Every year, people clamor to see cherry blossoms, the star of Japan’s spring season. There’s no need to wait for March or April, though, as the Kawazu variety of cherry blossoms blooms as early as mid-February. Here are the 10 best places to see kawazu sakura in Japan.
1. Kawazu, Shizuoka
The town called “Kawazu” in Shizuoka is where kawazu sakura gets its name from. Beautiful cherry blossom trees flank both sides of the Kawazu River and bloom alongside nanohana or canola blooms. A cherry blossom festival usually takes place in February to celebrate the blooming of the flowers. You can expect food stalls selling sakura-themed snacks and desserts.
Read more: Kawazu Sakura Festival: See Cherry Blossoms in February
2. Minami Izu, Shizuoka
The kawazu cherry blossoms of Minami Izu stretch along the Aono River. You can see them bloom along with the yellow blossoms of nanohana, making a gorgeous pink and yellow spectacle. You also have the option of riding a rickshaw for as little as ¥500—an attraction that’s not available in other kawazu sakura spots. You can visit during the daytime to see bright colors under the sun or after dark to see the trees illuminated at night.
3. Nishiharabatake Park, Kanagawa
Cherry blossoms, nanohana, and Mt. Fuji—these are what you get to see when you visit Nishiharabatake Park during the Matsuda Cherry Blossom Festival. You can stroll along the winding paths, slide through a tunnel of cherry blossoms, and ride a mini train. In addition to the cherry blossoms, the Matsudayama Herb Garden also features a variety of herbs, shrubs, and trees, making it a perfect destination for nature lovers and garden enthusiasts.
Read more: Matsuda Cherry Blossom Festival
4. Miura Kaigan, Kanagawa
The Miura Kaigan Cherry Blossom Festival is held annually from the middle of February to the middle of March. During the festival, you can see 1,000 kawazu sakura trees stretch from Miura Kaigan Station to Komatsugaike Park. Depending on the dates you visit, you will also see nanohana and plum blossoms. Like the festival in Kawazu, you will find many food stalls that sell snacks and sweets. When coming from Tokyo, it’s best to use the Misaki Maguro Pass, a discount ticket that gets you a round-trip ticket, a tuna meal, and admission to participating attractions.
Read more: Miura Kaigan Cherry Blossom Festival
Read more: Misaki Maguro Pass Travel Guide: See Kawazu Sakura & Nanohana
5. Sakura Jingu, Tokyo
Sakura Jingu is a small shrine in Tokyo’s Setagaya Ward. While it only has one kawazu sakura tree, many people come here to write wishes on pink ribbons and tie them onto the branches of the cherry blossom tree. It’s a custom unique to this shrine that you can only witness in February.
Read more: Love and Cherry Blossoms at Sakura Jingu
6. Inokashira Park, Tokyo
Inokashira Park is a well-loved public park located in Kichijoji, Tokyo. This park is famous for its beautiful nature, pond, and many species of cherry blossom trees, including the kawazu sakura. Visitors to Inokashira Park can enjoy a peaceful stroll along the pond, surrounded by beautiful pink blossoms. The park is also home to a small zoo, a Benzaiten shrine, and the Ghibli Museum.
7. Kyunaka River, Tokyo
Usually a quiet place to take a stroll, Kyunaka River is known for its numerous kawazu cherry blossom trees that line its river banks. You’ll also get to see Tokyo Skytree in the distance. Some tour companies also offer kayaking and SUP tours on the Kyunaka River, so you can enjoy cherry blossoms from a different vantage point.
Read more: Kyunaka River Kawazu Sakura
8. Oyoko River, Tokyo
The Oyoko River runs along the east side of Kiba Park and boasts some 100 kawazu sakura trees that dot its banks. Kiba Park is located in Koto-ku, one of the 23 wards of Tokyo, making it an accessible spot to see early-blooming cherry blossoms.
9. Yoyogi Park, Tokyo
Compared to the Somei Yoshino trees, the kawazu sakura at Yoyogi Park is significantly fewer. There are around 10 of them located in the central square, near a small pond. With Yoyogi Park being in central Tokyo, it’s one of the most accessible spots to find kawazu sakura.
10. Washinomiya, Saitama
This lovely cherry blossom spot in Saitama is another area where you can see kawazu sakura and nanohana reach full bloom around the same time. The flowers run along the Aogebori River. There are also two bridges in the area that make for captivating photos.
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These 10 spots are just some of the best places to catch the early-blooming kawazu sakura. Have you been to any of these places? Where do you plan to visit next? Feel free to share your experience in the comments section below.
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