Cherry blossom tour 2025

Breakfast in the hotel, and your second full hanami tour day in Tokyo will begin with a visit to the picturesque Yoyogi Park, where one of the main temples in Japan is located, the Meiji-jingu Shinto shrine. It was erected in memory of Emperor Meiji, the country's reformer. The Meiji 8Jingu Temple gate, the torii, is the largest in the country, made from thousand-year-old cypress.

Then there is a trip to the skyscrapers of Shinjuku, Tokyo's downtown. At one of Shinjuku’s first-class restaurants, you can try traditional Japanese cuisine for lunch, such as tonkatsu, tender pork breaded with breadcrumbs and served with a special sauce. From the 45th floor of Tokyo City Hall, designed by Kenzo Tange, you will enjoy stunning views of the metropolis below. On a cloudless day you can even see the silhouette of Mt. Fuji!

Then, you will visit Tsukiji, the largest fish market not only in Japan, but in the whole world. After the morning auctions, the fresh catch is sent to restaurants in Tokyo and the rest of the world, as well as local marketplace restaurants. At one of such spots, you can try the freshest sushi and sashimi! You will transfer to the hotel by car after dinner.

Nagoya… Saying the city's name out loud evokes a quiet sigh of admiration. A legendary town shrouded in mystical fog, the capital of luxury, where wedding processions stretch for a mile, and the homeland of warlords and craftsmen, whose skillful hands create eternal beauty.

In 113 AD, the 13th Emperor, Yamato Takeru, before dying from wounds received in a battle with the evil spirit of Mount Ibuki, left his wife his sword. It was called Kusanagi no Tsurugi, a symbol of bravery given to the first emperor of Yamato by his divine ancestors. His widow, Princess Miyazu, built the Atsuta Shrine in honor of her husband.

Since then, the Great Sword, one of the three relics of the Emperors of Japan, has been kept there. This is how the city of Nagoya was established. You will enjoy visiting it, especially during the time of cherry blossoming.

In the morning, your guide will accompany you to see Kenroku-en, the “garden of six virtues”, one of the three Japan’s most iconic parks. It looks especially gorgeous during hanami time.

Kenroku-en Garden is a perfect example of Japanese classical park art. Each tree, bush, and even pebble by the pond were artistically designed and positioned according to the creators’ ideas. It’s amazing  to see how harmoniously any man-made objects, such as bridges, stone lanterns, and pagodas fit into the natural landscape!

In the park, in addition to the oldest fountain in Japan, you will also see the famous Seisonkaku Villa, built by the Kaga family, a clan of local rulers, at the end of the Edo period. Its graceful architecture is one of the best examples of a traditional Samurai villa of the time.

Kenroku-en was originally built as a garden adjacent to Kanazawa-jo Castle. You will see a reconstruction of the castle at site, which was one of the largest feudal structures of its kind in Japan. After your tour is finished, you will come back to your hotel.

You will meet your guide at your hotel in Osaka around 9 am.

Osaka is the Kansai region’s main city, a true metropolis. The city is the industrial and commercial heart of the whole Western Japan. Osaka has been playing a major role in Japan’s history even since it was founded. Osaka’s most famous landmark, a city that rivals Tokyo, is Osaka-jo, or the Osaka Castle. It is a majestic eighth-floor structure, three of which are underground. The castle was erected in 1586 as a Shogun Toytomi Hedeyoshi’s stronghold, and the main castle of Japan of the time. In the lower floors there is a museum, exposing a medieval collection of armor, artifacts, and documents.

The next part of the trip will be visiting Osaka downtown. You will check out the famous Umeda Sky skyscraper, with its Sky Gardens observation deck located on the roof. Its unique architecture resembles hanging gardens. A must have for any Osaka tour is walking down the legendary Dotonbori Street, the local “Broadway”. This central street of the city is famous for its exquisite restaurants and boutiques, representing world's leading fashion brands.

At the end of the tour, you will move to the hotel.

Nara looks fantastic in hanami time! During its foundation, several majestic temples have been built here. For example, the Todaiji Temple, which was completed in 725. This is one the greatest wooden structures on Earth. Todaiji is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This temple is dedicated to the Buddha of Infinite Light incarnation, embodied in the sun. Inside, there is a gigantic bronze Buddha statue, the largest in Japan.

In the 5th century AD, Japan borrowed a lot from China and Korea in terms of civilizational development. Religion was one of these gifts from Asia's mainland. Japanese have also borrowed writing, architecture, and even urban planning that dominated the Chinese Tang Dynasty style back then. This is why Nara, as Japan's first permanent capital, was built on the model of Changyan, the capital of China at the time.

Near Todaiji, another Buddhist temple, Kofukuji, is located; it was built in the 7th century. Its pagoda, Goju-no-to, is one of the tallest in the country. This "skyscraper from the past" is 55-meter high! The Goju-no-Pagoda is the most famous graphic symbol of Nara.

