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Last update: 20 Oct 2026
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Kawazu Summary
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‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.
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Suited for
Japan – Quick facts
| Power Grid: |
100 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type A
Type A:
 Read about power adapters |
|---|---|
| Currency: |
Japanese Yen (JPY) £1 ≈ JP¥210 |
| Cashless info: |
Rating 4/5
Cashless payments are becoming more common, especially in cities, with some shops still preferring cash. Be prepared for occasional cash-only situations in rural areas.
Save with a travel credit card |
| eSIM providers: |
Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison |
| Tipping: | Tipping is not customary in Japan and can be considered rude. Excellent service is the norm, and tipping is unnecessary in most places. |
|---|---|
| Public drinking: | Public drinking is legal and commonly accepted, particularly during festivals and events. |
| Public smoking: | Smoking is prohibited in indoor public places but allowed in designated outdoor areas. Some restaurants may have smoking sections. |
| New Year (January) |
One of the most important holidays, expect crowded temples and high prices. Plan ahead. |
|---|---|
| Golden Week (April-May) |
The busiest travel time, expect high demand for accommodation and transport. |
| Obon (August) |
A time to honour ancestors, many businesses close, and transport can be crowded. |
| Emergency contact: | Emergency Number: 110 (Police), 119 (Fire & Ambulance) |
|---|---|
| Taxi apps: | Uber, JapanTaxi, DiDi |
| Other: | Japan is a country of respect, so understanding local customs and etiquette is important. Public transport is efficient, but can be crowded during peak hours. |
Best times to travel
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
for Kawazu, Japan
Kawazu cherry blossoms bloom from early February to early March, among Japan's earliest, with a festival and food stalls along the river
Typhoon season August to October can disrupt trains and close mountain roads
Weekends in February are extremely busy, expect traffic jams on the Izu roads and full parking
Don't miss
- 🌸 Visit the famed Kawazu Cherry Blossom Avenue for stunning tunnel views
- 🎉 Attend the Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival in early February
- 📸 Capture photos of blooming trees along the Kawazu River
- 🍵 Relax at local tea houses and enjoy seasonal treats
- 🏞️ Hike past the Kawazu Seven Waterfalls in the forest
You've been here?
Log in to manage your own bucket list! Why travel to Kawazu?
Most people come for Kawazu-zakura. The variety opens in February, weeks before the usual cherry season. The Kawazu Sakura Festival is usually held from early February to early March. About 850 trees grow along the river, starting just outside Kawazu Station. A loop up one bank and back along the other covers roughly 4 km and takes about 2 to 3 hours. Walking the river is free, food stalls sell local snacks and the trees are lit after dark. Bloom is usually strongest for about two weeks around late February and weekends draw the biggest crowds, so weekday mornings are calmer. The town offers more than blossoms. A walking trail links seven waterfalls in about an hour and Mine Onsen has a geyser that erupts several times a day. Day-use baths and foot baths are open year-round and Kawazuhama Beach is a short walk from the station. In summer, Imaihama Beach hosts a fireworks display. A day trip from Tokyo covers the blossoms, but an overnight stay gives you the evening lights and quieter mornings. Kawazu also works as a stop on a loop through Izu with Atami, Ito and Shimoda.
🏯Places worth seeing
🎡Places for activities
🏞️Natural landmarks
🍽️Eat & Drink
-
1
Izu Kaisen Donburiya
Seafood rice bowls, from a big bowl with mackerel and squid to a cherry blossom bowl with 10 kinds of fish. Staff also serve kinmedai nitsuke, alfonsino simmered in soy sauce. It is a 30-second walk from Kawazu Station. -
2
70 nanamaru cafe
Taiyaki, fish-shaped cakes, in a cherry blossom version with pink dough kneaded with cherry blossom leaves and filled with lightly sweet bean paste. The outside is crisp and the inside chewy. The cafe is right in front of Izukyu Kawazu Station.
🎈Events
-
Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival (Feb-Mar)
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Taki Matsuri Waterfall Festival
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Local fruit harvest festivals
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Hot spring celebrations
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Seasonal illumination events
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Nature appreciation days
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Community cultural events
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Traditional tea ceremonies
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Local food fairs
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Cherry blossom night lights
Knowledge before you go
- Visit on a weekday or early morning to avoid festival crowds.
- Bring cash for the festival food stalls, since many rural stalls don't accept cards.
- The riverside walk is free, but the full loop on both banks takes two to three hours.
- Mine Onsen's geyser erupts several times a day, so ask locally for the timing before you go.
How to travel to Kawazu
Trains are the easiest way. Kawazu is on the Izukyu Line and the Odoriko limited express from Tokyo takes roughly 2.5 hours with reserved seats. From Atami the limited express takes about 1 hour 10 minutes. You can also take the Tokaido Shinkansen to Atami and change to the JR Ito Line and the Izukyu Line. Haneda (HND) and Narita (NRT) are the nearest major airports and both connect through Tokyo. From Chubu Centrair Airport (NGO) the route goes via Nagoya and Atami. Driving from Tokyo takes several hours and the roads along the east coast of the peninsula jam up at weekends. Expect heavy traffic and limited parking in the cherry season, so a train is the better choice for the festival weeks.
