I had never been to Japan during the cherry blossom season. To hit it when you’re planning a trip months in advance is challenging due to weather conditions and climate change has added a bit more unpredictability to the forecasts. The official cherry blossom season started on the day we were leaving Tokyo last year so we only made it to see about 3 trees with some small flowers on it.

This trip I was determined to find them. Shizuoka prefecture is known for the Kawazu-zakura cherry blossoms which bloom earliest in all of Japan.

Unfortunately as all good trips go, they must eventually come to an end. I feel like I normally would be more sad about leaving but we already have another trip planned in November to see the leaves turn color in northern Japan with my cousin Become and his wife Yolanda. Google “Post-Japan blues” it’s a real thing tourists get after returning home from a trip.