The “Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival” in Kawazu Town, Shizuoka Prefecture, which was held from February 1st to February 28th, has also closed.  It is a big event of cherry blossoms that is visited by 1 million tourists from all over the country every year. About 850 Kawazu cherry blossoms line up along the Kawazu River, and about 8000 Kawazu cherry blossoms are in full bloom in total.  However, this year, the flowering is delayed more than usual, and now the session is over, it is in full bloom.  The leaf cherry blossoms also started to stand out gradually, and the first promenade in the morning is like a carpet of flowers.  Speaking of “cherry blossoms” and “cherry blossom viewing,” we think of Somei Yoshino cherry blossoms that bloom from late March to early April, but “Kawazu cherry blossoms” are cherry blossoms that bloom earlier from February to early March. It features a deeper pink color than Somei Yoshino cherry tree.  In another two weeks, the “Sakura Front” will start to rise from the south to the north of Japan.

2月1日から2月28日まで開催されていた静岡県河津町の「河津桜まつり」も幕を閉じました。毎年全国から100万人規模の観光客が訪れる桜の一大イベントで、河津川沿いには約850本もの河津桜が立ち並び、全体では約8000本もの河津桜が咲き誇ります。しかし、今年は例年以上に開花が遅れ、会期が終わった今が満開です。ぼつぼつ葉桜も目立ち始め、朝一番の遊歩道はまるで花絨毯を敷き詰めた様です。「桜」「花見」と言えば、3月下旬から4月上旬に咲くソメイヨシノを思い浮かべますが、「河津桜」はそれよりも早い2月から3月上旬頃に咲く桜で、ソメイヨシノよりも濃いピンク色が特徴です。あと２週間もすれば「桜前線」が日本の南から北に上り始めます。