Kawazu-zakura Cherry Blossoms 2027 Dates TBA

河津桜まつり — Kawazu, Shizuoka (Tokai)

About 8,000 Kawazu-zakura trees, a deep-pink hybrid variety, bloom along the Kawazu River from early February — a full six to eight weeks before Someiyoshino elsewhere in Japan, making this one of the earliest and longest cherry blossom seasons in the country.

Background

The original Kawazu-zakura tree was discovered as a seedling in a local garden in 1955 and later confirmed as a distinct natural hybrid; cuttings from it have since been planted along the river and across the town, turning an accidental discovery into the Izu Peninsula's signature spring event.

Getting there

About a 5-minute walk from Kawazu Station (Izu Kyuko Line), with a limited express connection from Tokyo (Odoriko) taking around 2.5 hours.

Tips

• Kawazu-zakura flowers stay open far longer than Someiyoshino, often two to three weeks per tree, so there's much less risk of missing peak bloom on a fixed travel date.
• Evening illumination runs along two stretches of the riverside path during the festival, a quieter alternative to the crowded daytime riverbank.

Last verified against the official source: Sun, August 2, 2026