Izu’s Cherry Blossom Paradise: An Extended Sakura Season from Autumn to Spring

Japan is renowned for its cherry blossoms, which traditionally bloom for a few fleeting days in spring – a brief spectacle symbolizing the impermanence of life (<a href=”https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-topics/g00747/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>Nippon.com</a>). The iconic <a href=”https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-topics/g00747/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>Somei Yoshino</a> variety bursts into delicate white-pink bloom around late March, only to have its petals cascade like snow shortly thereafter. This ephemeral beauty – cherished in Japanese culture as mono no aware – is what makes cherry blossom season so special.

What most travelers don’t realize is that on the Izu Peninsula, cherry blossoms can be seen from October through May (<a href=”https://www.city.ito.shizuoka.jp/kankou/docs/2019022500114/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>Ito City – Sakura no Sato</a>, <a href=”https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-topics/g00747/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>Nippon.com</a>). Thanks to Izu’s mild climate and diverse varieties of sakura, you can enjoy blossoms here long before and after the short-lived Somei Yoshino peak.

Autumn & Early Winter – Jūgatsuzakura and Himalayan Cherry (Oct–Dec)

The season begins with the <a href=”https://www.city.ito.shizuoka.jp/kankou/docs/2019022500114/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>Jūgatsuzakura (October cherry)</a>, which blooms twice: once in autumn and again in spring. By mid-October, pale-pink blossoms appear on bare branches, a quiet preview of spring. A wonderful place to see them is <a href=”https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-topics/g00747/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>Sakura no Sato Park</a> in Ito City, home to over 1,500 cherry trees of 40 varieties blooming from October through April.

Another rarity is the <a href=”https://izu-sakura.com/himaraya.html” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>Himalayan Cherry</a>, blooming from late November into December. These delicate blossoms came to Atami as a gift from the King of Nepal in the 1960s (<a href=”https://www.city.atami.lg.jp/hana/1003681/1003699/index.html” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>Atami City</a>), and now about 50 trees bloom across the city in places like Shinsui Park and Tsukimi-ga-Oka Park.

Mid-Winter – Early Blooming Sakura in January (Atami-zakura & Toi-zakura)

By January, Izu is already awash in pink. <a href=”https://www.city.atami.lg.jp/hana/1003681/1003682/index.html” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>Atami-zakura</a> is one of Japan’s earliest-blooming cherries, often flowering from early January to February. With vivid pink blossoms and an unusually long bloom (<a href=”https://www.hananokai.or.jp/sakura-zukan/atamizakura/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>Hananokai</a>), it’s celebrated in the <a href=”https://www.ataminews.gr.jp/event/208″ target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>Atami Sakura Festival</a> along the Itokawa River.

On the west coast, <a href=”https://izu-sakura.com/toizakura.html” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>Toi-zakura</a> blooms even earlier. These small, dainty blossoms peak in late January, making Toi one of the very first places on Honshu to welcome cherry blossoms each year. Toi’s Sakura Festival in January combines seaside scenery, hot springs, and sakura for a unique early-season hanami.

Early Spring – Kawazu-zakura (February)

February belongs to the <a href=”https://www.hananokai.or.jp/sakura-zukan/kawaduzakura/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>Kawazu-zakura</a>, famous for its vibrant pink color and long bloom (about a month). The <a href=”https://www.ataminews.gr.jp/event/208″ target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival</a> draws nearly 2 million visitors each year (<a href=”https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6316.html” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>Japan-Guide</a>), as 800 trees line 4km of the Kawazu River in a spectacular pink corridor. Fields of yellow nanohana blooming at the same time add to the unforgettable scenery.

Because of heavy crowds and traffic, I always advise – and on tours, we practice – taking the train instead of driving. Roads can turn into hours-long traffic jams during festival time. Local know-how ensures you spend your time under blossoms, not in a car.

Spring Peak – Somei Yoshino (Late March – Early April)

By late March, <a href=”https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-topics/g00747/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>Somei Yoshino</a> – Japan’s most beloved sakura – transforms Izu into a sea of pale pink. Though cultivated in Tokyo’s Somei village in the 19th century, this hybrid variety spread nationwide and now makes up about 80% of cherry trees in Japan.

In Izu, two highlights are:

<a href=”https://www.ataminews.gr.jp/spot/702″ target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>Izu Kōgen Sakura Tunnel</a> – a 3km avenue of 600 trees forming an arching tunnel of blossoms.
<a href=”https://www.city.ito.shizuoka.jp/kankou/docs/2019022500114/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>Sakura no Sato</a> – bursting with over 1,500 trees of 40 types, offering variety and extended blooms well into April.

Walking these paths during peak bloom is to experience hanami at its purest – fleeting, beautiful, and unforgettable.

Season’s Finale – Matsuzaki Nakagawa River (Early April)

Izu’s sakura season ends gracefully in Matsuzaki. Along the <a href=”https://www.matsuzaki-kankou.com/spot/3863/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>Nakagawa River</a>, over 1,200 cherry trees bloom in early April. Lantern-lit evenings and the town’s historic charm create a nostalgic finale.

Matsuzaki is also Japan’s leading producer of salted sakura leaves, used in sakura mochi. Their local version, <a href=”https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-topics/g00975/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>Sakuraba Mochi</a>, uses two leaves per sweet – the perfect spring souvenir.

Planning Your Cherry Blossom Adventure in Izu

Blooming Calendar:
- Jūgatsuzakura – Oct to Dec (again in Mar)
- Himalayan Sakura – late Nov–Dec
- Atami-zakura – Jan–Feb
- Toi-zakura – Jan–Feb
- Kawazu-zakura – Feb–Mar
- Somei Yoshino – late Mar–early Apr
- Matsuzaki Nakagawa – early Apr
Book Early: Peak season (late Feb–early Apr) fills up quickly. Reserve accommodation and tours well in advance.
Join a Guided Tour: At Jimmy’s Izu Tours, we handle the timing, transport, and local details so you can simply enjoy the blossoms. Especially during peak events like Kawazu, we know when to switch from car to train to maximize your time under the flowers.

