creating a peaceful scene. It is very relaxing.

• The stairs are as wide as the boardwalk. Please remember to be considerate when ascending and descending the stairs.
• The view from the top of the hill. The peaceful spring Satoyama landscape will soothe you.
• The cafe on the hill is closed.

Apart from the walking trail, there is another path that circles the edge of the large Ume grove and leads down to the foot of the grove (the Ume grove and its parking lot).
It takes about 15 minutes to go down to the paved road in front of the Ume grove parking lot, a little closer to Wakayama. The road is not paved and has some narrow parts, but it offers a different view of the Ume grove from the promenade.

• The road here is unpaved, so please wear sneakers or other comfortable walking shoes.
• The view of the Ume grove from a different angle from the promenade and down the hill.

Going down the path, you will come to the side of a fishpond. Around this pond, too, there are many plum blossoms in bloom, and some people are picnicking.
However, the area around the pond is not fenced off or paved, so please be careful when walking by.
Further along the left side of the pond, you will reach the parking lot.

• Fishpond behind Ume grove. Fishing is prohibited.
• The area around the pond is also filled with many Ume blossoms.

ACCESS

The blooming period of Kinyu-ji Temple Ume grove.

Blooming conditions are greatly affected by the weather each year, making it difficult to determine the best time to view the flowers.
Sennan-shi provides information on famous flower spots and updates the blooming status every year on the official Sennan-shi Tourism Guide “Koisuru Sennan – We love Sennan” website and SNS.
In addition to Kinyu-ji Temple Ume grove, Sennan-shi is also home to many other places famous for their flowers.
Please check the official website and SNS when you visit Sennan-shi!

Sennan-shi Sightseeing Guide – Koisuru Sennan
Koisuru Sennan – Instagram

Access to Kinyu-ji Temple Ume grove.

When using public transportation, please use the Sennan-shi community bus “Sawayaka Bus” (mountain route).

Sennan-shi Community Bus “Sawayaka Bus”

• Route from Gomon no yado.

  Take a train from JR Kumatori Sta. and get off at Izumi Sunagawa Sta..
  Take the Sennan-shi Community Bus “Sawayaka Bus” (mountain course) and get off at “Sunagawa Sta. (Yamate Higashi Exit)” bus stop.
  Get off at “Higashi Elementary School Mae” and walk for 2 minutes.

• Route from sano no yado.

  Take the Nankai Line “Izumisano Sta.” and get off at “Tarui Sta.”.
  Take the Sennan-shi Community Bus “Sawayaka Bus” (mountain course) and get off at Tarui Ekimae bus stop.
  Get off at “Higashi Elementary School Mae” and walk for 2 minutes.

The Sawayaka Bus (mountain course) runs 6 times a day.
Please check the timetable of the Sennan-shi Sawayaka Bus before you go.

Sawayaka Bus Course Map – Mountain Route
If you walk from JR Izumisunagawa Sta. to the Ume grove, it will take about 42 minutes. Including the distance around the Ume grove, this is a distance that can be hiked.

 

Kinyu-ji Temple Ume grove parking lot

 

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