Japan Cherry Blossom Tour

Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrival, Tokyo

  Upon arrival in Tokyo, meet your English-speaking driver and take a comfortable transfer to your hotel for check-in.

  • Tokyo

• Day 2: Tokyo

  Start the day with a visit to Meiji Shrine, an oasis dedicated to the deity of Emperor Meiji within the densely built-up city. You can participate in some Shinto activities like the locals, such as buying charms and amulets or writing out your wishes on a wooden plate and leaving them at the shrine praying for wishes to come true. Not far away, the meandering walking paths of Shinjuku Gyoen National Park are perfect to take in the fascinating cherry blossoms closely before getting up to the Main Observatory of Tokyo Tower for a bird's eye view of cherry blossoms.

  Continue to explore the ancient Senso-Ji Temple in the afternoon. Passing through Nakamise Shopping Street along with typical Japanese souvenirs, you will enter the temple's main hall to see how the Japanese worship. Round off the day with a leisure cruise to see cherry blossom views along both sides of the Sumida River.

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  • Tokyo

• Day 3: Tokyo - Kamakura - Tokyo

  The coastal town of Kamakura, less than an hour south of Tokyo and filled with Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, is worth a visit, particularly in spring. Following your guide, you'll explore Tsurugaoka Hachimangu first. With a history dating back to 1063, it is particularly beautiful during cherry blossom. Afterward, marvel at the Great Buddha of Kamakura on the grounds of the Kotoku-in Temple with the backdrop of cherry blossoms.

  In the afternoon, continue to visit the Hasedera Temple, offering excellent views over the city. Before returning to Tokyo, walk along the small bamboo grove behind the Hokokuji Temple to a tea house, where you can learn about the tea ceremony and enjoy some matcha green tea.

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  • Kamakura

• Day 4: Free & Leisure Day in Tokyo

  Today is yours to explore this charming city at your own pace. Apart from numerous historic spots, you can step into some popular neighborhoods for a glimpse of Japanese daily life. Ramble around the Harajuku district - the center of teenage fashion and cosplay culture, or enjoy shopping at Ginza where the streets are lined up with high-end fashion boutiques, art galleries, and designer brand stores.

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  • Tokyo

• Day 5: Tokyo - Mt. Fuji - Hakone

  Leave Tokyo behind for Arakurayama Sengen Park, famous as a viewing platform capturing spectacular views of Mt. Fuji, cherry blossoms, and a red five-story pagoda at a glance. End with a gorgeous 20-minute cruise on Lake Kawaguchiko, enjoying the magnificent sight of Mt. Fuji in combination with the lake and cherry blossoms.

  After the tour, transfer to Hakone and overnight in a ryokan with hot spring pools. Dinner is served in your hotel.

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  • Hakone

• Day 6: Train Transfer to Takayama

  With an easy guide and map on hand, make your way to Odawara Station (Hakone), from where you'll board Shinkansen to Nagoya Station (1h20min), and then change Express Train to Takayama Station(2h50min). Upon arrival in Takayama, go to the hotel by yourself and have the rest of the day at leisure.

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  • Takayama

• Day 7: Takayama

  The mountainous city of Takayama is famous for its well-preserved old town dating back to the Edo Period (1603-1868). You'll visit Takayama morning market first to soak up a pleasant atmosphere around the market. Then, make a short photo stop at Nakabashi Bridge. The red bridge blending in great harmony with the surrounding cherry blossoms is a famous landmark of Takayama.

  Later on, explore Kusakabe Folk Museum, once the home of a wealthy merchant family and now displays local crafts. Getting out of the house, you'll spend the rest of the day wandering around Kami Sannomachi Street. The narrow lane lined with beautifully preserved merchant houses, sake breweries, shops, and cafes will bring you back to the ancient time of this place.

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  • Takayama

• Day 8: Takayama - Shirakawago - Kanazawa

  A 1-hour drive will take you to Shirakawa-go, the fairy tale world made of traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouses hidden in the valley. Take off the shoes and explore the living room, guest room, butsuma, and so on inside Wada House to get an idea of how people lived back then. Thereafter, check out the great view of this area at Shirakawa-go Observation Deck. Before going to Kanazawa, you'll explore more farmhouses in gassho style in the Gasshozukuri Minkaen Outdoor Museum.

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  • Kanazawa

• Day 9: Kanazawa - Kyoto

  This morning, your tour guide will take you to Kenrokuen Garden. In spring when the cherry blossoms in bloom among water features, bridges, teahouses, and stones, you may feel a sweet atmosphere floating over the garden. Just a few steps from the garden is the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art. Spend time according to your interest inside the museum and then visit the reconstructed Kanazawa Castle.

  After the tour, your guide will drop you off at Kanazawa Station, from where you can take Shinkansen to Kyoto Station. Find your way to the hotel upon your arrival and have a rest.

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  • Kyoto

• Day 10: Kyoto

  Arashiyama on the outskirts of Kyoto is a popular spot for you to enjoy the beauty of nature. Here you'll take a nice walk through the bamboo groves and see slender bamboos wave in the light wind. The Togetsukyo Bridge not far away is a great spot for photography with the forested mountainside and dozens of cherry trees along the riverside in the background.

  Come back downtown and visit the Philosopher's Path. This 2-kilometer-long stone path following a canal that is lined by hundreds of cherry trees is especially charming in spring. The path by the Okazaki Canal is also attractive during the cherry blossom season but has fewer visitors than Philosopher's Path. For the rest of the day, ramble around the entertainment district of Gion to feel the refined and elegant atmosphere of old times.

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  • Kyoto

• Day 11: Kyoto - Nara - Osaka

  Take half a day to explore the landmarks of Kyoto, including the Kinkaku-ji Temple with the top two floors completely covered in gold leaf and the Fushimi Inari Shrine which is famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates.

  Later, depart for Nara, less than one hour from Kyoto. Here, get ready to encounter wild deer, considered the messengers of the gods in the Shinto religion, roaming freely under the cherry trees inside the Nara Park. Mount Wakakusayama behind the park plant many cherry trees along the hiking trail. From its summit, you'll be treated to the breathtaking landscape of cherry blossoms in combination with the city behind. After the tour, head to Osaka for the night.

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  • Osaka

• Day 12: Osaka

  Visit Osaka Castle in the morning, followed by the Osaka Museum of Housing and Living. Inside it, you can explore the recreated life-size town of Osaka in the late Edo Period and learn about the life of ordinary people at that time through a series of miniature models. With some luck, you can even enjoy a short Kimono Experience. Spend the rest of the day strolling around Kema Sakuranomiya Park and Osaka Mint Bureau. Both of them are the top spots in Osaka for cherry blossom viewing.

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  • Osaka

• Day 13: Free & Leisure Day in Osaka

  Spend a whole day free to explore Osaka with delicious local food, trendy shopping streets, and more. You may enjoy shopping in the Shinsaibashi district followed by a stroll around the nearby Dotonbori looking for stunning drinks and tasty street food.

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  • Osaka

• Day 14: Osaka, Departure

  Have some time at leisure until your private driver escort you to the airport for your departure flight.

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