Join Us in Chasing Sakura

From October’s first blossoms to April’s final petals, Izu is truly a cherry blossom paradise. Let Jimmy’s Izu Tours create your hanami journey – whether it’s discovering hidden early blooms, walking Kawazu’s riverside tunnel, or enjoying a picnic under Izu Kōgen’s blossom arch.

Book early – cherry blossoms wait for no one, and each season is as fleeting as it is beautiful. 🌸

Izu’s Cherry Blossom Paradise: An Extended Sakura Season from Autumn to SpringJapan is renowned for its cherry blossoms, which traditionally bloom for a few fleeting days in spring – a brief spectacle symbolizing the impermanence of life (Nippon.com). The iconic Somei Yoshino variety bursts into delicate white-pink bloom around late March, only to have its petals cascade like snow shortly thereafter. This ephemeral beauty – cherished in Japanese culture as mono no aware – is what makes cherry blossom season so special.What most travelers don’t realize is that on the Izu Peninsula, cherry blossoms can be seen from October through May (Ito City – Sakura no Sato, Nippon.com). Thanks to Izu’s mild climate and diverse varieties of sakura, you can enjoy blossoms here long before and after the short-lived Somei Yoshino peak.Autumn & Early Winter – Jūgatsuzakura and Himalayan Cherry (Oct–Dec)The season begins with the Jūgatsuzakura (October cherry), which blooms twice: once in autumn and again in spring. By mid-October, pale-pink blossoms appear on bare branches, a quiet preview of spring. A wonderful place to see them is Sakura no Sato Park in Ito City, home to over 1,500 cherry trees of 40 varieties blooming from October through April.Another rarity is the Himalayan Cherry, blooming from late November into December. These delicate blossoms came to Atami as a gift from the King of Nepal in the 1960s (Atami City), and now about 50 trees bloom across the city in places like Shinsui Park and Tsukimi-ga-Oka Park.Mid-Winter – Early Blooming Sakura in January (Atami-zakura & Toi-zakura)By January, Izu is already awash in pink. Atami-zakura is one of Japan’s earliest-blooming cherries, often flowering from early January to February. With vivid pink blossoms and an unusually long bloom (Hananokai), it’s celebrated in the Atami Sakura Festival along the Itokawa River.On the west coast, Toi-zakura blooms even earlier. These small, dainty blossoms peak in late January, making Toi one of the very first places on Honshu to welcome cherry blossoms each year. Toi’s Sakura Festival in January combines seaside scenery, hot springs, and sakura for a unique early-season hanami.Early Spring – Kawazu-zakura (February)February belongs to the Kawazu-zakura, famous for its vibrant pink color and long bloom (about a month). The Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival draws nearly 2 million visitors each year (Japan-Guide), as 800 trees line 4km of the Kawazu River in a spectacular pink corridor. Fields of yellow nanohana blooming at the same time add to the unforgettable scenery.Because of heavy crowds and traffic, I always advise – and on tours, we practice – taking the train instead of driving. Roads can turn into hours-long traffic jams during festival time. Local know-how ensures you spend your time under blossoms, not in a car.Spring Peak – Somei Yoshino (Late March – Early April)By late March, Somei Yoshino – Japan’s most beloved sakura – transforms Izu into a sea of pale pink. Though cultivated in Tokyo’s Somei village in the 19th century, this hybrid variety spread nationwide and now makes up about 80% of cherry trees in Japan.In Izu, two highlights are:Izu Kōgen Sakura Tunnel – a 3km avenue of 600 trees forming an arching tunnel of blossoms.Sakura no Sato – bursting with over 1,500 trees of 40 types, offering variety and extended blooms well into April.Walking these paths during peak bloom is to experience hanami at its purest – fleeting, beautiful, and unforgettable.Season’s Finale – Matsuzaki Nakagawa River (Early April)Izu’s sakura season ends gracefully in Matsuzaki. Along the Nakagawa River, over 1,200 cherry trees bloom in early April. Lantern-lit evenings and the town’s historic charm create a nostalgic finale.Matsuzaki is also Japan’s leading producer of salted sakura leaves, used in sakura mochi. Their local version, Sakuraba Mochi, uses two leaves per sweet – the perfect spring souvenir.Planning Your Cherry Blossom Adventure in IzuBlooming Calendar:Jūgatsuzakura – Oct to Dec (again in Mar)Himalayan Sakura – late Nov–DecAtami-zakura – Jan–FebToi-zakura – Jan–FebKawazu-zakura – Feb–MarSomei Yoshino – late Mar–early AprMatsuzaki Nakagawa – early AprBook Early: Peak season (late Feb–early Apr) fills up quickly. Reserve accommodation and tours well in advance.Join a Guided Tour: At Jimmy’s Izu Tours, we handle the timing, transport, and local details so you can simply enjoy the blossoms. Especially during peak events like Kawazu, we know when to switch from car to train to maximize your time under the flowers.Join Us in Chasing SakuraFrom October’s first blossoms to April’s final petals, Izu is truly a cherry blossom paradise. Let Jimmy’s Izu Tours create your hanami journey – whether it’s discovering hidden early blooms, walking Kawazu’s riverside tunnel, or enjoying a picnic under Izu Kōgen’s blossom arch.Book early – cherry blossoms wait for no one, and each season is as fleeting as it is beautiful. 🌸

Plan Early for Sakura Season