Kawazu Sakura: Japan's Earliest Blooming Cherry Trees and Rapeseed Flower Ensemble

In February, when the footsteps of spring are still far off, Kawazu Zakura dyes the town of Kawazu in Izu a deep pink. The sight of rows of early-blooming cherry trees and yellow rapeseed flowers stretching along the river draws blossom viewers from all over Japan as the earliest hanami in the country. It is the perfect scenic spot for anyone who wants to feel the arrival of spring a little ahead of everyone else.

Japan's Earliest Sakura Festival

Kawazu Zakura is an early-blooming cherry variety, thought to have arisen from a natural cross between Oshima-zakura and Kanhi-zakura. It begins to bloom more than a month earlier than Somei-Yoshino, and is characterised by deeply coloured flowers and a long flowering period. The original tree was discovered in Kawazu Town in 1955, which is how the variety got its name. The "Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival" is held annually from early February to early March, and has become a winter tourism event attracting many visitors.

The Rows of Cherry Trees Along the Kawazu River

The centrepiece is the avenue of cherry trees that runs about 4 km along both banks of the Kawazu River. The tunnel of blossom, said to number some 8,000 trees, reflected on the surface of the river, is simply spectacular. Strolling unhurriedly along the riverside walkway lets you enjoy the trees in full bloom at close range. During the period the Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival is held, busy with food stalls and evening illuminations.

The Contrast with the Rapeseed Flowers

Part of Kawazu Zakura's appeal lies in its splendid partnership with the rapeseed flowers that colour the ground below. During the Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival, rapeseed flowers are planted on the embankment along the Kawazu River, and the contrast woven by the pink blossom, the yellow rapeseed flowers and the blue sky is wonderfully photogenic. At some of the rapeseed fields you can try picking the flowers yourself and enjoy the spring meadow to the full. This combination of "cherry blossoms and rapeseed flowers" has become the symbol of the Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival.

Best Season and Access

The blossom is usually at its best from early February to early March. Since this shifts with the year's weather, it is reassuring to check the flowering information before setting out. The official website provides two live cameras at the tourist exchange hall and one at the original Kawazu Zakura tree, so you can check how far the blossom has opened and what conditions are like on site before you leave. The festival pamphlet can be downloaded as a PDF, and can also be received by post if you send a stamped self-addressed envelope to the Kawazu Town Tourism Association (it may take five or six days to reach you). For access, get off at Kawazu Station on the Izukyu Line; from the road-side exit of the station, cross at the pedestrian crossing and it is about a 3-minute walk in a straight line to the riverside cherry avenue. Weekends are extremely crowded, so coming by train and arriving early in the day is recommended. At the 2026 festival, the "Kawazu Zakuride" service also ran, allowing visitors to move around the town during the evening blossom hours (February 14-23, 17:30-22:30; 200 yen for up to 2 km, then 200 yen per additional kilometre; telephone 090-7725-2865). Kawazu Town lies in the southern part of the Izu Peninsula and is rich in hot springs, so an overnight trip that warms you in a famous bath after enjoying the blossom is also recommended. Combining it with nearby sights such as Kawazu Nanadaru (the Seven Waterfalls) lets you enjoy spring in Izu to the full. Hiking courses starting from Kawazu Station on the Izukyu Line, and the hot spring resort of Kawazu Onsen, are also within reach.

After the Blossom, Stop at the Baths

The town-run Odoriko Onsen Kaikan (457-1 Mine, Kawazu Town), a short distance from the cherry avenue, is a purely Japanese-style day-use hot spring facility that makes use of the abundant flow of Mine Onsen, one of Kawazu's seven hot spring areas. Along with a roofed open-air bath in the style of an arbour, where you can hear the murmur of the Kawazu River, there is a large riverside bath, a bubble bath and a sauna, and during the cherry blossom season you can gaze at the blossom while soaking in the open-air bath. Rest facilities are ample too, including a 50-tatami relaxation room, making it ideal for resting legs tired from walking.

