2018/2/28 Sakura report from Kawazu town

When it comes to SAKURA in Japan, many people believe it  blooms in around April. However, an early bloomer of sakura has existed in several regions of Japan. 

Especially, Kawazu town in Shizuoka prefecture. It is well-known as the birth place for the early bloomer.

The early bloomer, "Kawazu zakura"(河津桜) commonly starts to bloom in late January until March.

I have visited this place to see the blooming situation in this season. I hope my blog posts will assist you with your plans to vist Japan someday.

kawazu station/河津駅

To get to the  destination, it takes approximately 3 hours by train from Tokyo station.

The kawazu station(河津駅)is the venue for the kawazu zakura viewing.

The local town "Kawazu", located in southeast in Izu-peninsula, is commonly considered as a early-blooming Sakura paradise. While it's not Japan's only viewing spot for the early bloomer, it's the most famous, attracting visitors both domestic and international who come to see the 8,000 of the cherry blossoms that filled with full bloomed in the town during the season.

As you leave the train  station, you'll see the first of many  kawazu zakura trees like this.

かじやの桜/Kajiya no sakura

On the way to the original tree of the kawazu sakura, you'll see another big cherry tree called "Kajiya no sakura".

河津町役場/Kawazu town office

In this region, there are several spots for viewing. On this trip , I headed to the place where the original kawazu zakura trees exist.

kawazu river promenade.

The number of visitors from overseas has been increasing. 

Arrived at the original tree of the kawazu Zakura.You will arrive here after about a 10 minute walk from kawazu station.

Description about the tree

河津桜の原木/The original tree of the kawazu zakura

河津桜/Prunus lannesiana. cv. Kawazu-zakura, the original tree was discovered by katsumi iida(飯田勝美氏) in 1955. Since the tree has existed in kawazu town, it has been named as"Kawazu-zakura" since 1974.

The original tree's blossoms were almost full-bloomed.

This pink coat is available for taking a picture,wearing for free. By the way, we call the coat "Happi/はっぴ" in Japanese.

The dates of the first bloom and full bloom are subject to change due to weather conditions such as tempertures, wind and rain. At that time,most of the blossoms were not full-bloomed except for the original kawazu tree.

It seems like this year's an unusual cold weather made the blooming progress  delayed.

But I enjoyed not only Kawazu Zakura also a local-specialities in the region.

I hop I could see the full-blooming of the kawazu Zakura next season(^O^)