Don’t Miss Peak Bloom: A Model Itinerary for Enjoying Kawazu Cherry Blossoms in Izu

On the Odoriko route, there’s also the Saphir Odoriko, a limited express with all seats in Green Class.
It runs one round trip daily, and on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from December through February of the following year, one extra outbound and one extra inbound service are added.
While the regular Odoriko Green Car has four seats per row (2+2), Saphir Odoriko offers a more spacious layout with three seats per row (2+1).

Car No. 1 is a special car called Premium Green, with a 1+1 seating layout per row.
The leather seats, designed to feel like they wrap around each passenger, can rotate to face the window, so you can fully enjoy the views.

To get to Minami-Izu’s Kawazu-zakura highlights, you’ll need to get off at Izukyushimoda Station and transfer to a local bus.
Travel time from Kawazu Station to Izukyushimoda Station is Approx. 10 minutes by Limited Express Odoriko, or Approx. 13 minutes via the Izu Kyuko Line.
To head toward the Aono River area where Kawazu-zakura blooms, take the Tokai Bus bound for Shimokamo from Bus Stop No. 3 in front of Shimoda Station; it takes Approx. 25 minutes.

Take the 9:00am Limited Express Odoriko 1 from Tokyo Station to Kawazu Station.

Store any bags you don’t need to carry in a locker, and stop by the restroom.

After exiting the station, head toward the river with the tracks on your right, then go up to the embankment path.

Food stalls line the embankment path: some have seating, while others offer snacks you can eat as you walk.
There are also stands selling local produce, dried fish, and souvenirs, so pick up anything you like.

There are also footbath spots at Sasahara Park (around a 10-minute walk from the station) and Mine Onsen (around a 30-minute walk), so if you’re feeling tired, it’s a nice place to take a break.
Footbaths don’t provide foot mats or towels, so bring your own towel.

Approx. 1.6 km from the station, turn left at Hosenbashi (Hosen Bridge) with its vermilion railings, cross to the other bank, and continue walking upstream along the river.

Soon you’ll see “Mine Onsen: Hosen Footbath” and a public restroom. If the footbath isn’t crowded, it’s a great place to take a breather.
It’s Approx. 1.8 km from the station to here; then take the road just ahead and head to Mine Onsen Daifunto Park.

At Mine Onsen Daifunto Park, you can watch hot spring water gush up every hour from 9:30am to 3:30pm, and there’s also a shop where you can grab a snack.
With benches and a footbath, it’s a good turnaround point for a rest.

If you want to buy souvenirs, stop by a supermarket around Kawazu Station.

Board the 3:21pm Odoriko 10; you’ll arrive at Tokyo Station at 5:48pm.

Take the 9:00am Limited Express Odoriko 1 from Tokyo Station to the final stop, Izukyushimoda Station.

You’ll arrive at Izukyushimoda Station at 11:39am, and you’ll have only 16 minutes to make the bus connection—so move quickly.

From Bus Stop No. 3 in front of the station, board the bus bound for Shimokamo.
If you miss this bus, the next one departs at 2:05pm—over two hours later.
If you miss the 11:55am bus, take a taxi to the Shimokamo area.

Walk in the direction the bus was heading (upstream) and head first to Maehara Bridge.
Don’t cross the bridge—keep the river on your right and walk downstream along the path on top of the embankment.
This area has many spots that feel like a tunnel of blossoms, making it perfect for photos.

It’s located on the way to the rapeseed fields, so it’s a good place to take a break at the roadside station “Shimokamo Onsen Yunohana.”
During the festival, food trucks and stalls set up here, so you can also eat lunch.

Walk downstream along the river and head to the Hino rapeseed fields, about a 20-minute walk away.
The Kawazu-zakura trees thin out around Miyamaebashi, but after passing Aonogawa Furusato Park, your final destination—the rapeseed fields—is just ahead.

These vast rapeseed fields are maintained by local farmers and also serve as one of the festival venues for the Minami Cherry Blossoms and Rapeseed Blossom Festival.
Walking in along the river, you may already be amazed just by the field near the parking area, but if you continue, a rapeseed field far larger than you imagined will come into view.

The rapeseed fields spread across land that’s one level lower than the road, and you can also spot people walking through them.
What looks like a path may actually be an area trampled by visitors, so when entering the fields, follow the boardwalk.

Board the 2:35pm bus bound for Shimoda and arrive at Shimoda Station at 2:55pm.

Board the 3:08pm Odoriko 10; you’ll arrive at Tokyo Station at 5:48pm.

A great-value stay facing the harbor, offering one night with two meals plus all-you-can-drink beverages at dinner, for a budget of around 10,000 yen per person.
It’s about a 10-minute walk from Izukyushimoda Station, and across the road is the roadside station “Kaikoku Shimoda Minato.” It’s also close to the boarding point for cruises around Shimoda Port.

