Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival 2027: Early Sakura Near Tokyo

Kawazu-zakura is an early-blooming cherry from Kawazu, a town on the Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka. It flowers in February, well before Tokyo's Somei-yoshino. About 850 trees line the Kawazu River, and there are about 8,000 across the town, according to the Kawazu Town Tourist Association.

The variety started with a single seedling that a local resident found around 1955 and planted in a garden in Kawazu. It was named Kawazu-zakura in 1974 and became the official tree of Kawazu Town in 1975. The mother tree still stands about 1.2 km from Kawazu Station, toward Mt. Amagi.

2026 dates (reference) and 2027 status

When to aim: JR East's official travel media says Kawazu-zakura usually peaks around February. It opens in early February and takes about ten days to reach full bloom. Bloom varies every year, so watch the bloom-status page and live camera on the official festival site before you lock in a day.

Night light-up

In 2026 the trees were lit every evening of the festival, February 7 to March 8, from 18:00 to 21:00. The lit stretches were the riverbank downstream from the bridge in front of Kawazu Station (館橋) and the area behind Odoriko Onsen Kaikan, plus several of the town's named trees. The 2027 light-up schedule has not been announced.

Getting there from Tokyo

• ●Direct: the Limited Express Odoriko runs from Tokyo Station to Kawazu Station without a change, in about 2 hours 40 minutes (official festival site and JR East).
• ●Via Atami: take the Shinkansen or a JR conventional line to Atami. Then, from the JR Ito Line platform, board a train bound for Izukyu-Shimoda and ride to Kawazu (official festival site).
• ●Kawazu Station is on the Izukyu Line, and the festival area is a short walk from the station.

Driving and parking

The official access page warns of traffic jams around Kawazu during the festival, especially at peak bloom. Festival car parks open 8:30–21:00. Listed fees for a standard car are ¥1,000 in the daytime (8:30–17:00) and ¥200 at night (18:00–21:00); the page does not state which year these fees apply to. Parking cannot be reserved. Guests staying overnight in Kawazu can park free at night with a ticket from their inn.

Where to stay

Staying in Kawazu itself is the easiest way to see the evening light-up without worrying about the last train. Shimoda, further down the Izukyu Line, gives you more choice. Atami, where you change trains, works if you also want to see the Atami-zakura. Festival weekends fill up first — book with free cancellation as soon as your dates are set.

Other early cherry blossoms nearby

• ●Atami-zakura, Itokawa Promenade (Atami): 58 trees of an early winter-cherry variety along the Itokawa river. The Atami City Tourism Association lists the next Atami Sakura Itokawa Sakura Festival for January 9 (Sat) – February 7 (Sun), 2027. In 2026 the trees were lit every day, 16:30–23:00. About 20 minutes on foot from JR Atami Station. Official page
• ●Minami-no-Sakura and Nanohana Festival (Minami-Izu): Kawazu-zakura and Somei-yoshino line the Aono River from around Shimogamo to Teishi. JR East's official travel media gave the 2026 festival as February 1 – March 10. 2027 dates: check the Minami-Izu Town official site.

FAQ

Q. When is the Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival 2027? A. The dates have not been announced yet (as of early November 2026). The 2026 festival ran from February 7 to March 8. Check the official festival site for the 2027 announcement.

Q. Is there a night light-up? A. Yes. In 2026 the trees were lit every evening of the festival from 18:00 to 21:00. The 2027 hours have not been announced.

Q. How long does it take from Tokyo? A. About 2 hours 40 minutes on the direct Limited Express Odoriko from Tokyo Station to Kawazu Station.

Q. Can I combine Kawazu with Atami? A. Yes. Atami is where you change trains if you do not take the direct Odoriko, and the 2027 Atami Sakura Itokawa Sakura Festival is listed for January 9 – February 7, 2027.