If you pay attention to Instagram at all, chances are you’ve already seen shots of the annual Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival floating around online. Generally running from mid-February to early March, this celebration is a herald of what comes later in spring. Allegedly the birthplace of the Kawazu-zakura cherry blossoms that take their name from this part of eastern Japan, these trees are some of the earliest blooming cherry blossoms in all of Japan. Characterized by their large petals and bright pink color, these trees are perfect for visitors who also want to get in a bit of winter.
Now, it’s true that there are plenty of places within the confines of Tokyo where you can see some Kawazu-zakura cherry blossoms (just take a look at Sakura Jingu for example). Alas, few places can hold a candle to Kawazu when it comes to sheer volume. All along the banks of the Kawazu River, you’ll find an endless array of pink cherry blossoms to enjoy. Moreover, due to their comparatively slow blooming, the festivities down at the Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival actually last for about a month, far longer than elsewhere in Japan.
Of course, given that Kawazu is by far the best spot to see these beauties, you can expect a huge crowd during full bloom. In fact, recently I made a day trip down to the Kawazu area on the Izu Peninsula from Tokyo but was able to take a short walk around the river area for an hour or so before I had to flee from the crowds. If you are planning to make a trip during the peak parts of the Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival, be sure to get an early start on the day.
How to Get There
On that note, let’s quickly cover some key logistics before discussing what to see and do in Kawazu. By far, the easiest way of getting down to this portion of the Izu Peninsula is to take one of the Odoriko or Saphir limited express trains. These will take you down the east coast of the landmass all the way to Kawazu Station and afford amazing sea views of Sagami Bay. Seeing as they are the most expedient means of reaching the Izu Peninsula’s southern sections, you can expect them to be totally full during early February to early March.
Luckily, your boy has got you covered with an alternative. Recently for my outing to Kawazu, I found myself in a similar situation. For the rest of the day, all Odoriko and Saphir limited express trains were fully booked. Not wanting to miss out, I took the Tokaido Shinkansen down from the city to Atami Station and then transferred to the Izukyu Railway Line. While this was still quite crowded, I was able to get down to Kawazu in around the same amount of time. As always though, refer to a service like Jorudan regardless of what route you take to help with departure calculations.
Once you pull into Kawazu Station, the main areas for the epic Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival can be found by following the legion of people. Basically, all you need to do is exit the train station and head straight. Eventually, you’ll come across the Kawazu River. If you follow it to the left, you’ll head towards where it runs into Sagami Bay. Instead, if you head right, you can walk along the riverbank all the way up to where it snakes away into the mountains.
It’s pretty hard to get lost as the Kawazu River is the centerpiece of the otherwise sleepy hamlet. Just in case though, here’s the address of the Kawazu-zakura Tourism Information Center: 72–12 Sasahara, Kawazu-cho, Kamo-gun, Shizuoka should you need to plug something into Google. Additionally, please do remember that it is still the dead of winter when these beautiful blossoms grace us with their presence. Please do yourself a favor and dress accordingly.
The Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival
OK, let’s get back to talking about Kawazu and its annual Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival. As noted, peak bloom happens between February’s latter weeks and the beginning of March. Though usually little more than a little town that’s located down on the Izu Peninsula’s southern sections, it seems like everyone from the big city descends on Kawazu during this all-important window. This means you’re going to be spending most of the day meandering about as part of a large pack.
The Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival is primarily a social time of year. Unless you’re a loner like me, I would suggest that you come down with a bunch of friends. Not only will this make it easier to get those shots for the Gram where you’re enveloped in cherry blossoms, but it’s also just a lot more fun. After all, while there is a ton of street food to enjoy from the festival’s many vendors, it’s just much more enjoyable when shared with good friends.
All things considered, there isn’t really anything to “do” in the traditional sense at the Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival. Instead, visitors tend to just stroll about along the riverbank and admire the large petals of the region’s Kawazu-zakura. If you do get lost in their beauty though, just be careful to be aware of where other pedestrians are located as this yearly happening can get quite busy at peak periods.
More By the Kawazu River
While the Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival is the main reason to come to Kawazu, there are actually a number of smaller allures down here too in addition to the pretty pink flowers. If you need a break from the blossoms and the throngs of people attending the festival, consider swinging by any of the following spots nearby…
- The Nanadaru Waterfalls
Translating literally to “the Seven Waterfalls of Kawazu,” this collection of natural wonders can be found a solid ways away from the town. Graced by only a few visitors, these seven waterfalls are a great compliment to the flower viewing and range all the way up to 30 meters in height. - The Original Tree
In a part of the neighborhood near Kawazu Station, you can actually find what is believed to be the original Kawazu-zakura tree that was used to generate all of the other trees of its kind in Japan. If you have a minute, go walk over and pay your respects! - Natural Onsen
The town of Kawazu is actually home to its own hot spring source. When you’re done with the festival and flowers on the cherry trees, consider taking a relaxing dip in either Odaru Onsen or Mine Onsen. Of the pair, Mine Onsen is a lot easier to get to if you’re skipping the waterfalls. - The Rose Garden
I won’t lie, I skipped this one as the purpose of my outing was to hunt some Kawazu-zakura. That said, if you also want to observe some roses, you’ll want to waltz your way over to here where you’ll find Kawazu Bagatelle Park.
While not really an “attraction” or anything per se, know that Kawazu is blessed with a number of ashiyu foot baths. As you’ll see if you ever go for the Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival, you’re going to do A LOT of slow walking and this can really lead to your feet aching. So, why not at least soothe your sorrows by dipping your toes in one of the many ashiyu foot baths that you’ll find around Kawazu.
Lastly, while there are a few temples and shrines around here, I’d say just see the next section if you want something more to add to your Kawazu trip. Simply put, there are just better uses of your time, especially if you’re visiting Japan from overseas.
Other Nearby Attractions
In addition to what I’ve outlined above, know that the Izu Peninsula offers a lot more than just its amazing Kawazu-zakura. If the waterfalls or a soothing soak in a hot spring like Mine Onsen after the Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival isn’t enough for you, know that there are many other allures that are located in this part of Japan. For example, just a few minutes to the south of Kawazu, you’ll find the idyllic seaside town of Shimoda waiting for you. Here, you can experience the beginnings of Japan’s modernization following the arrival of Commodore Matthew C. Perry.
If you prefer to head back before the crowds at the festival do, one other area that is worth your time is the city of Ito. Also an onsen town, it has all sorts of natural wonders to explore such as the Jogasaki Coast and magnificent Mt. Omuro. Moreover, all of Ito’s major stops are along the Izukyu Railway Line meaning that the city is incredibly convenient to add on a last-minute addition when returning back from Kawazu Station on a local train.
Lastly, on the way back to Tokyo, you can also make a pitstop at Atami Station before returning to Tokyo. In my case, the crowds got to me rather quickly so I ducked out far earlier than expected and made a beeline for my go-to cafe in Atami before taking the last Tokaido Line train back to Tokyo. While Atami has a ton of fun things to do, it was this article that kept me busy. That said, this timeworn town is a lot of fun so do refer to my guide to Atami if you’re not going to just take an Odoriko or Saphir back home.Until next time travelers…
Until next time travelers…
