murmurBaikasai Plum Blossom Festival at Kitano Tenmangu
Kyoto City · Kitano Tenmangu Shrine
Dates and details can change. Always check the official website before you go.
Kitano Tenmangu Shrine · Last checked: Oct 10, 2026
Dates
Dates confirmed with official sources
- 2026
- Wed, Feb 25, 2026 （Ended） Ceremony from 10:00; outdoor tea ceremony 10:00–15:00
- 2027
- Dates have not been announced yet. Please check the official website.
- Usual timing
- Usually late February
- How the date is set
- Every year on February 25 The anniversary of Sugawara no Michizane's death; the outdoor tea ceremony goes ahead rain or shine
- Venue
- Kitano Tenmangu Shrine
- City
- Kyoto City, Kyoto
About
Kitano Tenmangu honors its enshrined deity, Sugawara no Michizane, on February 25, the anniversary of his death, with a festival the shrine traces back about 900 years. Michizane loved plum blossoms, and the main hall receives special offerings: steamed rice heaped on a large and a small stand, and offerings called kodate, set with sprigs of white and red plum. The shrine grounds hold some 1,500 plum trees of about 50 varieties, so the grounds are often fragrant with blossoms. In memory of Toyotomi Hideyoshi's grand tea gathering at Kitano, geiko and maiko from the nearby Kamishichiken district serve tea outdoors in the garden (a ticket is required). The day also coincides with the monthly Tenjin flea market, so expect crowds.
Sources
- OfficialKitano Tenmangu Shrine kitanotenmangu.or.jp
- OfficialKyoto City Tourism Association (Kyoto Travel Navi) ja.kyoto.travel
- Reference北野天満宮と梅（北野天満宮） kitanotenmangu.or.jp
Last checked: Oct 10, 2026. Event information is based on official announcements, but changes may not always be reflected here. Please check each official website for accurate details.
Other events this month
On the day, see what locals are murmuring on the murmur map
murmur is an app that shows short, anonymous posts on a map, right where they were written. On festival day, open the map around the venue and see what people nearby are saying.