February in Japan is generally the middle of winter, and conjures images of winter and snow-capped mountains. However, there are warmer areas in Japan where spring arrives earlier. One such place is the Izu Peninsula (伊豆半島), and here flowers bloom earlier than in most other regions. This is because the peninsula’s climate is relatively warm, so it doesn’t snow there even in February. On top of that, the peninsula is highly accessible from Tokyo, making it so easy for visitors from the capital city to travel there, especially by rail. Plus, many ski resorts, such as GALA Yuzawa Snow Resort, are also easily accessible by train from Tokyo. Isn’t it wonderful that visitors to Japan can see snow and flowers in the same month without having to travel too far?
Our friends Jak and Emmie were back once again for their latest railway adventure, and this time, they were on a hunt for breathtaking flower spots in the Izu Peninsula. They were really excited to see flowers in February, and were eager to embark on yet another railway trip. Without further ado, let’s join them once again on their hunt for flower spots in Izu. Ready, set, go!
Day 1
① All aboard the SAPHIR ODORIKO
Jak and Emmie began their trip from Tokyo with a ride on the SAPHIR ODORIKO, a luxury sightseeing train by JR East. It was their first time riding the train, and their excitement was palpable. They planned to ride the train from JR Tōkyō Station (JR東京駅) to Izukyū-Shimoda Station (伊豆急下田駅) in Shizuoka Prefecture.
The train made its debut on 14 March 2020, and Jak and Emmie never had the chance to ride it until now. They were taken aback by the train’s elegant exterior design, including its deep blue colour that was inspired by the colours of the sea and sky along the Izu Peninsula. They kickstarted their journey by hopping on the train at 11am, and they learned about the surprises that awaited onboard.
The SAPHIR ODORIKO has eight cars in total, and Car 1 features the special Premium Green Car seats. Jak and Emmie were utterly amazed at the sheer plushness of the seats, which were among the most luxurious they had ever seen onboard a train. With ample leg room and reclining functions, along with various amenities and large windows, the seats offered the duo a comfortable and enjoyable train ride.
Jak and Emmie also discovered the Green Car Private Compartments in Cars 2 and 3, which they found to be perfect for those group travellers who would like to have a private space of their own. Cars 5 to 8 feature Green Car seats that are reclinable and equipped with adjustable footrests. They were delighted to see how spacious and comfortable the seats were, and thought that it was nice that there were large windows there too, so that passengers could have an unobstructed view of the beautiful outdoor scenery.
Jak and Emmie know all too well that a train trip wouldn’t be complete without scrumptious food onboard the train! They headed over to the cafeteria in Car 4, where they got to enjoy light meals selected by Chef Honda Tetsuya of Ristorante HONDA. The duo feasted on dishes such as the Premium Horse Crab Curry and the Ragout with three varieties of Shizuoka mushroom and truffle salt, which they thought were delectable.
After riding for approximately 2 hours 30 minutes, Jak and Emmie finally arrived at Izukyū-Shimoda Station and bade farewell to the SAPHIR ODORIKO. They had ridden many different kinds of trains in Japan, and this was one of the most unique and luxurious trains they had ridden so far. They hoped to ride it again very soon next time, but until then, they were off to continue with their trip.
Before making their way to their first flower spot, Jak and Emmie explored the port city of Shimoda (下田市) on foot after arriving at Izukyū-Shimoda Station. They found the city to be pleasant to walk around, and the willow trees, stone pavements, and Western-style buildings gave the city a charming and quaint ambience.
They also made interesting discoveries here such as the historical Perry Road (ペリーロード), and learned about the city’s important history: Commodore Matthew Perry was said to have walked here in the 19th century, in a time when Shimoda Port was opened to American trade.
The one thing that Jak and Emmie can agree on: there’s always time for desserts! They found Perry’s Black Ship House, a chic dessert store that sells ice cream with mochi, and they couldn’t help but get one for themselves. After their sweet tooths were satiated, they finally made their way to their next destination.
② Minamiizu’s flowers galore!
