By TAKUYA ISAYAMA/ Staff Writer
February 18, 2023 at 18:46 JST
Visitors to Kawazu, Shizuoka Prefecture, take selfies in front of cherry blossoms. (Takuya Isayama)
KAWAZU, Shizuoka Prefecture--Cherry blossom viewers wanting a sneak peek at the season ahead are flocking to see the famed early-blooming sakura here, which are about half in bloom.
The Kawazu-zakura variety of cherry blossoms is known for blooming earlier than other varieties and about 850 trees along both banks of the Kawazugawa river are now between 40 and 70 percent in full bloom.
The original tree near the town government building is in full bloom and the balmy weather brought out tourists from the greater Tokyo metropolitan area as well as others from around the world to stroll along the city's riverbanks.
According to the Kawazu Tourist Association, the cherry blossoms can be enjoyed until the end of February. The trees will be illuminated at night between 6 and 9 p.m. until March 5.
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