[JAPAN] My Day Trip to Kawazu, The Best Place to View Early Cherry Blossom in Japan

11:25 Travel Bunny 2 Comments

Kawazu-zakura is a sakura variety that blooms early and stays in bloom for a month. Its name originated from Kawazu, a town located on Izu Peninsula, approximately 160-minutes train away from Tokyo. Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival usually takes place annually from early February to early March.


From Tokyo station, you can either:
1) take the Odoriko limited express train (160 minutes) which will directly take you to JR Kawazu station, or
2) take Tokaido Shinkansen (50 minutes) to get to Atami Station then change JR Ito Line (105 minutes) to Kawazu Station.



I travelled by Odoriko limited express train. A one-way ticket for non-reserved seat cost 5,390 yen.





There are two Green Car (reserved seats). For me, it makes no difference as there’s plenty of non-reserved seats.



View of the Izu Peninsula coastline as the train passed by.



Arriving in Kawazu station.


Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival is the biggest event of the Kawazu town. About one million people would visit Kawazu during this one-month period.




“Dancer and Me” statue outside the station. “The Izu Dancer” is a literature masterpiece which won the Nobel Prize in Literature and has been made into a movie six times since 1933.


You can see another “Dancer and Me” statue in front of Kawazu Nanadaru Waterfalls and Shokeidaru Waterfalls. There’s also a monument of the “Izu no Odoriko” to the right of Fukudaya Ryokan in Yugano.


Following the crowd to the river bank, which is lined by rows of Kawazu cherry trees extending for about four kilometers.


The guide map to Yatsu Spa.


I missed the last day of the festival since the weather forecast was rainy day on the day before. However, I did not regret my decision as the weather was sunny on the day of my visit. There are still many visitors like me coming to view the sakura trees despite the end of the festival.




The food stalls were also opened during my visit.


It’s a pity that most of the petals had fallen off (about only 30% left on the tree) revealing new green leaf underneath. But I can imagine how beautiful it would be in full bloom.


Besides sakura trees, the residents also planted rapeseed flowers which also bloom during the same season.


It is said that Kawazuzakura trees were first discovered by Kawazu residents in 1950. Later, they were planted systematically along the riverside of Kawazu River and various neighborhoods across the town. It is the official flower of Kawazu since April 1975.


The bright yellow of rapeseed flowers compliments the pink shades of sakura trees nicely.



Kawazu-zakura has five large deep pink petals. It is different from the typically pale pink petals of other sakura varieties which only last for a week or two.




There are also some rapeseed flowers along the river bank.




A tunnel of sakura trees. It would be all pink in their full glory. Sigh, sigh.


It’s still beautiful though if you know how to capture the right angle.


Rows of sakura trees lining on both sides of the river bank. Many of the trees have turned green.

Hosen Bridge.


This is Hosen-No-Sakura. Its petals are in deep pink.




Hosen Footbath with toilet. The footbath is free, opens from 9am – 5pm.


Signage to Mine Onsen Daifunte Park. The hot spring spouts 7 times a day, each time 1 minute from 9.30am – 3.30pm. It can reaches 30 meters high. There is also a foot bath where you can rest your feet.




There are still many vendors alongside the road selling specialty snacks.


I bought a pink Taiyaki with sakura fillings. It tasted as good as it looked. Don’t forget to take Instagram-worthy photo with it in front of the Sakura trees.


Fallen petals on the floor.

Kawazu Visitor Center.


The market corner of Kawazu Visitor Center on 1F opens from 8.30am – 5.30pm while the exhibition hall and food court on 2F opens from 9am – 4pm. You can collect a free postcard while stocks last.


There are one original tree and four magnificent Kawazu-zakura trees in town: Kajiya-No-Sakura, Kuruma-No-Sakura, Odokura-No-Sakura and Imaihama-No-Sakura. I stumbled upon one of them, Kajiya-No-Sakura which is located near the Kawazu Visitor Center.


It was still in 85% full bloom. It was so pretty! I took many photos of the tree.








You can take as many photo as you like but entering the gate or touching the tree is a no-no so that the tree can be preserved.






It really made my day to see a full bloom sakura tree.


Kawazi Post Office.




Back to Kawazu station.




I left Kawazu after strolling around the town and riverbank for about two hours as I had a flight to catch on that day. A few blooming sakura trees that I saw on the train. Seeing sakura trees up close is an experience I will never forget. They are so pretty. I really fell in love with the sight.


In 2018, Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival took place from 10 February to 10 March. For 2019, please refer to the official website: http://kawazu-onsen.com/eng/index.php




Information and Map of Kawazu (click to see enlarged image).