By: Alex
Although it’s just after the beginning of spring, the unique Atami sakura are blooming at the hot spring resort destination of Atami. The YouTube channel Japan BackpackersXpress recently visited multiple spots in Shizuoka Prefecture including Shirahama Coast, New York Lamp Museum & Flower Garden, and Ito River in Atami City—where cherry blossoms have come into full bloom. Among them, the riverside promenade along Ito River is a popular hotspot for viewing the Atami sakura.
There are about 58 Atami sakura trees planted along the Ito River. Compared to the most common cherry blossom varieties in Japan, the relatively rare Atami sakura is an early-blooming variety, similar to the more famous Kawazu-zakura. It typically blooms at the end of January and reaches full bloom in early February, with the blooming period lasting around 10 days. Usually from the end of January to the beginning of February each year, the Atami Ito River holds a sakura festival. In addition to special events and celebrations, the area is also illuminated at night (from 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM), allowing visitors to enjoy a different kind of beauty of the sakura.
▲ The early-blooming Atami sakura are now in full bloom. (Screenshot from video, video by Japan BackpackersXpress @YouTube)
The flowers of the Atami sakura are pink. Research suggests they originally come from India and are a winter-blooming cherry blossom variety. They were brought to Japan by an Italian in the early 1870s along with lemons and jujubes. In fact, apart from Ito River, there are also some Atami sakura planted in Atami City’s Baen Park and the city roads in front of Baen Park, as well as in small parks around the Seaside Park—all worth visiting for photos.
▲ (Screenshot from video, video by Japan BackpackersXpress @YouTube)
▲ Atami sakura along Ito River (Screenshot from video, video by Japan BackpackersXpress @YouTube)
▲ (Screenshot from video, video by Japan BackpackersXpress @YouTube)
▲ (Screenshot from video, video by Japan BackpackersXpress @YouTube)
▲ (Screenshot from video, video by Japan BackpackersXpress @YouTube)
▲ (Screenshot from video, video by Japan BackpackersXpress @YouTube)
Sources: Japan BackpackersXpress, Live Japan, Ito River Sakura Festival