Kawazu cherry blossom: a day from Higashiizu

Kawazu-zakura and festival evenings

Kawazu-zakura begins flowering around early February and continues for roughly a month. Leaves open after the pale pink flowers, leaving the branches clear against the winter sky. Full bloom shifts with the weather within that longer flowering season.

About 850 trees line the Kawazu River, within some 8,000 across the town. Pink branches arch above a riverbed of stones and running water. Walk beneath the rows and stop beside individual trees to see the blossoms close up.

Festival evenings

The blossom festival has evening lighting along the river. After dark, illuminated branches stand against the night above the water. The winter and blossom season overlaps Inatori’s hanging-doll tradition farther north along the coast.

The river and Yakata Bridge

From Kawazu station, walk to Yakata Bridge and follow the riverbanks inland beneath the cherry trees. The lower river runs through town, with rows of blossom above the water. Continue upstream, pausing beneath the branches, then retrace the river to the station.

During the blossom festival, stalls line the viewing route. The riverside and town form a walking outing from the railway; the inland gorge is reached by bus for a different day. Outside the flowering season, Perry Road in Shimoda has old houses, little bridges and harbor history farther south along the coast.

By train or private car from Tokyo

Take a southbound Izukyu local to Kawazu. From Izu-Inatori, the train stops at Imaihama-Kaigan before reaching town. The riverside blossom walk starts near the coastal station, where a northbound local follows the coastal railway back through Inatori and Atagawa.

From Tokyo, Odoriko and Saphir Odoriko follow the same coastal railway. A private trip with Tokyo hotel pickup connects the river blossom and inland waterfalls by car. The inland Nanadaru promenade follows a gorge with repeated stairs above Shokeidaru.

From Tokyo: Kawazu Guided Private Trip with Hotel Pickup

Kawazu’s riverside cherry blossom and waterfalls by private car from Tokyo.

• About 10 hours; hotel pickup in Tokyo.

from US$370 per group up to 6

Private group; entrance fees and meals not included.

See dates on GetYourGuide

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Cycling from Kawazu

Collect electric-assist bikes from the tourism association on the first floor of Kawazu Sakura Tourism Exchange Hall, 72-12 Sasahara. The electric motor assists on the town’s slopes. Every rental, including the full-day option, ends at 17:00.

Bring ID. Riders should be 150 cm or taller; all bikes are adult-size. Children of middle-school age and younger need an accompanying guardian. Wear close-fitting hems and closed shoes. Rentals stop in severe weather unsuitable for cycling. For the gorge walk, take the bus or taxi inland and continue on the stepped promenade on foot.