Nightfall in Kawazu: Where Sakura Blooms Before Spring Begins

Cherry blossoms in February? Yes—Kawazu Town on the Izu Peninsula is one of the earliest places in Japan where sakura bloom. We walked the seven-kilometer Kawazu Sakura Festival trail just before sunset, where early-blooming pink blossoms glowed beneath glowing lanterns. With fewer crowds and a cool coastal breeze, this felt like a secret spring awakening. Local stalls offered hot amazake and sakura mochi, making the experience both flavorful and festive. Kawazu shows you spring before the rest of Japan even realizes it’s coming. #summervacay