4 Tokyo day trips for early cherry blossoms (2024 edition)
The most famous, and arguably the most beautiful, season in Japan is the cherry blossom season (sakura or 桜 in Japanese). This is typically associated with the “Somei Yoshino” cherry trees, which is the most popular variety in Japan and blooms typically from late March to early May, depending on the location. However, there are other and lesser known types of cherry blossoms that bloom earlier in February and March. Here, I share 4 day trips from Tokyo (all locations mapped below) where you can start chasing blossoms in February (just remember to dress warmly - especially if you stay for the night light up)!
TOKYO SPOTS: for Kawazu zakura spots in Tokyo itself, check out my Cherry Blossom Ebook which cover these early bloomers!
TLDR - 2024 KEY DATES + LINKS FOR YOU:
Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival @kawazu.kanko | 1-29 Feb 2024, light up 6-9pm daily | flowering updates | full bloom ~13-20 Feb 2024
Miura Kaigan Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival @miurakawazuzakura | 5 Feb - 3 Mar 2024, light up 5-8pm daily | flowering updates | full bloom from ~17-28 Feb 2024
Matsuda Cherry Blossom Festival @matsuda_town | 3 Feb - 3 Mar 2024, light up TBC | flowering updates | full bloom from ~16 Feb-29 Feb 2024
Washinomiya’s hidden kawazu river | no official festival and the area is mostly residential so it is much quieter | flowering updates | full bloom from 4 March 2024 (now!)
Let’s dive in!
Kawazu zakura (河津桜) is a type of cherry blossom that begins to flower in early February and reaches full bloom in late February or early March. Compared to the more famous “somei yoshino” blossoms , kawazu zakura have larger petals and a deeper pink colour and have a longer blooming season (which means more time to enjoy them)! You can see pockets of pink fluffy kawazu sakura around Tokyo but the I really recommend getting out of the city to see this endless sea of pink and have picnics under the blossoms. Bonus is that they can all be done as a day trip or weekend getaway from Tokyo with public transport (some of which is covered by the JR Rail Pass).
Flowering time differ each year, depending on weather, so do check the latest forecasts (links below ;)). In a typical year, kawazu zakura in and around Tokyo would reach full bloom from late Feb to early March; but this can shift to mid-Feb or mid-March. Rapeseed blossoms are also in full bloom at around the same time as kawazu zakura so you can enjoy the contrast of the pink blossoms and the yellow rapeseed flowers.
1. Kawazu, Shizuoka
The kawazu zakura was given their name after being discovered in the city of Kawazu (河津) in the Izu Peninsula. The famous sakura festival is along the Kawazu River, where rows of cherry trees line both sides of the river for around 3-4 km. The pink rows seem to stretch on and on - it is quite a sight to behold! More than 2 million people visit the Kawazu sakura festival every year - making it the most popular kawazu zakura viewing spot! It will be crowded but if you are prepared to walk further along the river (i.e. walk away from the station and the coast), you will find your own empty row of cherry trees! The crowds tend to gather around the station and the coastline and thin out further inland you go. It also has the best festival atmosphere out of the locations with plenty of space for picnics along the river, regular performances and stalls selling food and sakura themed souvenirs. Kawazu is a great day trip from Tokyo but I also recommend staying overnight so you can enjoy the sunset and night illuminations, watch the beautiful pink flowers transform in different light and enjoy the quiet mornings before the day-trippers arrive. The first and original kawazu zakura tree (60+ years old!) is still standing in the town and is worth a visit.
To get here: Take the train to Kawazu station (河津); COVERED by the JR Rail Pass. If coming from Tokyo, this usually involve a change at Atami or Ito and would take around 2-3 hours.
Best time: The sakura festival is held in February each year: 1-28/29 Feb in 2024, 2023 and 2022 with light up 6-9pm daily and best time to visit is usually second half of Feb to early March. The festival website updates a “sakura blog” (almost) daily with photos so you can track the flowering progress + check @kawazu.kanko. 2023 full bloom from ~19 Feb 2023.
