Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival
The Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival (河津桜祭り, Kawazuzakura Matsuri) is held yearly from early February to early March in the city of Kawazu, located on the Izu Peninsula.
The popular event celebrates the flowering of the Kawazu Cherry Trees (Kawazuzakura) and attracts almost two million visitors annually as one of the earliest opportunities in the year to see large numbers of cherry blossoms near Tokyo.
Kawazuzakura are an early flowering variety of cherry tree. The trees usually start opening around the beginning of February, but do so at an uncharacteristically slow pace compared to most other cherry tree varieties. Consequently, visitors have a longer time frame (about a month) to enjoy the trees' beautiful flowers. The best viewing time usually last for about two weeks around late February and early March, although this can vary quite a bit from year to year depending on the temperatures.
As their name suggests, Kawazu Cherry Trees were first discovered in Kawazu in the 1950s. They were then systematically planted across the city by the various neighborhoods of the city, mostly along the Kawazu River, which flows west of Kawazu Station. A short walk from the river, the original Kawazuzakura tree that led to the fame of this sakura variety stands in a residential district. Visitors can see the over 60 year old tree up close.
Fittingly, the festival takes place along the banks of the Kawazu River, which is lined by seemingly never-ending rows of Kawazu Cherry Trees stretching approximately four kilometers. Typically, the trees in the town center start to open their cherry blossoms first, before the season gradually spreads upriver towards the Kawazu Seven Waterfalls.
Almost equally numerous are festival stalls that line the walking path along the river, offering a wide selection of cooked food, dried foodstuff, locally produced citrus fruits, souvenirs, and small Kawazuzakura trees that can be taken home and planted. Yellow rape blossoms which open at about the same time as the Kawazuzakura add to the lovely scenery. Night illuminations are held during the festival from 18:00 to 21:00.
Getting there and around
The festival venue is most easily accessed from Kawazu Station on the Izukyu Railway Line. Immediately upon exiting the station you will come across the festival stalls and Kawazuzakura trees. It takes less than five minutes to walk to the Kawazu River from the station.
How to get to and around the Izu Peninsula
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Links and Resources
Hotels around Izu Peninsula
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Pearl Star Hotel ATAMIFacing the beachfront, Pearl Star Hotel ATAMI offers 5-star accommodation in Atami and features a fitness centre, terrace and restaurant. The property is set 600 metres from Atami Sun Beach, 26 km from Hakone-Yumoto Station and 30 km from Shuzen-ji Temple. The hotel has a sauna, room service and free WiFi throughout the property. The units come with a fridge, minibar, a kettle, a shower, a hairdryer and a wardrobe. All rooms are equipped with a coffee machine and a private bathroom with a bidet and free toiletries, while some rooms come with a kitchen equipped with a microwave. At the hotel each room has bed linen and towels. Guests at Pearl Star Hotel ATAMI can enjoy a buffet breakfast. The accommodation offers a hot spring bath. Guests can make use of the business centre or relax in the bar. With staff speaking English, Japanese and Chinese, information is available at the reception. Mount Daruma is 44 km from Pearl Star Hotel ATAMI, while Hakone Checkpoint is 24 km away.View on Booking.com -
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Watei KazekomichiFeaturing mountain views, Watei Kazekomichi provides accommodation with balcony, around 2.1 km from Atami Sun Beach. There is an on-site restaurant, plus free private parking and free WiFi are available. Guests can use the hot spring bath and the open-air bath, or enjoy sea views. The ryokan will provide guests with air-conditioned units offering a wardrobe, a coffee machine, a fridge, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV, a terrace and a private bathroom with a hot tub. The ryokan offers certain units with garden views, and each unit is equipped with a kettle. At the ryokan, all units include bed linen and towels. An Asian breakfast is available daily at the ryokan. Guests can also relax in the garden or in the shared lounge area. Hakone-Yumoto Station is 28 km from Watei Kazekomichi, while Shuzen-ji Temple is 33 km away.View on Booking.com -
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SOKI ATAMISOKI ATAMI features a sauna and a hot spring bath, as well as air-conditioned accommodation in Atami, 1.7 km from Atami Sun Beach. This 4-star ryokan offers a 24-hour front desk and a lift. There is a restaurant serving Japanese cuisine, and free private parking is available. At the ryokan, all units include a balcony. Each unit is fitted with a kettle, a flat-screen TV, a safety deposit box and free WiFi, while some rooms are fitted with a terrace and some have sea views. All units have a private bathroom, slippers and bed linen. The ryokan offers a buffet or Asian breakfast. There is a coffee shop on-site. Guests can relax in the garden at the property. Hakone-Yumoto Station is 27 km from SOKI ATAMI, while Shuzen-ji Temple is 33 km from the property.View on Booking.com -
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Atami SekaieAtami Sekaie is set in Atami, 2.6 km from Atami Sun Beach, 25 km from Hakone-Yumoto Station, as well as 36 km from Shuzen-ji Temple. There is an on-site restaurant, plus free private parking and free WiFi are available. The accommodation offers a 24-hour front desk. At the ryokan, each unit comes with a private bathroom. Hakone Checkpoint is 22 km from the ryokan, while Hakone Shrine is 25 km away.View on Booking.com -
