The calendar says spring has arrived with the start of Risshun, but the bitter cold is still with us.
At Mt. Tanematsu, between Kurashiki City and Mizushima, yellow wintersweet blossoms that herald the arrival of spring are now at their best.
Here’s a look at my walk there on Friday, January 31, 2025.
The information provided was current when this article was published in February 2025. Please note that it may differ from current information.
Tanematsuyama Park West Area
Mt. Tanematsu is a 258-meter-high mountain with a first-order triangulation point, spanning the Kurashiki and Mizushima areas.
At the summit is Tanematsuyama Summit Park, while Tanematsuyama Park West Area, opened in 1990, is about one kilometer southwest of the summit. The West Area offers seasonal flowers throughout the year, including plum blossoms, cherry blossoms, and roses.
The park has a playground and an adventure forest with athletic equipment, making it a comprehensive park enjoyed by visitors of all ages, from adults to children. Having restrooms near each parking lot is also handy during the cold winter months.
Wintersweet at Tanematsu-yama Park
Wintersweet blooms near the First Parking Lot at Tanematsuyama Park West Area.
There are only about 100 trees, so it is not a large area, but because they are planted close together, the surroundings are filled with the sweet fragrance of wintersweet.
There is also a restroom right in front of the parking lot, making it possible to stay for a long time, such as for a picnic.
There are also chairs in the wintersweet area, so people who find it difficult to admire the flowers while standing, as well as families with children, can enjoy a leisurely stroll.
Wintersweet on Friday, January 31, 2025: many buds still to be found
When I visited around noon on Friday, January 31, 2025, the yellow wintersweet was in full bloom and looked to be at its best from a distance, but
when I got closer, I could see that there were still many buds.
It looks like we can enjoy the wintersweet for a little while longer.
The irresistible sweet fragrance of wintersweet
One of the distinctive features of wintersweet is its sweet fragrance. The area around the wintersweet at Tanematsuyama Park West Area was also filled with its sweet scent.
However, its fragrance is different from that of plum blossoms.
That’s because wintersweet is a tree in the Calycanthaceae family, in the order Laurales. Plum trees are deciduous trees in the Rosaceae family, so they are different flowers.
The name “wintersweet” is said to have two possible origins:
- It bears translucent, glossy flowers resembling plum blossoms and waxwork.
- Its flowering season begins around the time of the twelfth lunar month, known as “Rogetsu.”
Its fragrance contains the same compounds as eucalyptus and lavender, giving it a sweet, clear scent.
I couldn’t help sniffing the wintersweet’s fragrance over and over.
Wintersweet at Tanematsuyama Park West Area blooms like a tunnel, making it photogenic
A distinctive feature of the wintersweet area at Mt. Tanematsu is that the trees are planted on both sides of the walking path, creating what looks like a wintersweet tunnel.
There are only about 100 trees, which is not a large number, but the path stretches straight ahead, creating a sense of depth and the illusion that the wintersweet continues endlessly.
Take a photo using the depth of the scene, and you can capture a photogenic shot surrounded by wintersweet.
The wintersweet trees are only about 3 meters tall, so even children and other shorter visitors can get close to the flowers.
Why not enjoy the arrival of spring and take a special photo of your own?
From the Writer
Wintersweet is also known in English as winter sweet, apparently because of its warm, light-like color and fragrance during the cold winter months.
The leaves have fallen from the roadside trees, and the cold days continue, but the sweet fragrance of wintersweet makes me feel that spring is on its way.
Plum blossoms, Kawazu cherry blossoms, Somei Yoshino cherry blossoms… spring flowers will continue to bloom one after another, making us eager for the arrival of warmer weather.
There were still many tightly closed buds, so the flowers should remain at their best for a little while longer.
Tanematsuyama Park West Area Information
| Name | Tanematsuyama Park West Area |
|---|---|
| Address | 426 Fukuda, Fukuda-cho, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Website | Tanematsuyama Park West Area |
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