Access summary
- From Haneda Airport (HND): Train via Tokyo Station, around 2.5–3 hours.
- From Tokyo: Direct Odoriko limited express train to Kawazu about 2.5 hours.
- From Narita Airport (NRT): JR trains via Tokyo, typically 3.5–4.5 hours.
Check your route from anywhere
Where to stay in Kawazu
Kawazu has more than 30 hotels and ryokan and most have their own hot spring source. Seaside properties let you bathe to the sound of waves and mountain ones offer quiet surroundings and wooden interiors. Rooms fill up quickly for the blossom festival and on summer fireworks weekends, so book well ahead. Staying overnight lets you see the trees lit at night and walk the river before day visitors arrive. If Kawazu is full or you want a larger choice, Ito, Atami and Shimoda have more hotels along the same rail line. Tokyo is also workable as a base for a day trip but the Odoriko ride is long.
Hotel recommendations
*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.
How to get around Kawazu
Kawazu Station is the centre of the town and the blossom walk starts right outside it, so the festival is done entirely on foot. There's no festival shuttle because the trees begin right by the station.
Buses and taxis:
The waterfalls and Mine Onsen are inland. Local buses and taxis connect them with the station but services are limited, so check the timetable and plan your return before heading out. A taxi is easier if you want to see several spots in one day.
Car:
A hire car also works for the inland sights. The Kawazu Nanadaru Loop Bridge has a car park beneath it. Wear trainers on the waterfall trail since stone steps can be slick.
Izukyu Line:
The Izukyu Line links Kawazu with Ito to the north and Shimoda to the south. Trains are less frequent than in a city, so check the time of the last train.
Food in Kawazu
Food in Kawazu is built around local Izu seafood and home-style onsen cooking. During the blossom festival, food stalls along the river sell local snacks. Many take cash only, so bring coins and notes. At Mine Onsen you can try eggs cooked in the geyser's steam.
Izu seafood such as kinmedai, the golden eye snapper, turns up on set menus around the area. Some seaside baths serve seafood barbecue and set meals. Ryokan dinners are usually multi-course and built around local fish.
The town is small, so restaurants are few and many close early. If you don't have a dinner included at your lodging, plan where to eat before the evening.
Budget snapshot
Costs compared to home
We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.
To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.
Daily expenses in the region are around 44% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot less on meals and getting around.
Exchange rate trend
The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.
Your exchange rate (GBP to JPY) is 20% better than in recent years. That means travelling now is considerably cheaper compared to the past.
Travel costs
To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.
Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.
Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.
To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.
Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.
Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.
Daily cost summary
Travel style categories explained:
Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.
Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.
Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.
Travel style categories explained:
Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.
Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.
Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.
| Backpacker | Mid-range | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation | |||
| 🏨 Accommodation per night, per person | |||
| 🍝 Food per day | |||
| 🚕 Transportation per day |
Food & Drink
| 🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person | |
|---|---|
| 🍛 Lunch Set, per person | |
| 🍟 Fast food combo | |
| 🍝 Preparing your own food, per day | |
| ☕ Cappuccino | |
| 🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l |
Transportation
| 🚌 Public transport ticket | |
|---|---|
| 🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi | |
| ⛽ Petrol, 1 l |
Other
| 🎞️ Cinema ticket | |
|---|---|
| 👩⚕️ Doctor's consult | |
| 🤧 Cold medication | |
| 💇 Basic haircut |
Safety information overview
General safety
Kawazu is very safe with low crime in a small town setting. The main risks are natural. Trails near the waterfalls can be wet and slippery. Strong currents affect some beaches and typhoons can bring heavy rain in late summer and autumn.
Health & Medical
Medical services in Kawazu are limited, so serious cases are treated in larger towns such as Ito or Shimoda. Pharmacies are few. Carry regular medication and warm clothing for the February blossom season, when evenings are cold and walks are long.
Accessibility
Accessibility is mixed. The station area and the main stretch of the riverside walk are fairly flat but crowds slow movement at festival time. Waterfall trails involve steps, slopes and wet stone. Buses are limited so a taxi or car helps.
Tap water
Tap water in Kawazu is safe to drink like the rest of Japan. Onsen water is for bathing, so don't drink it unless a sign says it's drinkable. Shops are few outside the centre, so carry a bottle on the waterfall trail.
Packing recommendations for Kawazu
Log in to add this place to a travel list and get a summary of all recommended items for your whole trip.
🥾
Walking boots
📷
Camera
👟
Comfortable walking shoes
🌞
Sun cream
🚰
Reusable water bottle
🧥
Waterproof jacket
🕶️
Sunglasses
☂️
Folding umbrella
🎒
Small rucksack
🪰
Insect repellent
📕
Guidebook with offline map
🔋
Power bank
👒
Sun hat
🧥
Fleece mid-layer
📱
Travel eSIM
🔌
Universal travel adaptor
💳
Credit card with no foreign transaction fees
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