Cherry Blossoms on Riverside
Native to Kawazu town located on the eastern coast of the Izu Peninsula (Shizuoka Prefecture), the Kawazu-Zakura are a species of cherry blossom trees that bloom quite early, typically from early February to early March. This shot includes the rooftops of Odoriko Onsen Kaikan hot-spring resort on the shore of Kawazu River.
Early Spring Cherry Blossoms
Kawazu-Zakura cherry blossom trees are a native species to the town of Kawazu on the southern half of Izu Peninsula (Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan). The 32nd annual Kawazu-Zakura Matsuri cherry blossom festival ran from early February 1st to the 28th this year.
You can reach Kawazu Station on Izukyuko Line after transferring at JR Atami Station. If you have a larger breed dog, or prefer the freedom of driving, the route through central Izu is a lot of fun with many winding roads, scenic views, and you can enjoy the aromas of mountains and small villages as your drive through the area. Plenty of parking lots are available and it only costs ¥1,000 for the whole day.
Cherry Blossom Petals
According to the book titled “Sakura” by Toshio Katsuki (2015), the custom of cherry blossom viewing in Japan dates back to the Nara Period (710–794).
The darker pink petals of the Kawazau-Zakura variety are the first ones to bloom and last for about a month. These beautiful petals assure us that spring is indeed just around the corner and that the cold days of winter will give way to warm weather and rebirth across the landscape.
Girder Bridge & Blossoms
I like the analogous color scheme of the red oxide paint on the girder bridge and the pinks of the cherry blossom trees. Additionally, I was drawn to the hard straight lines of the bridge, which stand in stark contrast with the soft puffs of cherry trees and the gradual bend of Kawarazu River (Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan).
Cherry Blossom Petals
The cherry blossom trees of the Kawazau-Zakura variety are the first species to bloom in Japan and last for about a month. Originally from the town of Kawazu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, these beautiful petals are famous for their darker shade of pink and long blooming time.
Japanese Vermillion Bridge & Blossoms
Practically speaking, vermillion (red-orange) paint used on Japanese bridges, torii gates, shrines, temples, etc. provides a preservative function against the elements.
Culturally speaking, vermillion serves as a talisman against evil spirits. I surmise the color is used in this sense to protect the structure from destruction due to earthquakes, floods, mountain slides, fires, and engineering defects.
Regardless, I am a huge fan of vermillion bridges that often stand in stark contrast to green mountainscapes, flowing blue rivers, or in this shot where the vermillion bridge is analogous to the dark pink cherry blossoms.
Cherry Blossom Petals
Lone cherry blossoms against a background of cherry blossom trees and clear, blue, spring sky in the town of Kawazu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, the birthplace of the Kawazu-Zakura variety of cherry blossom trees.
Rapeseed and Cherry Blossoms
Cluster of cherry blossoms against a background of rapeseed blossoms in the town of Kawazu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. In Japan, rapeseed (canola) flowers are called nanohana (菜の花), which translates literally to vegetable flower.
During this time of year, you can purchase bunches of nanohana at the supermarket. The top 15 cm of the plant is boiled and often served in mustard and soy sauce or sautéed with bacon.
Luxury Train & Cherry Blossoms
Shot of the Resort 21 Kinme train that operates between Atami Station and Izukyu Shimoda Station on the Izu Kyuko Line on the eastern coast of the Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.
To visit the Kawazu-Zakura festival, you can take this train and debark at Kawazu Station. Unlike commuter trains, the Resort 21 Kinmei train (solid red) and the Resort 21 Kurofune (black and red) train are modeled on the history of the local areas and provide passengers with a higher level of comfort and amenities. Seating in the cars with large windows offer expansive views of the ocean as you travel along the coastline of the Izu Peninsula.
To visit the Kawazu-Zakura festival, you can take this train and debark at Kawazu Station. Unlike commuter trains, the Resort 21 Kinmei train (solid red) and the Resort 21 Kurofune (black and red) train are modeled on the history of the local areas and provide passengers with a higher level of comfort and amenities. Seating in the cars with large windows offer expansive views of the ocean as you travel along the coastline of the Izu Peninsula.
Waves Lapping the Beach
After a leisurely 3-kilometer-walk of enjoying the cherry blossoms along the Kawazu River, we reached Kawazuhama Beach where the breakwater offshore ensures a peaceful beach with gently lapping waves.
Kawazuhama Beach (Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan), is not well known, which helps keeps the crowds to a minimum. The beach itself is not that big, but offers a chance to take some nice sunrise photos or maybe even have a barbecue during summer.
Although driving to the beach offers opportunities to see more of the local area (162 km southwest of Tokyo), you can easily reach the beach within a 6-minute walk of Kawazu Station on the JR Izukyuko Line.
Bank of River under Canopy of Cherry Blossoms
The banks of Kawazu River in Kawazu-machi, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan on the eastern coastline of the Izu Peninsula draws crowds from late February to late March for the annual Kawazu-Zakura Matsuri, a festival of the kawazu-zakura cherry blossom trees, which are a native species to this small coastal town.
