Harbingers of the coming spring
![A unique trait of Yushima Tenjin is that it is a well known location for young people to offer prayers for the coming school year, specifically for those hoping to pass entrance exams to get into their college of choice. Part of the process of making this prayer at the shrine is to purchase an "ema" - a wooden plaque upon which a person writes their prayer.](http://a1.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/10848-65041/320x240!/tokyo-plum-blossoms-at-yushima-tenjin-tokyo-65041.jpg "A unique trait of Yushima Tenjin is that it is a well known location for young people to offer prayers for the coming school year, specifically for those hoping to pass entrance exams to get into their college of choice. Part of the process of making this prayer at the shrine is to purchase an "ema" - a wooden plaque upon which a person writes their prayer.")
Although Japan’s most famous flower is almost certainly the cherry blossom, the country also boasts another beautiful floral tree known as ume [oo-meh], better known in English as the plum blossom. While these lovely trees are not as numerous as the cherry blossoms, there are many great places around Tokyo to enjoy them. One of the most famous places is the Yushima Tenjin Shrine in Tokyo’s Bunkyo district.
Find out more about Yushima Tenmangu.
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