Inherent Beauty of Early Blooming Sakura in Kawazu

I’m sorry I haven’t write any post since Mar due to my busy days in the past 2 weeks in L.A ! Of course I will share my L.A post later once I catch up all the post from my FEB trip in Japan and Bangkok! ahh.. it seems to take me forever!

Anyways let’s continue from my previous post of Imaiso Hot spring hotel. As mentioned this year, the cherry blossom blooming was a bit early, when I was there it was around 18th of FEB but base on last year, it’s a month earlier! Lucky me during my business trip, I can arrive 2 days in advance to Kawazu. Just a bit background of this place. it is located about 2 hrs 40 mins from Tokyo, each year of the sakura (cherry  blossom) blooming period, many people come to visit from all over Japan. as it takes only around 3 hrs from city to a countryside to enjoy such a brilliant view. If you were the first time to Tokyo, highly suggest to take some time from Tokyo to here during this period and stay for a night. There’s not only cherry blossom but also famous onsen, some great sight seeing spot as well!

I have added this link below from the official site of Kawazu. The seven waterfalls of Kawazu is the most famous!

List of Attractions – Kawazu

So the next morning after my delicious breakfast in Imaiso Hot Spring Hotel,  I decided to go to Kawazu river for some nice shot of Cherry blossom in Kwazu river.Since there is free shuttle from hotel, it took me directly to Kawazu station within 10 mins! How convenient this was! Once arrived, there was a guy wearing the pink Japanese outfit guiding people to Kawazu river.  Believe or not, it was my first time seeing Sakura in real! I can’t tell how excited this was!

The 2 Japanese statues in front of the station. It’s also a great spot for photos!

I didn’t plan where I should go but only walk along the Kawazu river as I knew the two sides are full of blooming Sakura! Once I crossed the road, not only sakura but also little yellow flowers along the street! I really love the combination of the pink and yellow! It formed a pretty live painting!

Walking along the street, I just followed the people and finally there’s signage showing where I was and the distance between each places. I shall go to the Kawazuzakura Namiki, which is the place along the river. See how brilliant with all the pink sakura along the street!

SAKURA SNACKS!

During Sakura festival, there are also lots of different Sakura souvenirs and food counter. So let me introduce a few below! They all looks so attractive and yummy!

• Sakura Taiyaki

It is a fish pancake filled with bean jam! Many people lined up for this and I bought one and see how it taste. The appearance is very attractive as it is all in pastel pink! These were freshly made and not very sweet. Definitely need to try if you were here next time.

The lady showed me these were freshly baked from the oven!

The sakura fish!

There is also take away for 5 pcs – 1000 yen only! what a great deal!

• Sakura Ice-cream

  Not sure if you have the same habit as I am, I love to take shots for food, probably this ice cream is a must to buy if you have the same habit haha! Of course it is so tasty too! but the pink ice cream looks so beautiful under the sakura background! They offer 3 favours , Vanilla, Sakura and a Mixed (vanilla and sakura) soft ice-cream. Of course I ordered the sakura favour!

• Strawberry Chocolate

Japan’s strawberry always so sweet and fresh! you would regret if you haven’t try any! This little counter offers 150 yen per each and I bought TWO haha. It was so yummy too! I think it is not so pricy.

I took a video showing how many people in front of the food counter!

KAWAZU RIVER

Along the river, there’s not much but only sakura. There’s also an information centre at the mid of road. If you need advice they do can give you a big help! I walked for a while and finally took a rest in a little coffee shop. It was so crowded at noon so it is quite challenging if you need to take shots without / less people. Highly suggest to arrive early so you can avoid the crowd. I don’t have much to tell you but show you how beautiful this place from the below pictures!

 

Kawazu information centre. They also sell souvenirs .

There is sakura bonsai in this counter, it cost 2800 yen each. That’s quite cute! I would love to take one home!

This just like a post card to me!

This is the coffee shop in the mid of the street. They offer cake set with coffee. It’s a great cafe to take some rest.

Below is the front of Kawazu river, I will show the night Sakura in my next post, it looks totally different in the night time! There are many locals and tourist during this period. It’s a really peak season, so beware if you might need to buy a return ticket with reserved seat earlier as per my last experience, it’s all full and I need to stand for an hour to have a seat! However travel is like this not everything is perfect! I always learn something while I travel!

VLOGS

I took some videos so you can see how beautiful this was in live!

The front of Sakura river

How to get there?

From Narita International Airport
Train
Narita International Airport (Narita Express : approx. 1hr) – Tokyo Station (Odoriko or Super View Odoriko : approx. 2hrs 35min) – Kawazu Station [Approx. 3hrs 35min]

From Haneda International Airport
Train
Haneda International Airport (Keikyu line : approx. 20min) – Shinagawa Station (bullet train Kodama : approx. 45min) – Atami Station (Ito line / Izu Kyuko line : 1hr 20min) – Kawazu Station [Approx. 2hrs 25min]Address:

From Tokyo
Train
Tokyo Station (Odoriko or Super View Odoriko) – Kawazu Station [Approx. 2hrs 35min]
Tokyo Station (Shinkansen(bullet train) “Kodama” : approx. 50min) – Atami Station (Ito line / Izu kyuko line : approx. 1hr 20min) – Kawazu Station [Approx. 2hrs 10min]

**Information from Kawazy official website**