The "Hana no Utage Plum Festival 2026" is set to take place at Sunaino Sato, the home base of Kanou Shoujuan, a Japanese confectionery maker based in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture. The festival runs from Saturday, February 28 to Sunday, March 22, 2026, and celebrates the arrival of spring with plum blossoms in the satoyama (rural mountain) landscape of the Omi region.
Festival Overview
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Dates | Saturday, February 28 – Sunday, March 22, 2026 (closed Wednesdays) |
| Hours | 10:00 AM–5:00 PM (varies by facility) |
| Venue | Kanou Shoujuan Sunaino Sato, 4-2-1 Oishi Ryumon, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture, 〒520-2266 |
| Parking Fee | ¥1,000 per vehicle (exchangeable for ¥1,000 worth of vouchers usable within the estate during the festival period) |
About the Plum Festival
Sunaino Sato cultivates around 700 plum trees of 9 varieties—most notably the "Joshu-haku," used as an ingredient in the confectionery—which bloom from February through March. The annual Hana no Utage Plum Festival invites visitors to enjoy the satoyama's spring scenery while sampling limited-edition wagashi, special menus, and a variety of experience events.
The Joshu-haku variety is expected to peak in late February to early March, though timing may vary depending on temperatures and weather conditions.
Experience Events
Beehive Opening Ceremony
To mark the start of the plum blossom season and the day of Keichitsu (around March 5, when insects traditionally awaken from winter hibernation), a special "Beehive Opening" event will take place. Visitors can learn about the role of bees in pollination and watch as staff open the hive to inspect it.
- Date: Sunday, March 1
- Time: 11:30 AM–12:10 PM (scheduled)
- Location: Sunaino Sato Plum Grove
- Admission: Free
- Capacity: Unlimited
Amo Zenzai Serving
A special complimentary serving of "Amo Zenzai" prepared in a large iron pot will be offered on the final day of the festival. The dish features freshly cooked amo (a signature sweet made by Kanou Shoujuan) served as an anko (red bean paste) base with mochi.
- Date: Sunday, March 22
- Time: 3:00 PM until supplies run out
- Location: Otanoshimi Hiroba (Fun Plaza)
- Admission: Free
- Reservations: Not accepted
Other Events
The festival also includes a hand-building pottery workshop suitable for families, as well as a taiko drumming performance by the creative percussion group Kotetsu.
Limited Wagashi
Sato-goyomi
This confectionery won the grand prize at an in-house product development contest in 2025. It is a set of four yomogi-manjū (yam-based steamed cakes) representing the four seasons of the Sunaino Sato estate: plum in spring, Japanese pepper in summer, chestnut in autumn, and yuzu in winter.
- Price: ¥1,296 (tax included)
- Available at: Confectionery shop
- Exclusive to: Sunaino Sato
Other limited offerings during the festival include "Ume Daifuku" made with Joshu-haku plums harvested on the estate, along with special seasonal variations of the iconic "Amo" sweet.
Limited-Edition Menus
Kasumi Ume – Ume Hokorobe Terrine au Chocolat
A rich chocolate terrine paired with estate-grown Joshu-haku plum. The bittersweet cocoa and refreshing plum acidity complement each other. Best enjoyed with fruit or the crispy "Amo Karuta" (wafer).
- Price: ¥1,430 (tax included)
- Available at: Bakery & Café Noza, 2nd floor café
Yuubi Gazen – Omi Beef Chateaubriand Steak Set
A festival-exclusive course meal featuring the estate's long-standing Fuku Wakashi (celebratory boiling ritual) alongside seasonal ingredients. The main course is an Omi beef Chateaubriand steak, with "Amo Kiwami" served as dessert.
- Price: ¥8,800 (tax included)
- Available at: Baisoan restaurant
Additional festival-exclusive items available around the estate include soy milk-based gelato at "Noza Gelato" and "Nama Amo Dora," a dorayaki-style confection filled with amo and salted butter.
For more details, visit the official special page: https://kanou.com/gnaviplus/year/hananoutage_umematsuri2026/
