Plum Blossoms at Rurikoji Pagoda

The grounds of the Rurikoji Pagoda spring to life beginning in mid-February as the temple's plum grove offers the first signs of spring to those weary of winter. The small grove, numbering about two dozen trees, boasts petals in a variety of colors - from dark pink to wine-red to stark white. With the right angle, you can photograph the blossoms and the pagoda in the same frame. Entrance to the park surrounding the pagoda is free, though there is a charge to enter the actual temple nearby.