- A shrine in Kyoto has opened its plum garden to the public, featuring 1,500 plum trees.
- The garden includes a new art installation of crystal ornaments on the plum trees, created by Ninagawa Mika.
- Visitors can enjoy the garden until late May, with nighttime illuminations planned.

A: Did you hear about the news?

B: No, what happened?

A: Kitano Tenmangu shrine in Kyoto opened their plum garden!

B: Really? That’s so cool! I love plum blossoms.

A: Me too! They have like, 1,500 plum trees there.

B: Wow! That's a lot of plum trees! Is it a new thing?

A: Not exactly new, but usually the garden isn’t open to everyone.

B: Oh, so it’s a special chance then?

A: Yeah! It’s because Sugawara no Michizane, the god the shrine is for, really loved plum blossoms.

B: I see! That's pretty interesting. Are the flowers blooming yet?

A: About 30 percent of the early ones are!

B: That’s something to see! Is there anything special happening?

A: They’ve added sparkly crystal decorations to the trees!

B: Seriously? That sounds so pretty! Who did that?

A: This artist, Ninagawa Mika, and her team!

B: How creative! When does it close?

A: It’s open until late May. And they have nighttime light-ups!

B: Nighttime light-ups? We *have* to go!

A: I heard a local couple said it’ll be amazing when all the blossoms are in full bloom.

B: Definitely going to be magical then!