The Kawazu cherry trees in Kawazu-cho, Izu, are early-blooming cherry trees that are in full bloom at the end of February, and are always featured on the news as a representative cherry blossom scenic spot.
Kawazu cherry trees were first discovered by chance in 1955 and planted by local residents at the mouth of the Kawazu River. 850 cherry trees are now planted along the river and have become popular for their strong pink color. The river bank is lined with rape blossoms, creating a beautifully colored scene with the pink of the cherry trees, the yellow of the rape blossoms, the sky, and the river.
As you can see from the news, traffic is very congested at this time of year, and it is best not to drive there on weekends. If you do go by car, plan to arrive around sunrise or you will be in trouble. By train, take the JR Ito Line or Izu Kyuko Line from Atami Station to Kawazu Station, and then walk for 5 minutes to the rows of cherry trees along Kawazu River.
When you go there, you must go on a fine day. The cherry blossoms look bright in the sunlight and contrast beautifully with the blue sky. This year’s cherry blossom festival will end on March 5, so you may want to plan ahead and visit next year. The website also provides information on shuttle buses and discounted tolls, so it is worthwhile to make use of it and visit at least once.
© Source travel watch