The cherry blossom season in Japan is often between March and April each year. However, there is one place in Japan where the cherry blossom trees start blooming from as early as February and that place is in Kawazu.
The Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival is one of the earliest cherry blossom festival in Japan as Kawazu is home to the Kawazuzakura. The Kawazuzakura starts flowering much earlier than the other varieties of cherry trees.
Kawazu is located along the Izu Peninsula and is easily accessible from Tokyo via Atami Station. If you are traveling with the nation-wide JR Pass, do note that the pass does not cover the entire journey. You can book your tickets from the JR Ticketing counter, and upon arrival at Kawazu, head to the fare adjustment counter to pay for the additional fees before leaving the station.
The Kawazuzakura trees line up neatly along the road sides leading to the Kawazu river where the main festival is held.
Makeshift stalls sold food as well as sakura related produce and souvenirs.
Sakura Soft Serve because why not? It was the nicest sakura-themed food that we tasted in Japan.