Thanks to Nara's compact site, people usually come here for just a day, which is enough to see all the sights. Of course, the Kasuga Taisha Shinto Shrine is also worth your attention. At the entrance to the temple, there is a wisteria tree, whose age is estimated to be 800 years! Inside, on the temple grounds, is a Japanese cedar tree, which is around ten centuries old! All year round, the temples in Nara host various Buddhist and Shinto religious festivals.

You will be transferred by car to the railway station, where you will board the Shinkansen super express to Tokyo. Upon arrival in Tokyo, you will check in to your hotel.

You will enjoy a day trip to Kyoto with lunch, looking at sakura blooming throughout the city!

Kyoto is the ancient imperial capital of Japan, one of the oldest cities in the country, the entire historical part of which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Kyoto was founded in the 8th century and served as the Imperial residence for almost twelve centuries. Among its numerous temples and sacred sites in Kyoto, one can highlight the Sanjusan-gendo temple, built back in 1164. Even today, it is the longest wooden structure in the world. In the long central hall, in the twilight, there are 1001 statues of the goddess Kannon the Merciful. You will have a lunch break then at a traditional Japanese restaurant.

Another Kyoto gem is the Kinkaku-ji, also known as the Golden Pavilion, an elegant three-level temple with its roof covered with thin sheets of gold. The building is also topped with a traditional bronze phoenix. The temple is located in a magnificent garden from the Muromachi period. Nearby is the world-famous Zen rock garden of Ryoanji: its fifteen stones seem to be randomly scattered on the white gravel, but from any point only fourteen are visible...

The Silver Pavilion, Ginkaku-ji, is another architectural masterpiece. The temple is gracefully reflected in the adjacent lake, making it a classic Kyoto view... Finally, you will walk down the open veranda of Kiyomizudera, or the Temple of Pure Water. You will enjoy a stunning Kyoto panoramic view. The local legend says that if you take three sips from the adjacent spring, your wish will come true! You will wrap up your Kyoto’s experience by visiting the legendary Geisha Gion quarter, which has been a center of entertainment since ancient times. You will come back to your hotel after that.

Today, you will visit Hiroshima, a surprisingly beautiful city with great local seafood. After arriving in Hiroshima from Osaka by Shinkansen, you will take a rest at your hotel.

In the afternoon, after lunch, you can pay tribute to the victims of the nuclear bombing at the A-Bomb Dome. It is the only building that survived the bombing in 1945 in Hiroshima. The building is located in the Peace Park Memorial Park, the epicenter of the strike. You will also visit the Hiroshima Peace Park Museum; it collects artifacts from the bombing and reminds people of Hiroshima's wish for world peace. You will come back to your hotel.

The second Hiroshima trip day will be devoted to visiting the island of Miyajima, known for its fascinating Itsukushima Shrine, or floating torii gate, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. High tide makes the torii gates look like it is floating in the water, a fantastic view! It is considered one of Japan’s three most beautiful sights. Yet, there’s more than this: Miyajima is famous for its momiji manju (maple leaf-shaped cake with red beans) and delicious oysters. You can enjoy these delicacies while staying on the island.

After the Hiroshima two-day tour is finished, you will travel back to Tokyo by Shinkanse to rest at your hotel by night.

You will meet your guide for a day trip to see Himeji-jo, which is considered the finest surviving example of Japanese classical castle architecture. Local residents respectfully call it Hime-Sama, or Madam Princess. A castle-fortress is usually associated with men, but not this one. For its dazzling white color and multi-tiered roofs, reminiscent of the wings of a huge bird, the fortress is also called the Castle of the White Heron.

The castle looks astonishingly beautiful during hanami season!

The history of the fortress dates back to 1346, but it acquired its current architectural splendor in 1609, when ruler of the local lands, Prince Ikeda Terumasa, married a beautiful princess, Great Shogun Tokugawa’s eldest daughter.
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You will have an opportunity to see the interiors of the largest surviving watchtower in Japan. The gigantic structure, designed to protect the city, is surprisingly harmonious and elegant.

In spring, sakura flowers dominate the landscape. There is so much white Yoshino with large petals that the sky and earth are almost invisible. Cascades of pink flowers on the Weeping Sakura and whole streams of Sakura-Waterfall branches fall into the smooth mirrors of the ponds. In the evening, when the torches are burning, the castle and the gardens are illuminated, forming a truly mystical sight!

You will see the place of the sacred ceremony of seppuku, the Kiku well. One can still hear a gentle voice in the night. At all times, Himeji-jo has been protecting the city, and the city repaid her handsomely. You will learn an amazing story about the rescue of the Princess. In December 1993, Himeji-jo was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After the excursion is finished, you will come back to your hotel in Osaka.

Enjoy your free hanami day in Tokyo!

Your group transfer is scheduled at 7 am. If you need a later transfer, it may cause additional costs. Say goodbye to Japan -- and we hope you come back!