Admission is 1,000 yen for adults and 500 yen for children (age 3 to elementary school), for use of up to three hours. Beyond that, 200 yen per hour for adults and 100 yen for children is added. Opening hours are 10:00-21:00 (entry until 30 minutes before closing), and it is closed every Tuesday plus four maintenance closures a year, though it opens without a break over the New Year period and during the Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival. Parking is free. For enquiries, contact Odoriko Onsen Kaikan (0558-32-2626). It is also a dependable place to catch your breath when you want a break from the festival crowds.

📚 Sources

• Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival official website

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Dates: The 36th Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival was held from February 7 (Sat) to March 8 (Sun), 2026. Check the Kawazu Town Tourism Association website for the next dates
• Peak bloom in 2026: The official flowering report declared peak bloom on February 13 (Fri) (peak bloom was declared on February 26 for the 32nd festival, February 17 for the 33rd, February 12 for the 34th and February 28 for the 35th)
• Evening illumination: 18:00 to 21:00 during the festival. The trees are lit downstream from Yakata-bashi Bridge in front of Kawazu Station and behind the Odoriko Onsen Kaikan, and the famous individual trees (Hosen, Yakuba, Otokura, Kamigawara and Nehan) are also illuminated
• Events during the festival: Nehando hall open February 7 to March 8, 9:00 to 16:00 (admission 200 yen per person); Nehando Festival on February 15, 10:00 to 15:00 (amazake sweet sake and amacha tea served); rice cake giveaway on February 21 from 9:30 (600 servings, near the temporary tourism association stall in Sasahara Park); Wajima Morning Market pop-up on February 13 to 16, February 21 to 24 and February 27 to March 2, in front of the Kawazu-zakura Tourist Exchange Hall, 9:00 to 16:00
• Venue: Kawazu Town, Kamo District, Shizuoka Prefecture. The rows of cherry trees along the Kawazu River stretch for about 4 km
• Nearest station: Kawazu Station on the Izukyuko Line. The riverside cherry trees are about a 3-minute walk from the station. From Tokyo Station it is about 2 hours 40 minutes by direct Limited Express Odoriko (if using the Shinkansen and local lines, change at Atami Station to the JR Ito Line / Izukyu train bound for Shimoda)
• Parking: Open 8:30 to 21:00. The ordinary-car car parks (P4 to P13) are about 700 to 800 m from the station-front venue and the Mine Onsen venue. Reservations are not accepted. In the evening (18:00 to 21:00) parking is free of charge for those staying overnight in the town (collect a voucher from your accommodation). The night-time car park for both large vehicles and ordinary cars is No. 12. Parking spaces for wheelchair users (paid) are located in part of large car park No. 1 and within car park No. 12; there is no discount scheme for visitors with disabilities. Car park congestion can be checked online (VACAN)
• Park and train: The organisers also suggest parking near Izu-Kogen Station and taking the train to and from Kawazu Station (Izukyuko, 0557-53-1111)
• Toilets: Both temporary and permanent toilets are available. The organisers note that numbers are limited in both cases, so it is best to go early, as they can get crowded at certain times of day
• Note on crowds: Traffic congestion is expected around Kawazu Town during the festival, especially at peak bloom. Allow plenty of time in your schedule
• Drones: Flying is prohibited all day within the event area between Hama-bashi Bridge and Mine-kobashi Bridge (tethered flight is not permitted either)
• Inquiries: Kawazu Town Tourism Association, 0558-32-0290

Note: The access page of the official website lists parking fees as 1,000 yen per ordinary car per visit, 7,000 yen per large vehicle per visit, 4,000 yen per microbus per visit and 500 yen per motorcycle (rates for campervans vary with the size of the vehicle). Figures differ between pages, so please also confirm with the latest pamphlet map or the Kawazu Town Tourism Association (0558-32-0290). The scale of food stalls and any traffic restrictions are not published officially.

(Sources: Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival official website)