Spring is on the way, time to enjoy the plum blossoms that suddenly seem to be blooming everywhere. Two excellent spots to stroll and view are in Nishi-ku: Taniozaki Bairin Kouen (谷尾崎梅林公園)、and in Shimasaki 百梅園　（島崎4丁目10-6). They both have parking areas , but the one in Taniozaki also has an “Umegaya Mochi “stand (heated up on the grill while you wait , a kind of thin manju filled with ….of course….sweet bean paste). It also features the famous武蔵ゆかりの座禅石　(Musashi Yukari no Zazen Ishi - the rock on which Masashi sat in Zen seiza and meditated) . The parking lot fills up quickly . Hyakubaien ’s parking lot is up a narrow steep curved entrance and has space for about 5 cars. The blossoms should be great this weekend, and if you like mejiro (the tiny greenish birds with the distinctive white ring around each eye. Both can be reached by bus, with a bit of a walk from the bus stop to Hyakubaien .