Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival – Gravity Hotels & Resorts

Spring is inarguably the most loved season in Japan thanks to its world-renowned Japanese cherry blossoms or sakura, which blooms beautifully at this time of the year. In the Izu Peninsula though, sakura season gets an early head start compared to the rest of Japan.

Held annually from early February to early March at the Izu Peninsula, the popular Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival celebrates the flowering Kawazu Cherry Trees or Kawazuzakura and what makes this sakura species so special is its early but slower bloom in contrast to other varieties.

While visitors do have a longer period to enjoy the beauty of these pretty pink flowers, the best viewing time for the Kawazuzakura lasts about 2 weeks between late February and early March. With that said, the sakura viewing forecast changes every year depending on temperatures.

Discovered in Kawazu in the 1950s, these sakura trees were planted across the city, mostly along the Kawazu River and within numerous neighbourhoods. In fact, the original Kawazuzakura tree which led to the esteem of this sakura species stands strong till this day and is now aged over 60.

These cherry blossoms are definitely worth seeing in person and festival-goers often stroll down the riverbanks to revel in the immaculate sakura views, and meander through walkways shaded in vivid pink while snacking on cherry blossom-themed snacks from stalls that line the streets.

Other Izu Peninsula Experiences

Discover and experience the beautiful scenery around our Izu Peninsula hotels.

Museums

Nature surely takes centre stage in Izu, but not many are aware that the small peninsula also houses a whopping number of museums – over 20 to be exact. There are, of course, the classics, but what really draws people in are the bizarre museums that top the quirky scale for sure.

Kawazu Nanadaru Waterfalls

The fresh water of the Kawazu River surges down the Amagi mountain range through a series of 7 wondrous waterfalls of varying drops, and with it comes a fantastic walking trail by the river that runs through the forest.

Shuzenji Temple

Founded by monumental Japanese monk Kobo Daishi in the 9th century, the Shuzenji Temple sits on a small hill and may look absolutely tranquil, but what it conceals is a grim and turbulent history involving power struggles and bad blood within a family.

Jogasaki Coast

The Jogasaki Coast is an exquisite 9-kilometre segment of the Izu Peninsula coastline with a wonderful hiking trail that offers incredible views of the Pacific Ocean, jagged cliffs and stone structures that border the coast.

Mount Omuro

Mount Omuro, or Omuroyama in Japanese, is a 580-metre high extinct volcanic mountain formed over 5000 years ago. It has long been revered as a holy mountain, blessing locals with protection for their ships and an abundance of catch from the sea.

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