Spring has arrived early in the Eastern Japanese town of Kawazu. The small town, located just outside of Tokyo, is famous for their 8000 cherry blossom trees that bloom early every year. The lush landscapes that greet millions of visitors each February are supremely romantic.
The blossoms, known as sakura in Japanese, typically bloom in late March or early April, but Kawazu's trees belong to a unique variety that flowers before others. A small locomotive train takes passengers on a journey through fragrant aromas and gradient shades of pink. At night, the trees are illuminated by floodlights, and their reflections dance along the still waters of the Izu peninsula.
Cherry blossoms are highly symbolic and culturally significant in Japan. The transient nature of their beauty is often equated to the brevity of life, so they not only represent the acceptance of karma and destiny, but the eventual welcoming of death. For these reasons, they appear often in Japanese art, and have become an identifying image of the country itself.
More info: Kawazu Tourism
Spring has arrived early in the Eastern Japanese town of Kawazu, just outside of Tokyo
Image credits: Kyodo News
The blossoms, known as sakura in Japanese, typically bloom in late March or early April
Image credits: tsumizo
Kawazu's trees belong to a unique variety that flowers before others, typically in February
Image credits: mika
Millions of tourists flock here every year to take in the lush, romantic landscapes
Image credits: Sankei Photo
Kawazu is located on the Izu peninsula, just 2 hours by train from Tokyo station
Image credits: Saya
A small locomotive train takes passengers on a journey through fragrant aromas and gradient shades of pink
Image credits: mika
Japanese white-eye birds can be seen sipping the sweet nectar of the cherry trees all around
Image credits: toshizou02
Cherry blossoms are highly symbolic and culturally significant in Japan
Image credits: yulies12
They represent the temporary beauty of life, the acceptance of karma, and the eventuality of death
Image credits: phos1comnet
At night, the trees are illuminated, and their reflections dance along the waters of the Izu peninsula.
Image credits: irodori
Kochi, a south coast city, is also expected to see an early bloom this year
Image credits: mainichi