A resort-style hotel where every room has an ocean view, overlooking Shimoda Bay.
Facilities are extensive, including rooms with open-air baths, pet-friendly rooms, an indoor pool, and a large public bath with sea views.

A business hotel directly in front of Izukyushimoda Station—an excellent base for sightseeing.
Weekday February rates are under 10,000 yen per person (with a free light breakfast), and since there are many restaurants around the station, you won’t have trouble choosing where to eat.

A Japanese restaurant located right in front of Izukyushimoda Station, immediately to the right of Hotel Marseille; the first floor also houses a seafood shop called “Kaisenya,” where you can buy souvenirs.
Kinmedai menus are especially popular, including the “Kinmedai Zukushi Set,” a full-course meal of kinmedai (simmered, sashimi, shabu-shabu, and arajiru soup).
Normally it’s open for lunch and dinner, but during the cherry blossom festival it operates continuously from 9:00am–5:45pm (Last food order at 5:00pm)
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A popular spot attached to the Shimoda Fish Market, located across from the roadside station “Kaikoku Shimoda Minato” at Shimoda Port.
Open for breakfast and lunch, and you can eat simmered kinmedai starting at 7:00am.
Kinmedai dishes typically cost at least 2,000 yen per person, but here many menu items are 1,870 yen including tax, making it easier on your wallet.

Open from 11:00am–4:00pm, it’s a great place for lunch or cafe time.
It’s set in an Edo-period building that was used as a ketsubosho (trade office), and you can relax in its atmospheric interior.
Along with cafe items, there are also filling dishes like steak and hamburger steak.

Take the 9:00am Limited Express Odoriko 1 from Tokyo Station to Kawazu Station.

Store any bags you don’t need to carry in a locker, and stop by the restroom.

First, stop by the Kawazu Sakura Tourist Exchange Center to gather information.
In addition to the tourist information desk, it also has a shop and eateries, and you can use the restrooms.

If you’re hungry, it’s fine to eat at a nearby restaurant around the Kawazu Sakura Tourist Exchange Center or in the riverside area, but if the weather is nice, start by taking in the Kawazu-zakura.

Once you reach Hosenbashi (Hosen Bridge) along the river, head away from the river to see the original Kawazu-zakura tree.
The original tree discovered in 1955 first bloomed in 1966 and was named Kawazu-zakura (Kawazuzakura) in 1974.
In 1975 it was designated the town tree of Kawazu, and in 2005 it was designated a natural monument of Kawazu.
Even today it still blooms each year at the private home where it was found, standing as an impressive tree over 10 m tall and wide.

Cross to the other bank at Hosenbashi (Hosen Bridge) with its vermilion railings, then continue walking upstream along the river.
By this point there are fewer stalls, and you’ll be able to view Kawazu-zakura from the riverbed.

A few minutes on foot from the bridge, you’ll reach Odoriko Onsen Kaikan, where you can enjoy Mine Onsen hot spring water.
This onsen facility lets you soak in an open-air bath while enjoying cherry blossoms, and it also has a large tatami休憩 space and a dining area.

It’s located about a 3–4 minute walk from Odoriko Onsen Kaikan.
From 9:30am to 3:30pm, you can watch hot spring water gush up every hour, so it’s worth stopping by.

Take the Izu Kyuko Line train departing at 4:03pm or 4:41pm to Izukyushimoda Station.
The ride takes Approx. 13 minutes, so you’ll arrive at Shimoda Station at 4:16pm or 4:54pm, respectively.
Stay at a hotel in Shimoda.

From Bus Stop No. 3 in front of the station, board the bus bound for Shimokamo.

Walk in the direction the bus was heading (upstream) and head first to Maehara Bridge.
Don’t cross the bridge—walk downstream along the riverside path on the right bank.

It’s located Approx. 1 km from Maehara Bridge, and it’s a good place to take a breather at the roadside station “Shimokamo Onsen Yunohana.”
During the cherry blossom festival, food trucks and stalls set up here, so you can also eat lunch.
It’s about 1.8 km to the final destination, the rapeseed fields, so it’s best to start walking again after 12:00pm.

These vast rapeseed fields are maintained by local farmers, and from January to March you can enjoy this breathtaking view for a longer period than Kawazu-zakura.

Board the 12:50pm bus bound for Shimoda and arrive at Shimoda Station at 1:10pm.

Take the 1:30pm ropeway up to Nesugatayama, then return on the 2:30pm departure from the summit station.
The ropeway ride takes around 3 minutes 30 seconds, and hiking trails extend from the summit station, letting you visit multiple viewpoints.

Izukyushimoda Station has a well-stocked souvenir shop called KIYOTAYA, so it’s also a good place to buy Izu souvenirs all at once.
Board the 3:08pm Odoriko 10 and arrive in Tokyo at 5:48pm.