For their first flower spot in the Izu Peninsula, Jak and Emmie made their way to the town of Minamiizu (南伊豆町) in the southern tip of the Izu Peninsula. The town hosts the annual Minami no Cherry Blossom and Nanohana Festival (みなみの桜と菜の花まつり Minami no Sakura to Nanohana Matsuri), where cherry blossoms (桜 sakura) and nanohana (菜の花 rapeseed blossoms) bloom in February, and the couple made their way here to have a look.
At the festival, Jak and Emmie feasted their eyes on stunning vivid-yellow nanohana that sprawled across the field. They don’t get to see these flowers very often, and it was a rare opportunity for them to be able to see them in February. The peninsula’s mild climate enables visitors to see nanohana early in the year, and visitors to Japan during this period for the winter season can check it out.
Visitors to the festival will also get to witness beautiful cherry blossoms blooming along the Aono River (青野川). To be able to see scenery such as this in February is a special treat, and visitors here would feel like spring has already arrived. What’s more, there are rickshaw rides that they can hop on around here, and if they are coming at night, they will get to see night illuminations where the trees will be lit up against the dark skies.
Jak and Emmie were looking forward to seeing cherry blossoms, but the weather temperature in February this time was very cold, so they were not blooming yet. However, if the weather conditions were right, visitors would be able to see this magnificent floral scenery.
Minami no Cherry Blossom and Nanohana Festival (みなみの桜と菜の花まつり)
Date: 1 February–10 March 2022 (night illuminations from 6pm–9pm)
Venue: 157-1 Shimogamo, Minamiizu, Kamo, Shizuoka 415-0303
Access: 25-minute local bus ride from Izukyū-Shimoda Station (伊豆急下田駅) and alight at Kujōbashi (九条橋) bus stop. The festival is a 5-minute walk from the bus stop.
Admission rates: Free
*This station is covered by the JR TOKYO Wide Pass.
③ Spending the night at Shimoda Yamatokan
After a long day of travelling, Jak and Emmie called it a day and stayed at the Shimoda Yamatokan (下田大和館). This hot spring hotel offers a splendid ocean view for its guests, as well as delicious seafood that the Izu Peninsula is famous for. Needless to say, Jak and Emmie couldn’t wait to see what was in store for them at this hotel, on top of having their well-deserved rest.
One of the major perks of Shimoda Yamatokan is its panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean, and guests here can enjoy it from almost anywhere in the hotel, from the main lobby to even their hotel rooms. Jak and Emmie’s room had a veranda with a view of the ocean all to themselves, and it showed why the Izu Peninsula as a whole is often adored by many visitors for its scenic beauty.
The other thing that Jak and Emmie adored about Shimoda Yamatokan? The food! Izu Peninsula is famous for its regional delicacies that include fresh seafood, and the hotel is more than happy to serve its guests an amazing array of local cuisine. Jak and Emmie had a lavish feast during their stay, with the highlight being the kinmedai (金目鯛 splendid alfonsino) which they thought was irresistible.
A night at a hotel with superb ocean views and excellent food… what a way for them to end the first day of their adventure!
Shimoda Yamatokan (下田大和館)
Address: 2048 Kisami, Shimoda, Shizuoka 415-0028
Access: 7-minute drive from Izukyū-Shimoda Station (伊豆急下田駅)
(Shuttle bus service to the hotel is available at this station, and it departs every 30 minutes from 2:30pm–5pm.)
Day 2
④ Glorious cherry blossoms at Kawazu
It was Day 2, and Jak and Emmie were up and ready for the second day of their journey to find flower spots in the Izu Peninsula. Next up, they headed over to the coastal town of Kawazu (河津町) where a splendid floral surprise awaited them.
Kawazu is the host town for the Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival (河津桜まつり), and is popular for Kawazuzakura (カワヅザクラ), a type of cherry blossom that is unique to this town. Unlike its more common counterparts that usually bloom between March and April, Kawazuzakura blooms much earlier in February. Moreover, while most other types of cherry blossoms bloom for only 7–10 days, this one can bloom for up to 1 month!
Along the banks of the Kawazu River (河津川) are rows of Kawazuzakura trees that bloom gloriously from early February onwards. Jak and Emmie were curious to see flowers that most people would often associate with later months, and they were charmed by the contrast of the cherry blossoms against the calm waters of the river nearby.