Day trip or overnight? I visited Kawazu in 2017 on a (long) day trip from Tokyo and again in 2018 as part of a road trip around the Izu Peninsula. If you have the time and can drive, I highly recommend the latter to experience all that Izu has to offer and make the most of those quiet mornings before the daytrippers arrive! Book accommodation easily with Rakuten Travel’s English website + app. Use “NAOMI15” for 15% off all hotel bookings (code valid until 19/4/24 for stays until 19/8/24).
2. Miura, Kanagawa
A row of 1000 Kawazu-zakura cherry trees stand along the Keikyu rail line and there is an overpass (marked on the map) where you can view the cherry trees and passing train from above. I think this is the best spot for train watching and you will see lots of people waiting on the bridge for the train to come so they can get a shot of the red train next to the pink flowers (sometimes the train is blue and you will hear lots of disappointed sighs…). Trains come every 10 minutes from each direction so be ready ;)
The cherry trees are about a 10 minutes walk from Miura-kaigan Station (about mid-way between Miura-kaigan station and Misakiguchi stations) and you can stop by Komatsugaike Pond on the way where there are more cherry trees and where lots of people picnicked.
Compared to the Kawazu sakura festival, the Miura festival is on a smaller scale and can be seen in about an hour or two (unless you really like your trains in which case you will be in good company!). It takes just over an hour to get here from Tokyo so if you are short on time and still want to get your dose of early blossoms, this is a great spot.
Other things to see nearby: Miura Beach is an easy 5 minutes walk from the station. Misaki (the station after Miura-kaigan) and Misaki Port are famous for having some of the best maguro (fatty tuna) in Japan so definitely plan a maguro meal on your visit! You will see plenty of maguro don (raw slices of maguro on rice) and sushi restaurants around Miura-kaigan station and the Miura peninsula. I tried one and the maguro was delicious and melted in my mouth. Cherry blossom season coincides with strawberry season so I also recommend strawberry picking at a farm nearby (where you can pick and eat all you can during 30 minutes). Miura is about 1 hour from Tokyo and Kamakura so you can do morning in Miura and afternoon in Kamakura/Enoshima. Finally, if you are in need of some ocean and onsen therapy, stay overnight in the Miura peninsula and invest in the Keikyu Misaki Maguro Pass (includes return train fare from Tokyo + unlimited bus in the area + maguro meal and other experiences).
To get here: Take the Keikyu train to Miura-kaigan station (三浦海岸), about 1 hour 15 mins from Tokyo (more info on Keikyu rail’s website; Keikyu rail is NOT COVERED by the JR Rail Pass). The loop from the station to the cherry trees and Komatsugaike Pond are mapped above - or you can just follow the crowds and pink lanterns.
Best time: Festival is held 5 Feb - 3 Mar 2024, 5 Feb - 12 Mar 2023, 5 Feb - 6 Mar 2022. Light up 5-8pm daily. Blooming time is similar to the ones in Kawazu and Miura festival website and @miurakawazuzakura provide frequent flowering updates too. 2023 full bloom from ~21 Feb 2023.
3. Matsuda, Kanagawa
The Matsuda cherry blossom festival is increasing in popularity as it has great views of Mount Fuji and is close to Tokyo. The festival is held at Nishihirabatake Park (西平畑公園), which is located on top of a hill and there are TWO locations: (1) Matsudayama Herb Garden 松田山ハーブガーデン; and (2) Aguri Park Sagayamaen あぐりパーク嵯峨山苑. From the train or highway, you can see the top of the hill covered in pink.
