On March 1 in Zuishin-in Temple, which is associated with the poet Ono no Komachi, in Yamashina Ward, Kyoto, the plum orchard was specially opened to the public for plum tree viewing. Visitors are delighted by the sweet fragrances floating from light red and white plum flowers.

The opening, limited to the month of March every year, attracts roughly 10,000 visitors. The plum orchard has about 230 plum trees, including "Shidare Ume," weeping plum trees and deep scarlet plum trees. They will be at their best in the middle of March. People visiting to the garden enthusiastically clicked away with their cameras.

Yuji Shibano, a part-time university employee from Toyonaka City, Osaka Prefecture, said happily, "The trees are kept in good condition and are good-looking."

The public opening is until March 31. The entry fee is 400 yen for adults and 300 yen for junior high school students. On March 28, still during the public opening, the "Hanezu Odori" dance, which is based on legends about Ono-no-Komachi, will be performed.