Yunomiya Zaron Plum Tree is a nationally designated Natural Monument located in Shintomi Town, Koyu District, Miyazaki Prefecture. Renowned for its distinctive history, legends, and cultural significance, this remarkable plum tree has been cherished by local residents for generations. It was designated a National Natural Monument on December 24, 1935, and continues to attract attention for its unusual growth and beautiful blossoms.
According to local legend, the origins of the Yunomiya Zaron Plum Tree date back to the time when Emperor Jimmu visited this area. After drinking the local hot spring water, the emperor is said to have stopped to rest and thrust a plum branch into the ground. The branch subsequently took root, sprouted, and grew into the remarkable tree that can be seen today.
This legend gives the tree a special and almost sacred significance. Its connection with Emperor Jimmu, a legendary figure in Japanese mythology and traditional accounts of the country’s early history, has made it an important part of the area’s cultural heritage.
There are two main theories about the origin of the name Zaron Plum.
One explanation is that the name comes from “Zaromi,” the name of a variety of plum. According to another theory, the name dates back to the Tokugawa period (1603–1868), when the Sadowara Domain and Takanabe Domain disputed ownership of the plum grove. The samurai representatives of the two domains are said to have sat down at this location and debated the matter. The name “Zaron,” meaning a seated discussion or debate, is believed to have originated from this episode.
Although the exact origin of the name is uncertain, both stories illustrate how deeply the plum tree is connected with the history and traditions of the local community.
The Yunomiya Zaron Plum Tree is believed to have originated from a single tree. Over time, its branches spread horizontally, reached the ground, and took root, producing new trunks and additional growth. This process of natural propagation continued over many generations, and the original tree gradually developed into a large group of interconnected trees.
Today, the grove consists of approximately 80 individual trunks or stocks. The tree is said to be around 600 years old, making its remarkable ability to spread and regenerate particularly impressive.
Rather than growing as a conventional single-trunk tree, the Zaron Plum has developed through its distinctive spreading growth pattern. Its unusual form is one of the features that makes it so special among Japan’s historic plum trees.
Along with Getsuchi Plum in Takaoka Town, Miyazaki City, Yunomiya Zaron Plum has long been regarded as one of Miyazaki Prefecture’s representative plum-viewing destinations.
It is also counted among the “Three Great Plums of Sanshu” (Sanshu Sanbai), together with the Garyubai, or “Crouching Dragon Plum,” at Fujikawa Tenjin Shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture. This recognition reflects the tree’s special standing among Japan’s celebrated historic plum trees.
During the flowering season, the blossoms create a beautiful seasonal landscape. Visitors can appreciate not only the flowers themselves but also the atmosphere of an ancient tree that has been associated with local legends and traditions for centuries.
Shintomi Town has designated the Zaron Plum as its official town tree and uses it as an important symbol of local identity. The tree is closely associated with the town’s history and cultural character, and efforts have been made to promote it as a tourism attraction.
During the plum-blossom season, the town holds the Zaron Plum Blossom Festival. Many visitors come to enjoy the flowers and the beautiful scenery created by the flowering trees. The festival also provides an opportunity to celebrate and reaffirm the region’s cultural traditions and local heritage.
The name of the Zaron Plum has also been adopted by a local golf course, Miyazaki Zaron Plum Golf Club. The use of the historic tree’s name for this facility demonstrates how widely the plum has become recognized as a symbol of Shintomi Town.
In this way, the Zaron Plum contributes not only to tourism but also to broader efforts to revitalize the local community and promote the town’s identity.
The influence of the Zaron Plum extends beyond Shintomi Town. The emblem of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force’s 305th Tactical Fighter Squadron, stationed at Nyutabaru Air Base in Shintomi, is also based on a plum motif.
The Zaron Plum was adopted as the inspiration for the squadron’s emblem, and the words “Zaron Plum” are embroidered on items such as the unit’s patches. This connection has helped make the tree known beyond the local area.
The 305th Squadron had already been using this emblem when it was stationed at Hyakuri Air Base in Ibaraki Prefecture. The continued use of the design demonstrates how the symbol of this historic plum tree has become associated with the squadron even outside Miyazaki.
Yunomiya Zaron Plum is a remarkable natural and cultural treasure, distinguished by its ancient origins, unusual growth pattern, and legends associated with Emperor Jimmu. Said to be approximately 600 years old and now consisting of around 80 trunks, it is one of Miyazaki Prefecture’s best-known plum-viewing destinations and one of the Three Great Plums of Sanshu.
In Shintomi Town, the tree serves as an important symbol of the community. Through the annual Zaron Plum Blossom Festival, the use of its name by local businesses, and its connection with the 305th Tactical Fighter Squadron, its influence reaches many aspects of local life.
Visitors who come during the flowering season can enjoy the beauty of the blossoms while discovering the legends and history that make this ancient plum tree so special. Yunomiya Zaron Plum is cherished not only as a natural monument but also as a symbol of the region’s history, identity, and cultural traditions.