You can reach Kawazu Station on Izukyuko Line after transferring at JR Atami Station. However, if you like driving, you can take National Route 135 from Odawara and just follow the winding road that hugs the rugged coastline. Another option is National Route 414 from Odaira Interchange on the Izu-Jukan Expressway. Route 414 features the Kawazu Nanadaru Spiral Bridge, which is a lot of fun to drive on!
Rainbow Over Coastal Resort
Roadside snapshot of a rainbow arched over the DHC Akazawa Onsen Village spa resort in Ito, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. The resort has 10 facilities nestled in the forest of Izu Kogen that covers the headland jutting out into the Pacific Ocean on the eastern coastline of Izu, located about 146 km (91 mi) southwest of Tokyo.
I took this shot on the 3-hour drive back to Tokyo from the Kawazu-Zakura Matsuri cherry blossom festival. Visiting any resort, beach, or festival located on the eastern coastline of the Izu Peninsula limits you to Route 135 if you want to save money and avoid expressways. On this drive, traffic was congested at certain points, but with so many beautiful views along the coastline and the ocean breeze wafting through the car windows, my dog and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves on the drive back home.
Reference Material:
Information provided by Kyuhoshi, a travel web magazine with excellent details regarding the Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival in English. Recommend locations to visit, stay, in addition to access info. The site is plagued with obnoxious ads, so be sure to switch your web browser to Reader View mode:
Information provided by Japan Wireless. A little bit light on details, but a good resource to supplement info from Kyuhoshi:
The official website for the Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival. Access info with a nicely prepared PDF map that can be downloaded. Information is in Japanese only.
The always useful Japan-Guide.com website provides a good review in English of what the festival has to offer, highlights basic historical information, and offers an easy to understand train access map.
The Tokyo Past 3 blog by Mizhelle Agcaoili provides lovely photos from the festival, provides travel options for varying budgets, and places a bit more emphasis on the variety of foods available at the festival.
Tabea Greuner has a nice write up on the Tokyo Timeout site with some basic info and nice photos from the festival.
Information on the onsen resort seen in the first photo of this blog post:
踊り子温泉会館 | Odoriko Onsen Kaikan
Address:
- 〒413-0511静岡県賀茂郡河津町峰457-1
- 〒413-0511 Shizuoka-ken, Kamo-gun, Kawazu, Mine 457-1
Google Maps link to Kawazuhama Beach (see 11th photo in this blog post):
河津浜海水浴場 | Kawazu-Hama Kaisui-Yokujō (Kawazu-Hama Swimming Beach):
河津駅 | Kawazu Station (Izukyuko Line)
The original Kawazu-Zakura cherry tree:
Tourist Information Center:
Below is a list of the equipment I took with me on this photo shoot.
Camera Gear:
Pentax K-1 Mark II (K1-II)
https://amzn.to/3gM4KqJ
Standard zoom lens: Pentax D FA 28-105mm f3.5-5.6ed DC WR HD Lens
https://amzn.to/3JlBBPs
Tripod: Manfrotto MT190CXPRO4 (carbon fiber legs with quick locking clamps)
https://amzn.to/2Fqpghd
Ball head: Manfrotto Cloud XPRO Series Ballhead BHQ2 with 200PL locking plate
https://amzn.to/3g6WI9j
Filters & Filter Systems:
PolarPro QuartzLine ND 64 Filter - 67mm (ND64 6-stop reduction in light)
https://amzn.to/2J9VSOM
PolarPro QuartzLine ND1000 Filter - 67mm (ND1000 10-stop reduction in light)
https://amzn.to/39rwWwW
PolarPro QuartzLine ND100k Filter - 67mm (ND100K 15-stop reduction in light)
https://amzn.to/3q7YHAm
PolarPro QuartzLine Circular Polarizer - 67mm
https://amzn.to/3fOwgCY
PolarPro Summit | Landscape Filter System Custom Kit (Core, Thread Plate, ND4-GR filter, ND8-GR filter, Circular Polarizer)
https://amzn.to/37hjkBv
https://amzn.to/2J9VSOM
PolarPro QuartzLine ND1000 Filter - 67mm (ND1000 10-stop reduction in light)
https://amzn.to/39rwWwW
PolarPro QuartzLine ND100k Filter - 67mm (ND100K 15-stop reduction in light)
https://amzn.to/3q7YHAm
PolarPro QuartzLine Circular Polarizer - 67mm
https://amzn.to/3fOwgCY
PolarPro Summit | Landscape Filter System Custom Kit (Core, Thread Plate, ND4-GR filter, ND8-GR filter, Circular Polarizer)
https://amzn.to/37hjkBv
Pack:
F-stop Tilopa 50L Adventure and Travel Camera Backpack (Essentials Bundle: backpack, rain cover, internal camera unit)
https://amzn.to/2XfjDIE
F-stop Tripod Bag (large)
https://amzn.to/3pXW57n
https://amzn.to/2XfjDIE
F-stop Tripod Bag (large)
https://amzn.to/3pXW57n
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Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license are available at Pix4Japan.
