Photo/Illutration Visitors are served tea by a "maiko" entertainer from the Kamishichiken kagai entertainment district in Kyoto’s Kamigyo Ward on Feb. 25. (Yoshiaki Arai)

KYOTO—Geisha served tea beneath a cloud of pink petals at Kitano Tenmangu shrine’s plum blossom festival, which commemorates the virtues of the shrine’s deity, on Feb. 25.

The shrine, a famed tourist destination in Kyoto’s Kamigyo Ward, is also known for having around 1,500 plum trees of about 50 varieties on its grounds.

Just as the delicate pink petals began to open, an outdoor tea ceremony was held by geisha and their “maiko” apprentices from the local Kamishichiken district, one of the five major traditional entertainment districts of Japan’s ancient capital.

The shrine is dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane (845-903), a scholar venerated as the deity of learning. He is said to have loved plum trees.

The “Baika-sai” plum blossom festival is one of the shrine’s most important rituals. It is held on the anniversary of Michizane’s death and is believed to date back more than 900 years.

The tea ceremony is tied to “Kitano Dai Chano Yu,” a massive tea party held in the shrine’s garden by warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537-1598) to celebrate his domination of the Kyushu region.

“I’m looking forward to the plum blossoms blooming,” said a woman who was visiting from Saitama Prefecture.

According to the shrine, the plum blossoms will likely be in full bloom from early to mid-March this year, due to the recent cold weather.

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