If you want to see cherry blossoms everywhere you go in Japan, one of two things has to be true. Either you have to be extremely lucky (as I was on my very first trip to Japan, over a decade ago); or you have to be obsessed with the blooming forecast, and willing to change your plans as it changes (this is how I am now).
Obviously, neither of these strategies work very well if you aren’t visiting Japan between about the last week of March and the first week of May. Well, unless you’re OK with seeing slightly different sakura than most other tourists.
To be sure, early cherry blossoms in Japan don’t tend to be the classic somei yoshino species. But to me, this is worth the trade-off of being able to enjoy hanami in winter instead of spring!
What to Know About Kawazu-zakura, Japan’s Early Cherry Blossoms
Early sakura aren’t the cherry blossoms you’re used to seeing, at least not precisely. The “normal” cherry blossoms, you see, are the whitish-pink somei yoshino—these are not the ones that bloom between February and March. On Japan’s four main islands, the ones you’ll see at this time of the year are Kawazu-zakura, which are a bubble-gum pink color, though they’re otherwise similar (i.e. in shape and size) to the typical sakura.
Planning to see Okinawa’s cherry blossoms instead? These tend to bloom in the last days of January or the first days of February. And they’re even brighter in color than the kawazu-zakura, and are also larger in size. Although several species of cherry blossoms exist throughout the Okinawa archipelago, the most common ones are the kanhizakura. In most cases, you can assume these are the ones you see, whether in Naha City, or on islands like Ishigaki and Miyakojima.
Where to See Early Cherry Blossoms in Japan
Kawazu, Shizuoka
As its name suggests, the city of Kawazu on the southeastern part of the Izu Peninsula is ground zero for Kawazu-zakura. If you come here, I recommend hiking up to the Kawazu Castle Ruins to get an amazing view of the trees along the banks of the Kawazu River. I also recommend renting a car (ideally at Atami Station) so that you can see multiple destinations in this part of Japan.
Tokyo Skytree
If you want to see early cherry blossoms but don’t plan to leave Tokyo, there is still hope for you! While Kawazu-zakura trees are scattered throughout the city, one of my favorite places to see them is along a small canal just south of the Tokyo Skytree. Now, there are only a couple of trees here, but if you get your angle just right (you’ll probably need to squat down), you can photograph the tower as if it’s being engulfed by the flowers!
Higashi-izu, Shizuoka
Back on the Izu-hanto, I’ll be frank: The entire east coast of the Peninsula is replete with Kawazu-zakura, albeit not as many as in Kawazu-cho itself. I especially love enjoying views of these trees with the Izu Islands beyond them, which almost gives the entire scene a tropical feel, in spite of it being winter when the flowers come into bloom.
Atami City
If you can’t rent a car or don’t want to navigate local trains, then an “easy” place to see cherry blossoms in Japan in February is Atami City. Conveniently located along the Shinkansen line (though only served by the slower Kodama and, occasionally, Hikari trains), this is an ideal destination for seeing early sakura outside of Tokyo, but with minimal effort. I like walking down to Atami Sun Beach, or riding the ropeway up to Atami Castle.
BONUS: Okinawa
Planning to be in Okinawa during the last few days of January or the first few days of February? In this case, you can almost certainly see the kanhizakura, which is the species of cherry blossoms particular to the archipelago. As I mentioned a few paragraphs up, these flowers are even brighter than the kawazu-zakura, and also have a different shape and size. You can see these on all of Okinawa’s major islands, and they add great color to the sometimes grey days of Okinawa in winter.
Other Winter Flowers in Japan
Beyond the Kawazu-zakura and Okinawa’s various cherry blossom species, there are other flowers you can see during Japan’s winter season:
- The ume, or plum blossoms, which bloom in February and March.
- Tsubaki, or camelia, which bloom as early as December.
- Japanese daffodils bloom in January and February, with the miniature flowers blooming first.
Other FAQ About Early Cherry Blossoms in Japan
What is the earliest cherry blossom bloom?
On Japan’s four main islands, the earliest cherry blossoms are the kawazu-zakura, which bloom as early as February, but sometimes stay in bloom until late March. These deep pink flowers can be found throughout the Kanto region near Tokyo, not only on their native Izu Peninsula, but also in Tokyo’s city center. Okinawa’s kanhizakura, meanwhile, sometimes reach full bloom in late January.
What is the name of the early cherry blossom?
There are two main species of early cherry blossoms in Japan. In the Okinawa archipelago, the fluorescent pink kanhizakura reaches full bloom in the final days of January or in the first few days of February. On Japan’s four main islands, the bubble-gum pink Kawazu-zakura tend to reach full bloom in late February or early March.
What causes cherry blossoms to bloom early?
No matter which species you’re talking about, the same factors can cause cherry blossoms to bloom early (or late). This includes temperatures (both in the lead-up to the bloom in spring, as well as the winter before) and precipitation. Additionally, heavy wind can cause cherry blossoms to fall prematurely, even after they’re reached full bloom.
The Bottom Line
If you’re visiting Japan in winter and want to enjoy sakura, you might try targeting some of the early cherry blossoms in Japan. From Okinawa to the Izu Peninsula, these species of cherry blossoms bloom between late January and mid-March, depending on where you are and how the weather goes that year. Even if you can’t time your visit just right for early-blooming sakura, you might be able to enjoy other winter flowers, such as ume (plum blossoms) and tsubaki (camelia). Need personalized help making sure your trip goes perfectly? Hire me to plan a custom Japan itinerary!
