Kawazu Hakami Festival

#cherryblossom2024 Kawazu cherry blossom (also known as Kawazu-dzakura) is an early-flowering sakura that appears about a month earlier than the more common sakura variety Somei Yoshino. In the city where Kawazu-dzakura was discovered (Kawazu City, in case you didn't guess), an annual cherry blossom festival is held in February. In honor of the cherry blossom, a festival is held in the city of Kawazu in Izu Prefecture, but usually this is just an opportunity to walk along the city river and admire the many blooming cherry trees. Special lunch boxes for picnics are being prepared, but they are not cheap. In addition, night illumination will work from 18:00 to 21:00. Sakura Blossom is a short walk from Kawazu Station. It will take about 2.5 hours by train from Tokyo Station if you take the Super View Odoriko Limited Express (¥6,050). If you have a JR Pass, you should take the shinkansen to Atami Station and transfer to the local line in the direction of Kawazu. Other options with a transfer at Atami station are about ¥1,000 cheaper, but take an hour longer.