Japan Highlights Cherry Blossom Tour 2023 (8d/7n)
There is no doubt that spring is Japan’s most beautiful season. When the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, people gather in parks between late March to early April to enjoy the beautiful pink flowers all over the country. Experience the wonderful spring flowers and the most famous sights in Japan on this package Japan Highlights Cherry Blossom Tour including Hiroshima in 2023!
Japan Highlights Cherry Blossom Tour Description
On this tour, you will follow the Golden Route including Tokyo, Mt. Fuji, Nara, Kyoto, and Hiroshima during the enchantingly beautiful cherry blossom season. You will spend 3 nights in Tokyo and 4 nights in Kyoto while you visit all the absolute must-sees on Japan’s most popular route. The tour takes place in the middle of the cherry blossom season, so you’re guaranteed to see sakura flowers.
Please note that if there are fewer than 7 tour participants, we will use public transportation on day 3 and day 5.
Wifi is available on the bus and in the hotels.
Special Precautions for group tours and your safety
* We will prepare one mask per person per tour day.
* Before you get on the bus, everyone has to sanitize their hands with sanitizer that will be provided by us.
* There will be a maximum of 13 people on a bus that fits 22, so there is enough space between participants.
* We will provide everyone with one special health drink per day to keep everyone’s immune system up.
* We will provide everyone with one fresh bottle of mineral water per day.
Tour Date and Price
Arrival and departure: Start in Tokyo and end in Kyoto
Tour date: March 27 – April 3, 2023 (8 days and 7 nights)
Tour price: USD 2,480 price per person (based on twin/triple room)
Single room price: USD 2,980
Child price (age 4-11): USD 1,200 (no extra bed)
Japan Cherry Blossom Tour Highlights
Day 1 (March 27): Arrival (Narita or Haneda) – Transfer to Hotel
Day 2 (March 28): Tokyo Highlights Tour
Day 3 (March 29): Mt Fuji Tour
Day 4 (March 30): Tokyo – Kyoto – Nara Highlights Tour
Day 5 (March 31): Kyoto Highlights Tour
Day 6 (April 1): Kyoto Arashiyama Tour
Day 7 (April 2): Kyoto – Hiroshima Tour – Kyoto
Day 8 (April 3): Kyoto – Kansai Airport
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Transfer to Airport (optional)
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Tour Itinerary
March 27: Airport (Narita or Haneda) – Tokyo
Welcome to Japan! You will be greeted by an English-speaking assistant at Narita or Haneda airport who will help you get on the bus to your hotel. You will have the rest of the day and evening to spend at your leisure in Tokyo.
Shinagawa Prince Hotel or similar
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March 28: Tokyo Highlights Tour
Today we are going to discover Tokyo! Our first stop is at the Imperial Palace with its large park surrounded by moats and massive stone walls in the center of Tokyo where we go to Nijubashi-mae to take photos. Next on the program is the Sakura Festival in Ueno Park, which is famous for its pink sea of cherry blossoms. We will see a lot of people enjoying their traditional Hanami picnic in the park. We then head to Asakusa, the most popular sightseeing spot in Tokyo which is reminiscent of the Edo period. The Kaminarimon is the outer gate of the temple that is a very famous landmark of Asakusa for its huge red lantern. Nakamise street is a nice shopping street that is over 200m long and it is the best place to buy traditional Japanese souvenirs in Tokyo.
In the afternoon, we will visit the imposing Meiji Shrine in the middle of a small city forest, after which you can enjoy shopping in Harajuku’s Takeshita Street which is popular among young teenagers, or Omotesando street for some luxury (window) shopping. Of course, we’ll also go to the Shibuya crossing to experience one of the world’s busiest pedestrian crossings and meet the statue of the famous loyal dog, Hachiko, which is located in front of Shibuya station. We will then return to the hotel.
Shinagawa Prince Hotel or similar
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March 29: Tokyo – Mt Fuji – Tokyo
On our second day, we will take a one-day excursion to Mt Fuji and the Kawaguchiko area. First, we will take the Fuji Subaru line road to Mt. Fuji’s 5th station by bus. Mt Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan and it is one of the country’s most famous symbols with its iconic shape. Our lunch today is ‘houtou’, a hearty local noodle dish that is cooked in a miso-based soup.
Next, we will take the Panoramic Kachi Kachi Ropeway to an observation deck near the peak of Mt Tenjo. From the observation deck, which sits more than 1000 meters above sea level, you can see panoramic views of the lake below and of Mount Fuji. After enjoying a pleasant 20-minute cruise on Lake Kawaguchi, we will return to Tokyo.
Shinagawa Prince Hotel or similar
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March 30: Tokyo – Nara Highlights Tour
Today we will get on the super-fast shinkansen to Kyoto. Our first visit in Kyoto is to the impressive Fushimi Inari Taisha, a shrine that is especially renowned for its stone fox statues as well as the thousands of orange torii gates lined up along the pathway to Mt Inari. We then proceed to a sake brewery, where you will learn about the sake-making process, and of course, get the chance to taste some great rice wine.
Then we head to Nara, which was the first permanent capital in Japan in the 8th century. In Nara, we visit the Todaiji Temple and Nara Park which is famous for its many tame deer. You can feed them special crackers called Shika-sembei if you want. In the late afternoon, we go back to Kyoto to check in at our hotel.
Daiwa Roynett Hotel or similar
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March 31: Kyoto Highlights Tour
First we will go to the Ryoanji Temple, a Zen temple known for its mysterious-looking stone garden. The nearby Kinkakuji Temple is our next stop, it is known as the Golden Pavilion for its briliant exterior that will surely captivate you.