2021 UPDATE/2ND VISIT: On my return visit, I discovered location #2 the Aguri Park Sagayamaen (part of the Naito Orchards, entry fee 300yen) further up the hill which has a maze of rape blossoms and kawazu blossoms. This is even better than the lower Matsudayama Herb Garden as it is spread out over a bigger area, has more elevated views of Mt Fuji and is much quieter (as not many visitors make it up here or know about it). It is about an extra 20 minutes up the hill - walk past the herb hall (white building) and look for posters pointing to the Naito Orchards / Aguri Park (with pictures of mikans / oranges).
This one is extra fun for kids as there are slides, a big swing and a little train for them to ride, all under cherry blossom tunnels.
To get here: Take the train to Matsuda or Shin-Matsuda station (松田 or 新松田), about 1 hour from Tokyo (change at Odawara) and then take the shuttle bus (departs from the north exit of the JR Matsuda Station between 9am-3pm JPY 120 one way, more info here) to the top of the hill. Walking is possible but be prepared for a steep climb. If coming from Tokyo, you will like be taking the Odakyu line to Shin-Matsuda station - the Odakyu line is NOT COVERED by the JR Rail Pass.
Best time: Festival held on 3 Feb - 3 Mar 2024, 11 Feb - Mar 2023, 11 Feb - 6 Mar 2022 (evening light up TBC). Full bloom is typically around mid-Feb. Time your visit with a clear day for Mt Fuji views (livecam here) and full bloom (flowering updates on website and @matsuda_town). 2023 full bloom from ~22 Feb 2023.
Drone: this is a great location to get drone shots - see this reel for example!
Google map screenshot showing the two locations
Location 1: Matsudayama Herb Garden
Location 2: Aguri Park
Magnificent view of Mt Fuji with kawazu blossoms from Aguri Park Sagayamaen あぐりパーク嵯峨山苑!
Rare sight of plum blossoms, kawazu blossoms and rapeseed!
Beautiful paths and sakura groves
Maze of pink and gold at Aguri Park Sagayamaen あぐりパーク嵯峨山苑
4. Washinomiya, Saitama
2021 update: Adding a hidden Saitama gem to this list - this is probably the least known / crowded spot on the list! There is a row of 300+ kawazu blossoms along 2.5km of the Aogehori River, starting at Washinomiya Shrine and heads southward, ending around the Tobu line train tracks in the Koguki area. Particularly scenic spots are (1) Miyamae Bridge near Washinomiya Station and shrine 鷲宮神社 (and many other bridge crossings along the river) and (2) surprise surprise… the Washinomiya Water Pipe near the filtration plant 鷲宮浄水場 around the mid point of the route - all marked on the map below + two nearby train stations. Budget 1/2 day for this location and can visit Kawagoe or Omiya on the same day!
There is no official festival and the area is mostly residential so it is much quieter and a great spot for a leisurely stroll (bring your own snacks!). There is not always a pedestrian walking path so be careful of vehicles.
To get here: Take the train to Washinomiya Station (鷲宮駅) on the Tobu line (NOT COVERED by the JR Rail Pass), about 1 hour from Ikebukuro Station (will require a transfer at Kuki Station). The cherry blossom walk starts just a few minutes from the station East Exit. Instead of walking back to the same station, you can return to Tokyo from Higashi-Washinomiya Station (東鷲宮駅), on the JR Shonan-Shinjuku and Utsunomiya Line (1h direct train to Shinjuku or Tokyo - this is a JR line and is COVERED by the JR Rail Pass). The other way around works too!
Best time: early - mid March. Check updates on Kuki City website. Fulll bloom from ~14 Mar 2023.
Love a riverside stroll with many cute bridge crossings along the way!
Map of key spots + train stations, from Kuki City website
Useful resources
For train times and route planning, I use Google Maps and Hyperdia (they have a website and app). Get your JR Pass here.
For sakura forecasts (which track the flowering of the “somei yoshino” blossoms), I follow Japan Meteorological Agency and Weather News’ sakura channel.
For more sakura spots and tips - follow me on Instagram and let’s go sakura hunting!
PS February is an amazing time to be in Japan - here are some ideas for how you can combine winter x spring in same trip!