Heading to Japan a little early for cherry blossoms season, but still want to see the sakura? Well, Kawazu, on the Izu Peninsula, is famous for its gorgeous, early-blooming cherry blossoms, making it a great early-spring destination! A total of about 8,000 sakura trees begin to bloom in early February each year, drawing crowds to Kawazu for their annual cherry blossom festival. The most popular destination is the Kawazu River banks, where 850 trees line both sides of the water, making for some classic hanami (花見, cherry blossom viewing) scenery. Check them out during daylight hours, then enjoy the sight anew when lights illuminate the flowers at night, and local food stalls sell street food of all kinds.

Read more about the JAPANKURU team's trip to Izu right here!