Yamato Koriyama Castle Ruins Host 23rd Annual Plum Blossom Bonsai Exhibition

Around 120 carefully cultivated bonsai plum trees transformed the historic Koriyama Castle Ruins into one of Nara Prefecture's most anticipated seasonal showcases this winter, as the 23rd Yamato Koriyama Bonsai Plum Exhibition ran from Saturday, February 7 through Tuesday, March 10, 2026.

Organized by Koriyama City, the exhibition, known in Japanese as 第23回 大和郡山 盆梅展 (郡山城跡), spread across several distinct sites within the castle ruins, including the Otemon Gate, Otemukai Yagura, and Tamon Yagura. Beyond the formal displays, plum trees throughout the broader castle grounds added to the seasonal atmosphere, turning the ruins into a continuous plum blossom landscape rather than a single fixed exhibition hall.

The 700-yen admission covered access to bonsai specimens timed to peak bloom during the month-long run. Regular hours ran from 9:30 to 16:30 daily, with extended evening access on Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays. Sources differ slightly on the exact weekend closing time, with one listing the extended hour as 17:00 and another as 17:30; anyone planning a future visit should confirm directly with organizers at 0743-53-1151.

Getting there was straightforward for visitors arriving from Nara: a seven-minute walk from Kintetsu Koriyama Station put guests at the castle ruins, and trains from both Kintetsu-Nara and JR Nara stations connect to that line. The Koriyama area offers additional draws nearby, including the Goldfish Museum and the Nara Prefectural Museum of Folklore, making it easy to build a full day around the exhibition.

For bonsai fans who missed the 2026 edition, the Sugawara Tenmangu Shrine in Yamato-Saidaiji runs its own annual plum bonsai display featuring 130 varieties across 300 pots from early February to early March, with a 500-yen entry. The 23rd Yamato Koriyama exhibition has now concluded, but its consistent annual presence since at least the early 2000s suggests the 24th edition will return to the castle ruins when plum season arrives next February.