is a city-supported park located in Gifu

Gifu, Gifu

is a city located in the south-central portion of Gifu Prefecture, Japan, and serves as the prefectural capital. The city has played an important role in Japan's history because of its location in the middle of the country. During the Sengoku period, various warlords, including Oda Nobunaga, used...

, Gifu Prefecture

Gifu Prefecture

is a prefecture located in the Chūbu region of central Japan. Its capital is the city of Gifu.Located in the center of Japan, it has long played an important part as the crossroads of Japan, connecting the east to the west through such routes as the Nakasendō...

, Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

. In Bairin Park, there are a total of approximately 1,300 plum

Ume

Prunus mume, with the common names including Chinese plum and Japanese apricot, is an Asian tree species classified in the Armeniaca section of the genus Prunus. The flower, long a beloved subject in the traditional painting of East Asia, is usually translated as plum blossom. This distinct tree...

 trees, which represent approximately 50 different varieties.

History

The park was originally opened in 1872 as the private Sasagatani Park. It received its name, which means "plum grove," when it was opened to the public a few years later. In 1948, ownership of the park was transferred to the city of Gifu, leading to its current state.

Plum Trees

Of the 1,300 trees, about 700 have white blossoms and 600 have red blossoms. The earliest plum trees beginning blooming in mid-January, with the majority of the blooming occurring in February and March. The best viewing time is in early March, when most of the plum trees are in bloom. On the first Saturday and Sunday of March, the annual Gifu Plum Festival is held in the Park. No other trees are grown inside the park's plum groves, giving visitors and unadulterated view of plum blossoms in Spring.

Point of Interest

Bairin Park is home to a D51 steam locomotive

D51 steam locomotive

The is a type of 2-8-2 steam locomotive built by the Japanese Government Railways, the Japanese National Railways and various manufacturers from 1936 to 1951...

, which were built in Japan around the time of the Pacific War.