Tokyo’s cherry blossoms aren't expected to bloom before mid-March, but you can get a taste of the pink blooms from early February on the southernmost tip of the Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka prefecture. The town of Minami Izu has a sakura and rapeseed blossom festival that runs from February 1 until March 10.
The pink spectacle takes place along the Aono River in the Shimogamo Onsen area and at the nearby Shimogamo Onsen Yu no Hana rest stop. About 800 Kawazu cherry blossom trees and plenty of yellow rape blossoms line the 4.2-km-long stretch along the Aono River. Kawazu cherry blossoms were first discovered in 1972 in Kawazu, a little town further north on the Izu Peninsula. Thanks to Izu’s warm climate, these cherry blossoms bloom earlier than any other sakura type around Japan.
Between February 5 and 28, you can hop of a rickshaw which will take you on a 20-minute cherry blossom viewing course around the area (¥3,000 per person). During the festival there'll also be an Ise shrimp miso soup service (February 16 to 23) where you can pick up a free cup of soup at the Shimogamo Shopping Street Miro parking lot. The soup will be served twice a day at 11am and again at 1pm.
Make sure to stay until the evening, when the sakura between Kujobashi Bridge and Maeharabashi Bridge are beautifully lit up. Close to the roadside station Shimogamo Onsen Yu no Hana and at the Shiroganenoyu Bridge, you’ll also find illuminated sakura trees. The light-up takes place daily from 6pm to 9pm.
A visit to Minami Izu is doable in a day – it takes about three hours from Tokyo’s Shinagawa Station. However, if you rather take your time exploring the area, you can also turn it into an overnight trip as there are many resorts in the area like Kyukamura Minami Izu hotel.
Make sure to check the festival’s website for more information.
This article was published on January 26 2022 and updated on January 23 2025.
More from Time Out Tokyo
Tokyo is ranked as one of the world’s best cities for 2025
Here's the official Japan cherry blossom forecast for 2025
Takashi Murakami and Louis Vuitton take over Harajuku with a pop-up shop and café
Waymo to begin testing driverless vehicles in Tokyo in early 2025
Announcing the first 7 chefs and restaurateurs coming to Time Out Market Osaka in March 2025
Want to be the first to know what’s cool in Tokyo? Sign up to our newsletter for the latest updates from Tokyo and Japan.