During the festival, there are shops selling local specialty goods along the riverbanks too. Visitors who would like a magnificent view can come at dusk for the night illuminations when the cherry blossom trees are lit up. The sight of cherry blossoms in the night backdrop is always stunning, don’t you think? Don’t miss it if you have the chance.
The flowers were unfortunately not blooming fully yet when Jak and Emmie arrived in Kawazu because of the very cold weather in February. Visitors would be able to see a more glorious view of the cherry blossoms if the weather conditions were more favourable, and the duo hoped that the next time they visited this town, they would be able to see these cherry blossoms in full bloom.
Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival (河津桜まつり)
Date: 1 February–28 February 2022 (night illuminations from 6pm–9pm)
Venue: 48-6 Sasahara, Kawazu, Kamo, Shizuoka 413-0512
Access: 5-minute walk from *Kawazu Station (河津駅)
Admission fee: Free
*This station is covered by the JR TOKYO Wide Pass.
⑤ Inatori’s eye-catching hanging ornaments
For their next destination, Jak and Emmie travelled to the district of Inatori (稲取) in the town of Higashiizu (東伊豆町), where they discovered a different kind of festival that is held annually between January and March. For this festival, the highlight was not flowers, but cute traditional dolls!
Inatori is known for its hot springs, but it is also home to the Inatori Tsurushibina Festival (稲取つるし雛まつり Inatori Tsurushibina matsuri), which showcases a unique tradition that has been around for more than 100 years. During this festival, intricate ornaments of various shapes are prepared and tied on strings to be hung, hence the name tsurushi (つるし hanging). The hanging ornaments are furnished alongside traditional hina dolls (雛人形 hina-ningyō), making for an eye-catching sight.
The duo paid a visit to Hina no Yakata (雛の館) to learn more about the festival, and was delighted to see all the wonderful hanging ornaments everywhere. It was quite the visual spectacle, and they learned that the practice has been passed down from generation to generation to pray for children’s happiness. They felt that the trip here was a highly enriching one, and also prayed for the happiness of the children.
Day 2 was filled with surprises for Jak and Emmie, and they thoroughly enjoyed seeing the flowers of Kawazu and the hanging ornaments of Inatori. With that, they wrapped up the second day and stayed at Atami.
Inatori Tsurushibina Festival (稲取つるし雛まつり)
Date: 20 January–31 March 2022
Venue: Hina no Yakata, 1729 Inatori, Higashiizu, Kamo, Shizuoka 413-0411
Access: 3-minute taxi ride from *Izu-Inatori Station (伊豆稲取駅)
*This station is covered by the JR TOKYO Wide Pass.
Day 3
⑥ Sun, sand, and sea at Atami Sun Beach
It was the third and final day, and Jak and Emmie were on their way to explore the last flower spot of their trip. But before that, they thought of paying a short visit to a place not far from their hotel, one that most people wouldn’t imagine visiting in February: a beach!
The Atami Sun Beach (熱海サンビーチ) is one of Shizuoka’s most popular beach resorts, with many visitors coming here throughout the year. Jak and Emmie made a detour here, and were stunned by the sheer beauty of the beach. In particular, the deep blue sea, the clear blue sky, the white sand, and the palm trees all around made them feel like they were in a tropical paradise!
The Atami Sun Beach is popular among visitors even in February thanks to Atami’s mild climate, and visitors can take a stroll along the 200m-long beach and enjoy the balmy weather. Moreover, they can witness cherry blossoms blooming around here early in the year: some of them make their appearance as early as January onwards, with other types such as Daikanzakura (大寒桜) and Oshima cherry (オオシマザクラ) blooming soon after.
One interesting type of cherry blossom found in this city is the Atamizakura (あたみ桜), which is a hybrid of type other types of cherry blossoms, Kanhizakura (カンヒザクラ) and Yamazakura (ヤマザクラ). This particular variant usually blooms from early January to February every year, and one recommended spot to see them is Itokawa Promenade (糸川遊歩道 Itokawa yūhodō). The blooming begins about a month earlier than the Kawazakura, and it is even said to be the earliest cherry blossom bloom of the year! However, because of the very cold weather in February, the flowers bloomed later than usual this time and they are still in full bloom even now.