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Kiten - slow & work stay -Located in Atami, 200 metres from Atami Sun Beach and 26 km from Hakone-Yumoto Station, Kiten - slow & work stay - provides accommodation with free WiFi, air conditioning and a terrace. It is situated 34 km from Shuzen-ji Temple and features a shared kitchen. Hakone Shrine is 27 km from the guest house and Lake Ashi is 28 km away. A fridge and kettle are also provided. At the guest house, every unit includes a desk and a private bathroom. Mount Daruma is 48 km from the guest house, while Hakone Checkpoint is 24 km away.View on Booking.com -
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TaiseikanOffering an open-air bath and sea view, Taiseikan is set in Atami, 2.3 km from Nagahama Beach and 24 km from Shuzen-ji Temple. Ideally located in the Ajiro Onsen district, this ryokan offers a shared lounge, as well as a hot spring bath and a public bath. Free WiFi is available and private parking can be arranged at an extra charge. The units in the ryokan are fitted with a kettle. There is a private bathroom with bidet in some units, along with slippers, a hair dryer and free toiletries. All units will provide guests with air conditioning, a safety deposit box and a flat-screen TV. The ryokan is located in a geothermal area, with a number of hot springs nearby for guests to relax in. Hakone-Yumoto Station is 33 km from the ryokan, while Mount Daruma is 38 km from the property.View on Booking.com -
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Guest House MARUYALocated in the central area of Atami and a 15-minute walk from JR Atami Station, Guest House MARUYA offers capsule rooms fitted with Japanese futon-bedding. Guests can take a few minutes' walk to soak in the nearby hot springs or a 10-minute drive to visit the Atami Castle. JR Shinyokohama Station can be reached with a 50-minute ride on the shinkansen (bullet train). Haneda Airport is a 2-hour drive away from the property. There is a shared kitchen and lounge, where guests can socialise and relax. Washing machines and towel rentals are available at a surcharge. Each room at MARUYA Guest House comes with a power outlet and clothes hangers. Bathroom facilities are shared with other guests. Meals are not provided at the property; however, there are several dining options nearby.View on Booking.com -
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ATAMI SPRING TERRACE HOTELSet in Atami, 1.5 km from Atami Sun Beach, ATAMI SPRING TERRACE HOTEL offers accommodation with a garden, private parking, a shared lounge and a terrace. The property is located 27 km from Hakone-Yumoto Station, 34 km from Shuzen-ji Temple and 48 km from Mount Daruma. Offering free WiFi throughout the property, the non-smoking hotel has a hot tub. Some rooms also feature a kitchenette with a fridge, a microwave and a stovetop. At the hotel the rooms are equipped with bed linen and towels. ATAMI SPRING TERRACE HOTEL has a spa and wellness centre, including a hot spring bath. You can play table tennis at this 3-star hotel. Hakone Checkpoint is 24 km from the accommodation, while Hakone Shrine is 27 km from the property.View on Booking.com -
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Atami Korakuen HotelSituated in Atami, 1.4 km from Atami Sun Beach, Atami Korakuen Hotel features accommodation with a terrace, free private parking, a restaurant and a bar. The property is around 27 km from Hakone-Yumoto Station, 29 km from Shuzen-ji Temple and 44 km from Mount Daruma. The accommodation offers a 24-hour front desk, a shuttle service, room service and free WiFi. The units in the hotel are fitted with a kettle. The rooms are fitted with air conditioning, a safety deposit box and a flat-screen TV, and some units at Atami Korakuen Hotel have a balcony. All rooms will provide guests with a fridge. A buffet breakfast is available each morning at the accommodation. Atami Korakuen Hotel offers a range of wellness facilities including a sauna and a hot spring bath. Hakone Checkpoint is 26 km from the hotel, while Hakone Shrine is 28 km from the property.View on Booking.com -
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Relax Resort HotelLocated at the top of the hill overlooking the sea, 熱海温泉 Relax Resort Hotel リラックスリゾートホテル offers luxurious resort accommodation with exotic Bali-inspired d?cor. Guests can enjoy rejuvenating beauty treatments at spa facilities or relax in hot spring baths. The hotel offers butler and concierge services to cater for each guest’s needs. All spacious rooms feature a balcony and views of ocean. They are equipped with Bali-made canopy beds and furniture, as well as a flat-screen TV and a well-stocked fridge. A DVD player, an air purifier and a hairdryer are also included. Some rooms come with an open-air hot spring bath on the balcony. Resort Hotel Relax’s 24-hour front desk offers free luggage storage services. The indoor hot spring baths and sauna can be used privately. A dedicated butler and an English-speaking concierge can take care of shoe shine, taxi hire and sightseeing arrangements. The hotel is a 5-minute drive away from JR Atami Station. Atami Plum Garden is a 10-minute drive away, and MOA Museum of Art is a 20-minute drive from the property. Organic & Natural Nine restaurant serves Japanese/Western breakfast and lunch meals, as well as delicately prepared course meals at night. The Lounge caf? offers refreshments and cocktails in a stylish ambiance.View on Booking.com
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