The Nishijin textile style is a traditional silk weaving technique in Kyoto that is used for making kimono, a traditional Japanese garment. We visit the Nishijin Textile Center to learn more about Nishijin textile weaving. You will also have a chance to enjoy a kimono fashion show and go shopping. After lunch, you will experience a real tea ceremony, where you will also get to try real matcha tea with Japanese sweets!
The Gion area is Kyoto’s most famous geisha district. It is filled with shops, restaurants, and ochaya (tea houses). While walking through a street lined with preserved machiya houses, you might come across real geisha or maiko in the evening.
Daiwa Roynett Hotel or similar
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April 1: Kyoto Arashiyama Tour
Today we will discover Arashiyama, a popular and pleasant district in the western outskirts of Kyoto. This area has been a popular destination since the Heian Period (794-1185). We will visit the Tenryuji Temple, which is known for its Japanese landscape garden with various plants and a pond. We will also enjoy a pleasant walk through the famous bamboo grove nearby and past the many small shops and restaurants around Arashiyama.
The Nishiki Market is a narrow shopping street lined with more than 100 shops and restaurants. This foodie destination is also known as Kyoto’s Kitchen. The lively market specializes in all things food-related, such as fresh seafood, sushi, Japanese sweets, pickles, cookware, etc. Find your favorite food for lunch here! Then we will visit Nijo Castle, which was built in 1603 as the Kyoto residence of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo Period (1603-1867). Afterward, we will head back to the hotel.
Daiwa Roynett Hotel or similar
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April 2: Kyoto – Hiroshima Tour – Kyoto
In the morning we proceed to Kyoto station to get on the shinkansen bound for Hiroshima. We will take a ferry to the sacred Miyajima island, where we’ll see the famous Itsukushima Shrine and elaborate torii gate that seems to float in the sea. Try tasty local foods such as momiji manju (Japanese maple shaped cake with red bean paste), oysters, and okonomiyaki (Japanese pancake).
In the afternoon, we will return to Hiroshima city. Hiroshima is known all over the world as the first city to suffer an atomic bomb disaster. It is an impressive experience to visit the Peace Memorial Park and museum, as well as the Atomic Bomb Dome. Although you can’t really feel the aftermath of the disaster in Hiroshima anymore today, the museum tells you what really happened here in 1945. After visiting the museum and Peace Park, we will return to Kyoto by bullet train.
Daiwa Roynett Hotel or similar
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April 3: Kyoto – Kansai Airport
It is already time to go back home with many unforgettable memories and lots of souvenirs. A transfer is not included, but if you would need an airport transfer we can arrange one for you. Thank you very much for coming to Japan and we hope to see you again!
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INCLUDED
- 7 nights of western-style accommodation
- Meet and greet upon arrival at Narita or Haneda Airport
- Airport transfers on arrival
- Pasmo (5,000 JPY per person) for public transportation in Tokyo
- Comprehensive escort of our professional English-speaking tour guide as described in the itinerary
- Meals as described in the itinerary
- Admission fees to sites, gardens, and museums listed in the itinerary
EXCLUDED
- International airfares
- Meals that are not included in the itinerary
- Travel insurance
- Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks
- Personal expenses such as telephone and laundry bills
- Gratuities
EXTENDED PLAN
You can also extend your vacation before/after the tour in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, or other areas. We can provide an extension for the same hotel that you are staying at during the tour for 15,000 yen ~ per night, per person. Please contact us for more details.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Transport: Travel by air-conditioned private coach, baggage handling free
Arrival / Departure Airports: For arrivals at Narita or Haneda airport, this tour starts in Tokyo and ends in Osaka, with departure from Osaka Kansai Airport
Meal Requests: Vegetarian, halal or special meals can be arranged
Meet and Greet: Please note that the meet and greet and airport transfer to the first hotel is ONLY available on the first day of the tour after 10 AM. If you plan to stay extra nights before the start of the tour, please arrange your own hotel transfer
Tour schedule and prices subject to change without notice
CANCELLATION POLICY
46 days or more prior to arrival date in Japan: no penalty
45-31 days prior to arrival date in Japan: 10% of the tour fee
30-15 days prior to arrival date in Japan: 20% of the tour fee
14- 8 days prior to arrival date in Japan: 30% of the tour fee
7 – 3 days prior to arrival date in Japan: 50% of the tour fee
Less than 3 days prior to arrival date in Japan: 100% of the tour fee
Reservation & Inquiries
Feedback From Clients
- Liu – 2020 spring –
- Small and well-organized tour
Unbelievable tour! The Sakura was spectacular. The tour guide (Hiro) well-explained the history of the sites. She also educated us about Japanese history, culture, and their admirable people. The driver, Mr. Tiki was a very professional and nice gentleman. Thanks to him for assisting us throughout the tour throughout Tokyo then to Mt. Fuji, Lake Ashi, Hakone plus many sites on the road and back. This tour was a small but well-organized group of only 8 people. We enjoyed so much for this unforgettable occasion.
A. – 2020 Spring –- The cherry blossoms were very beautiful. Arigatou!
Tour guides were all excellent, very knowledgeable, helpful, and considerate of our needs, love all the places we visited. Will highly recommend your tour company to our friends.
Richard P. – 2019 Spring –- The people were so kind, polite and welcoming.
We liked Kyoto and Mt. Fuji the best, the lunch we had in Kyoto on day 4 was awesome and we loved the Golden Pavillion. Our guide Hide-san was very kind and helpful and he knows the areas well. Thank you for the lovely introduction to Japanese culture, we loved it!