And indeed, Jak and Emmie had their generous share of cherry blossoms while making their way to the beach too. The seaside city is blessed with these beautiful flowers blooming early in the year, and the duo was mesmerised by them. Cherry blossoms never fail to impress Jak and Emmie no matter how many times they look at them, and after appreciating them to their hearts’ content, they made their way to their final destination.
Atami Sun Beach (熱海サンビーチ)
Address: Higashikaigan, Atami, Shizuoka 413-0012
Access: 8–minute bus ride or 15–minute walk from *JR Atami Station (JR熱海駅)
*This station is covered by the JR TOKYO Wide Pass, and is only via regular/limited express trains.
⑦ Plum blossom paradise
After their short trip to Atami Sun Beach, Jak and Emmie made their way to the last flower spot of their trip: the Atami Plum Garden (熱海梅園) for the Atami Baien Plum Festival (熱海梅園梅まつり). Located in Atami, the garden is home to plum blossoms (梅 ume) that bloom beautifully early in the year, and is one of the most popular places in Japan for viewing these flowers.
The garden was opened in 1886, and it features over 60 varieties of plum blossoms with different blooming periods. It even has some plum blossom trees that are over 100 years old! The garden is also known to have some of the earliest blooming plum blossoms in Japan, starting from January onwards and lasting until March.
Jak and Emmie were enamoured of the stunning plum blossoms that were everywhere in the garden. The flowers painted the garden in hues of white and various shades of pink, and transformed it into a picturesque floral landscape. They also found food stalls selling snacks and local goods, which was good news for visitors with a hunger pang.
Apart from the plum blossoms, there were also interesting monuments and attractions that Jak and Emmie found in the garden. They included the Nakamura Shinpei Museum (中山晋平記念館), which was built to commemorate the famous music composer who lived in Atami until he died in 1952, and the Korean Garden (韓国庭園). They thought that visitors should check them out the next time they pay a visit here.
Atami Baien Plum Festival (熱海梅園梅まつり)
Date & time: 8 January–6 March 2022, 8:30am–4pm
Venue: Atami Baien, 8-11 Baiencho, Atami 413-0032
Access: 10-minute walk from *JR Kinomiya Station (JR来宮駅)
*This station is covered by the JR TOKYO Wide Pass.
Closing
The Izu Peninsula is blessed with natural splendour, and February is one of the best times to enjoy its beauty. While it is a month that most people associate with winter and snow activities, the peninsula offers a floral surprise with the blooming of flowers such as cherry blossoms, nanohana, and plum blossoms. Jak and Emmie learned this first-hand from their latest trip, and thoroughly enjoyed seeking out the flower spots. After their short but memorable trip to find flower spots in Izu, the couple hoped that other people could come and visit these spots the next time they travel to Japan.
Their latest trip had to come to an end, and this one was filled with splendid views of flowers, a ride on a luxurious sightseeing train, and even some unexpected discoveries. They wrapped up their journey with a heavy heart, but they knew it would only be a matter of time before they would be on to their next railway adventure. It was yet another amazing journey, and they were already looking forward to their next one!
JR TOKYO Wide Pass
Jak and Emmie’s trip to the Izu Peninsula was made easy thanks to the JR TOKYO Wide Pass, an affordable pass that offers unlimited rail travel on JR East lines (including bullet trains) in the valid area for 3 consecutive days. At only ¥15,000, it makes for a great option for those planning to travel to regions around Tokyo. You can also make seat reservations for bullet trains, some limited express trains and Joyful Trains online for free, up to 1 month in advance, on the JR-EAST Train Reservation.
For travellers who would like to use the JR TOKYO Wide Pass to ride the SAPHIR ODORIKO, take note that the pass covers only the train ticket’s basic fare, so they have to buy a ticket for the Limited Express surcharge and the Green / Premium Green surcharge.
Header image credit: Japanmase (top, bottom left), Shizuoka Prefectural Tourist Association (bottom right), illustAC
