Finally, I've seen a plum blossom. Now I know spring has arrived.

We wound our way through a labyrinth of alleys towards our dinner destination yesterday and there it stood, shining bright pink under the glow of a streetlamp. What a delicate and beautiful herald of the new season.

Today we're going to take the train to Atami, about 40 minutes south of Tokyo on the Shinkansen, to stroll through a garden with 860 ume (plum) trees in bloom.

I'll bundle up well; the trees speak spring, but this morning's chilly air screams winter.