2023 TOUR DETAILS

Overview

Celebrate the Japanese cherry blossom season at the must-see sites of Kyoto & Tokyo, and enjoy authentic cultural experiences.

The best time to see Japan's famous cherry blossoms is in March and April. Many of Japan's parks and gardens comprise of flowering cherry trees, and the people of Japan celebrate with hanami (flower-viewing) parties during this time. This tour will take you to gardens, parks, and temples that are known to be the best cherry blossom spots in Japan.

Whether you are a first time visitor to Japan or an experienced traveler, we recommend "The Golden Route" itinerary, our most popular tour. This is our reverse itinerary, meaning the tour begins in Osaka and ends in Tokyo. Our travel group will first visit Nara to see the inspiring architecture of Japan's largest wooden building, as well as the towering Great Buddha statue. Here, you will understand why this city is considered the birthplace of Buddhism in Japan. Spend two days in the ancient city of Kyoto, where you will have exclusive access to the best gardens, temples, shrines, and specialty shops in the city. The gardens and temples visited in Kyoto have been selected for their high reputation as the "best places to view cherry blossoms." Our travelers will also have opportunities to experience a traditional green tea ceremony, meet an apprentice geisha (maiko), and enjoy an elegant kimono fashion show. Visit Arashiyama, located on the outskirts of Kyoto, famous for its bamboo forest and traditional Zen landscape garden at Tenryuji Temple.

Visit Miho Museum, best known for its fascinating architecture that utilizes the surrounding nature and natural lighting while exhibiting works from different ancient civilizations. There is even a tunnel that leads from the museum to a road lined with hundreds of cherry blossom trees. It was designed by the renowned architect, I. M. Pei, and has been listed as one of the "1000 Places To See Before You Die". Make your way to Hikone Castle, an original standing castle and charming hanami (flower-viewing) spot during the cherry blossom season. It is also a designated national treasure, and an excellent impression of a complete feudal castle. Visit the Genkyuen Garden, a beautiful Japanese landscape garden located on the castle grounds. Then, experience riding one of Japan's Shinkansen bullet trains before transferring to Hamanako Kanzanji Onsen. There, you'll stay at an onsen hotel (Japanese style room), where you can unwind in the hot springs (onsen) and dine on gourmet kaiseki cuisine.

Enjoy a scenic ropeway ride in Hakone and see the world-famous Mt. Fuji. Explore Tokyo's cultural landmarks, fashionable neighborhoods, diverse shopping districts, and best cherry blossom spots on a private guided tour. Learn how to make your own sushi with a professional sushi chef and savor your delicious creations. Visit Tokyo's most famous attractions like the Shibuya Crossing, Asakusa Sensoji Temple, Tsukiji Market, Imperial Palace, and Tokyo Tower.

ITINERARY

DAY 1: Osaka Kansai Airport

Welcome to Osaka! You will be met at the arrival gate by an AJT representative holding an "All Japan Tours" sign.

Hotel: Nikko Kansai Airport or similar class

Hotel: Elsereine Osaka or similar class (NOTE 1 & 2)

NOTE 1: If you wish to stay in the center of Osaka for the first night instead of Hotel Nikko Kansai Airport, we can arrange for you to stay at Hotel Elsereine Osaka (or similar class). In this case, airport transfer is not included, but we will provide you directions to get to your hotel in advance.

NOTE 2: If you will be flying into Itami Airport (ITM) instead of Kansai International Airport (KIX), we can arrange for you to stay in the center of Osaka (Hotel Elsereine Osaka or similar class) instead of Hotel Nikko Kansai Airport. In this case, airport transfer and meet- and-greet are not included, but we will provide with full instructions to get to the hotel in advance.

NOTE 3: The meet and greet is ONLY available for flights arriving in Terminal 1 after 11:00 AM. For guests arriving in Terminal 2, airport pickup is not included, but and we will provide you with directions to get to your hotel in advance.

NOTE 4: If you wish to stay extra nights before the tour starts, please contact us to book hotel accommodations.

DAY 2: Nara (Todai-ji Temple / Nara Deer Park), Kyoto (Fushimi Inari Shrine / Green Tea Ceremony with Maiko Interaction)

This morning you will travel to Nara, the oldest capital city of Japan, by private coach. We will first visit Todaiji Temple, the largest wooden building in Japan. The temple also houses one of the largest bronze statues of Buddha at 16.3 meters high. Just outside the temple grounds is the Nara Deer Park, filled with over 1,000 Sika deer, where you can greet and feed them deer crackers. We continue our tour to Kyoto, where we will visit the stunning vermilion colored Fushimi Inari Shrine, whose 4km long tunnel of scarlet torii gates was featured in the film "Memoirs of a Geisha". This complex wraps around a bamboo wilderness that includes mountains, streams, and ponds, the perfect backdrop for a scenic hike. Finally, you will partake in a traditional green tea ceremony, where you will also have the chance to meet a maiko. A maiko is simply an apprentice geisha. There will be photo taking opportunities and time to interact with the maiko.

Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch

Hotel: Grand Prince Hotel Kyoto or similar class

DAY 3: Kyoto (Arashiyama - Tenryuji Temple Zen Garden - Sagano Bamboo Forest / Golden Pavilion / Nishijin Kimono Show / Kiyomizu Temple / Maruyama Park / Gion Geisha District)

Today, we will continue our tour of Kyoto, the former capital of Japan and arguably its biggest cultural center. First, you will go to Arashiyama, well known for its natural scenery and popular during the spring and fall season. Visit the Zen garden of the Tenryuji Temple, which is ranked first among the city's five great Zen temples. Afterwards, enjoy a pleasant walk through the Sagano Bamboo Forest. We will then make our way to the Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion), a temple with two floors completely covered with 18 carat gold leaves. Next, you will have the chance to see an elegant kimono fashion show at the Nishijin Textile Center and learn how kimonos are made. Our next attraction is the famous Kiyomizu Temple, best known for its wooden stage that extends from its main hall, 13 meters above the hillside below. The stage affords visitors a nice view of numerous cherry and maple trees below, as well as a beautiful scene of Kyoto in the distance. From Kiyomizu Temple, we will head to Maruyama Park, which is one of the most popular places for cherry blossom viewing (hanami) in Kyoto. Lastly, we will tour Gion, Kyoto's most famous geisha district. Here, you will find many restaurants and ochaya (teahouses), where maiko and geisha entertain.

 Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner

Hotel: Grand Prince Hotel Kyoto or similar class

DAY 4: Koka (Miho Museum), Hikone (Hikone Castle - Genkyuen Garden), Shinkansen Bullet Train Ride

This morning, we will visit the famous Miho Museum. The Miho Museum is known for its stunning architecture that allows visitors to appreciate the surrounding nature and natural light. It exhibits many works from different ancient civilizations. There is also a tunnel that leads from the museum to a road lined with hundreds of cherry blossom trees. It was designed by the renowned architect, I. M. Pei, and is named after Koyama Mihoko, one of the richest women in Japan and the founder of the museum. The group will continue to Hikone to visit Hikone Castle, an attractive hanami spot during the cherry blossom season. Hikone Castle is an original castle, meaning it has survived the post feudal era without undergoing destruction and reconstruction. It is regarded as a national treasure next to four other castles, the highest designation a cultural property can receive. Afterwards, visit the tranquil Genkyuen Garden, located on the grounds of Hikone Castle. Next, our group will experience a Shinkansen bullet train ride, which can reach speeds of up to 300 km/hr. Tonight, you will stay at the Onsen Hotel at Hamanako Kanzaiji Onsen, where you can soak in the therapeutic waters of a spa bath (onsen) and feast on a traditional Japanese Kaiseki banquet dinner.

Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner

Hotel: The Hamanako or similar class

Note: If Miho Museum is close, we will visit Kyoto National Museum or Sagawa Art Museum instead.

DAY 5: Hakone (Hakone Ropeway / Owakudani), Mt Fuji, Tokyo (Shibuya - Shibuya Crossing - Hachiko Statue)

After enjoying a Japanese breakfast at the hotel, we will travel to Hakone and take a 20 minute ropeway from Togendai to Owakudani. Much of the area here is considered an active volcanic zone since its creation from the eruption of Mount Hakone some 3,000 years ago. There, you can experience hot springs and bubbling pools, where sulfurous fumes and steam vents still linger. Owakudani also has splendid views of Mount Fuji during pleasant weather conditions. From Hakone, we will proceed to Mt. Fuji on our private coach. Along the way, enjoy the changing scenery, from thick vegetation to lowlands and rolling clouds. We will stop at the Mt. Fuji 5th station (depending on the weather) to admire the world famous peak. In the afternoon, we will travel to Tokyo. Our final stop of the day will be in Shibuya. There, you will get to see the famed Shibuya Crossing in action and cross the street with the crowd. You will also be able to take photos with the Hachiko Statue, a monument dedicated to Japan's most loyal dog, which continued for nine years after his owner's death.

Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch

Hotel: Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro or similar class

DAY 6: Tokyo (Asakusa Sensoji Temple / Ueno Park / Sushi Making Experience / Tsukiji Outer Market / Imperial Palace / Tokyo Tower)

Today, you will be taken to the Asakusa Kannon Temple, an active place of worship where you can see the largest paper lantern in Japan. You will also be able to explore the Nakamise Market, which is located right after the temple's outer gates. It is a traditional-style shopping street with centuries of history. Continue to Ueno Park, a famous cherry blossom viewing spot with more than 1,000 cherry trees. Afterwards, you will be able to participate in a sushi making experience with a professional sushi chef. Whatever you make, you will get to enjoy for lunch! Our group will continue to the Tsukiji Outer Market, which is lined with shops that sell fresh produce and other food-related goods. Then we will proceed to the Imperial Palace, the former site of Edo Castle and current residence of Japan's Imperial Family. It is surrounded by moats and stone fortifications, located in the heart of Tokyo. In the afternoon, we will visit Tokyo Tower, the world's tallest self supporting steel tower standing at 333 meters high. You will get to tour 150 meters up to the main observatory and enjoy a bird's eye view of Tokyo.

Note: For Sushi Making Experience, if you are vegetarian, on gluten-free diets, have seafood allergy, or don't eat raw fish, please contact us for other ingredient options.

Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch

Hotel: Mystays Premier Narita or similar class

Hotel: Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro or similar class (NOTE 5 & 6)

NOTE 5: If you wish to stay in the center of Tokyo for the last night instead of Hotel Mystays Premier Narita, we can arrange for you to stay at Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro (or similar class). In this case, airport transfer is not included. We will provide full instructions for you to get to the airport in advance, or we can arrange shared shuttle service for you at US$65.00 per person per way.

NOTE 6: If you will be flying out from Haneda Airport (HND) instead of Narita Airport (NRT), we can arrange for you to stay at Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro (or similar class) instead of Hotel Mystays Premier Narita. In this case, airport transfer is not include. We will provide full instructions for you to get to the airport in advance, or we can arrange shared shuttle service for you at US$60.00 per person per way.

DAY 7: Tour Ends

After breakfast, our tour officially ends. Checkout time is 11 am and Narita Airport can be reached by hotel shuttle bus.

Meals included:  Breakfast

NOTE 7: If you would like to stay longer in Japan, please contact us to book hotel accommodations.