SHINNOSUKE ITO/ Staff Writer
February 11, 2024 at 17:43 JST
Visitors stroll along an avenue of blooming Kawazu-zakura cherry blossoms in Kawazu, Shizuoka Prefecture, on Feb. 10. (Shinnosuke Ito)
KAWAZU, Shizuoka Prefecture--Hundreds of cherry blossom trees that line the Kawazugawa river here get a head start on other varieties by blooming early each year, and now is the time to see them.
Around 850 trees adorn a roughly 4-kilometer stretch of the river that runs through Kawazu.
The status of the blooms currently ranges from 20 percent to full bloom.
Visitors strolling along the tree-lined path are treated to a pink canopy under sunny weather.
The Kawazu-zakura variety of cherry blossoms is known for blooming earlier than other varieties.
The best viewing period will last for about a month. The cherry blossoms will be illuminated from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. until Feb. 29.
“The intense pink against the blue sky is so beautiful,” said Shinobu Yamanaka, 50, who lives in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, and has visited each year since his childhood. “Every time I come, I meet new people, and I keep coming back every year to see my friends.”
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