Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival

The Kawazu cherry trees were first discovered around the 1950s in the Kawazu area, hence the name of the species. Afterwards efforts were made to systematically plant the trees all over the city. The original Kawazu cherry tree can be found in a residential district near the river. Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival can be found along the banks of the Kawazu River, which is covered with cherry blossoms. There are many food stalls lined up by the river for visitors to enjoy the freshly cooked edibles. In addition to the food stalls there are some booths that sell souvenirs and local produce as well as small kawazuzakuras that can be taken home. After enjoying the day festivities you can wait for the nighttime to see the illumination of the Kawazu cherry trees. It is one of the popular attractions of the Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival.

The Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival celebrates the flowering of the kawazuzakura (Kawazu cherry trees) from early February to early March. The event annually attracts close to 2 million visitors since it is one of the places in Japan where you can see cherry blossom early. Kawazuzakuras are an early blooming variety that not only starts appearing in February, but slowly bloom compared to other types. The best time to see the cherry blossoms in the area is in the last two weeks from mid- February to early March. Although due to recent climate changes the period may change depending on the temperatures of that year.