It All Started with This One Tree, Transforming the Japanese Scenery with Pink

Kawazu Town in Izu Peninsula

(Kawazu Cho, Shizuoka Prefecture) 

【Kawazu-zakura (河津桜)】cherry trees are a precursor to spring, blooming with vibrant red-pink blossoms as early as the end of February. While most cherry varieties reach their pale peak in April, the Kawazu-zakura transforms the colorless winter landscape into a world awash with color, bringing joy and the promise of warmer days to people’s hearts.

This unique species was discovered in 1955 by a local resident in the town of Kawazu, located in Shizuoka Prefecture. He found a young cherry tree on a riverbank and transplanted it in front of his house. It turned out to new species within the cherry tree family and was named after the town where it was found. Noted for its brilliant color and extended blooming period, the Kawazu-zakura has grown in popularity over time. Enthusiasts propagate the tree through cuttings, spreading its beauty throughout Japan.

The Kawazu-zakura trees create picturesque pink corridors along the riverbanks, becoming an iconic symbol of the Izu Peninsula. Every early spring, nearly one million visitors flock to the area. Strolling along the riverbank, they are enveloped in a canopy of pink blossoms overhead, with the cheerful yellow of canola flowers at their feet—a truly relaxing experience.

In the midst of this floral paradise lies a hot spring. Visitors are invited to rest their feet in a public foot bath. Remove your shoes and socks, and soak your feet in the soothing hot water. It’s the good remedy for your tired feet after walking along the riverbank. The water is a fairly hot, causing your feet to turn red, the experience is sure to rejuvenate your weary soles.

Near the foot bath, there is a spot where steam naturally spouts from the ground. Tourists wait, surrounding the chimney scaffold, for the geyser eruption that occurs every hour. The hot water shoots straight up into the sky from the chimney, reaching a height of 30 meters. Everyone tilts their head back to watch this spectacular natural display. The water, blown by the wind, falls to the ground as mist.

After watching the nature show, you can make your own hot spring eggs. Simply place the eggs in a bamboo basket, submerge them in the 80-degree Celsius hot spring water for 15 minutes, and then cool them in a water tank for 30 seconds for easy peeling. Add salt to taste, and they are ready to eat.

The final destination of the Kawazu walk is marked by the original Kawazu-zakura tree, the progenitor of all subsequent trees, which stands proudly in front of a local residence who found the tree. This singular tree has transformed Japan’s early spring landscape.