Photo= Around 30-40% of the early-flowering red plum blossoms are blooming, wafting a sweet and tangy floral scent (December 22, Kyoto Gyoen National Garden, Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto)

On December 22, the shortest day of the year and winter solstice, around 30 to 40 percent of the early-flowering red plum trees planted in the Japanese plum grove of Kyoto Gyoen National Garden in Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto, were blooming, delighting the eyes of visitors.

Approximately 200 Japanese apricots are planted in the plum grove in the southwestern area of the garden. Around the Demizu entrance, early-flowering red plum trees usually begin to bloom from late December to early January. A local woman who walks there every day said that probably due to the mild winter, the plum blossom are flowering much earlier this year, roughly on December 4.

Under soft sunlight, the sweet and tangy floral scent of plum blossoms drifted through the area, and people passing by enthusiastically took photos.