Trying to plan a visit to Japan for the Sakura (cherry) blossom in spring, but don't know where to start?
Here we are pleased to share our well-planned itinerary with you. The perfect holiday experience is just one click away!
You can enjoy the seas of pink that are formed of cherry blossom with our professional guides in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka on this 10-day journey. Be ready to catch the best spring pictures and experience Japan during its high season!
Journey Route
Why Travel with Us
- The most competitive price without a big-coach-tour feel .
- The best destination connections to maximize your time and comfort .
- Unique AH hand-picked experiences as mentioned on this page.
Tour Highlights
Here are the awesome attractions, the most must-do activities selected by Asia Highlights (AH Hand-Picked) included in this tour:
Enjoy a worry-free guided hanami ('viewing flowers in bloom') during the cherry blossom season.
Lose yourself in the rich history and various temples .
Witness the Fuji Five Lakes during the cherry blossom season .
Learn sushi making from a local family in Tokyo.
Experience the fastest train on the world-famous Shinkansen lines .
Having a memorable afternoon tea with a geisha .
Relax in a traditional local style ryokan (inn) in Kyoto.
Travel between the modern and old days of Osaka .
What Our Customers Said
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Plenty of options and personalized tours as needed
Monica Mo was very helpful from the beginning after I enquired about my travel plans to Japan. She listened with understanding and took careful notes and clarified things to make sure she got everything. More
Ginybel Belgira, Sep 2022
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Asia Highlights especially Ms. Kanae Chida superb
Asia Highlights and particularly our Tokyo guide, Ms. Kanae Chida, were the best. When Kanae met us, she asked for details of what we wished to see and she constructed an outstanding combination of visits for the day. More
Geoff Rayner-Canham, May 2019
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Asia Highlights especially Ms. Kanae Chida superb
When Kanae met us, she asked for details of what we wished to see and she constructed an outstanding combination of visits for the day. In addition to the temples and the old historic streets, she discovered that I loved azelia flowers. More
Geoff Rayner-Canham, May 2019
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I have arranged a 27 day tour of China, Japan and Hong Kong China
Peggie's English is impeccable and she uses lots of nuances which usually only a native English speaker would know. I have found her very prompt in responding to emails and her knowledge is terrific. More
Ailsa West, Jul 2018
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I have arranged a 27 day tour of China, Japan and Hong Kong China
I have arranged a 27 day tour of China, Japan and HK through Peggie Lyoo at Asia Highlights and I would highly recommend Peggie to anyone seeking good advice and a customised tour. More
Ailsa West, Jul 2018
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Very professional, great customer service
We travelled to Japan this May (2018). We had contacted Asia Highlights to organise our trip for us. Miss Peggie Lyoo was very helpful, super-friendly, very professional and very prompt with all her replies! More
Tibor Marton, May 2018
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Great job!
Great job!! We had an amazing vacation to Japan. We will use Asian highlights for all of our trips to Asia More
Joe, May 2018
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A truly magical experience
You measure the quality of a tour company with how they handle the bumps along the way. Encountering unexpected baggage fees from Cambodia Angkor Air in Siem Reap.Albee without hesitation agreed to cover this cost. More
Bob Bosshard, Mar 2020
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The Itinerary in Detail
- Konichiwa ! Welcome to the capital city of Japan!
- Airport to hotel transport is up to you. We recommend a taxi.
Explore the fascinating city of Tokyo with its top attractions: Meiji Shrine, Omotesando avenue, Asakusa old district, and Hamarikyu garden:
- Walk among the history and be a part of the story of Meiji Shrine .
- See the world’s top fashion trends at the Omotesando .
- Soak in the atmosphere of the Tokyo of old at Asakusa .
- Taste a cup of steaming matcha at the Edo Period Hamarikyu Garden , which is surrounded by futuristic skyscrapers.
Senso-ji, Tokyo's oldest temple
Have a day excursion out of Tokyo by private car with a personal guide, and discover the beauty and stories of the Fuji Five Lakes area.
- Board a cruise, and sail around Lake Kawaguchiko .
- Admire the works of Kubota Itchiku, one of Japan's greatest kimono artists, at Kubota Itchiku Art Museum .
- Drive by Lake Saiko and Lake Shojiko to enjoy two other scenic lakes in the area.
- Get a glimpse of Aokigahara 'Sea of Trees' Forest — a mysterious forest that was born after an eruption of Mt. Fuji.
- Enter the Sengen Shrine in the thick cedar forest below Mt. Fuji, constructed in 788 AD.
Appreciate Mt. Fuji in the Five Lakes area
Dive into the daily life of local Japanese, and enjoy a cheerful view of the sakura (cherry blossom) along the Sumida River.
- Pay a visit to the world's largest fish market – Tsukiji Market , and witness the daily life of locals
- Sample some of the freshly-prepared finger foods at the market if interested.
- Enter a typical Japanese home and learn to prepare maki sushi (rolled sushi), gunkan maki (wrapped rice balls), and nigiri sushi (rice fingers topped with raw fish).
- Enjoy a river boat ride on the Sumida River , smell the atmosphere of sakura and get great views of the cherry blossom along the river side for your hanami .
The view of Tokyo in Spring
- Travel from Tokyo to Kyoto by the fastest train — a Nozomi (with private hotel transfer).
- Explore the back streets of Kyoto's geisha districts with the leading foreign geisha-culture expert.
- Sample traditional song and dance, and do games, which make great photo opportunities at a private ochaya (Geisha teahouse).
The street of Kyoto in Spring
- Start the day trip by visiting one of Kyoto’s most famous temples — Kinkaku-ji ('Golden Pavilion').
- Continue to Nijo Castle — a two-ring-fortfied, 400-year-old castle built by the founder of the Edo Shogunate as his Kyoto residence, surrounded by stunning gardens.
- Walk down Nishiki Market , a narrow, five-block-long shopping street lined by more than one hundred shops and restaurants. It's known as 'Kyoto's Kitchen'.
- Choose between visiting Kiyomizu ('Pure Water') Temple — under repair, but still enjoyable and a Kyoto landmark, or visit Sanjusangen-do — a temple that is Japan's longest wooden structure (120 m) instead.
The Kiyomizu Temple in Spring
- Enter Fushimi Inari Shrine , which was used in the movie "Memoirs of a Geisha".
- Quench your thirst at a sake brewery . Learn about the traditional brewing process, and then sample the different types of Japanese sake.
- Lose yourself on the Philosopher's Path , and enjoy the blossom of hundreds of cherry trees.
- Wander between Ginkaku-ji ('Silver Pavilion') and the neighborhood of Nanzen-ji and try not to count the small temples and shrines during the walk.
The Philosopher's Path in Spring
- Have a good rest after a week's travel.
- Our local guide and the hotel would be glad to provide suggestions for your own discovery of the city.
- Optional day-trips are avaliable!
Osaka in Spring
- Step into the magnificent Osaka Castle as well as into the history of Osaka.
- Taste the famous street food takoyaki (octopus dumplings) in the bustling district of Dotonbori.
- Take the chance to admire famed Japanese prints from the 18th century, and make your own woodblock print at Kamigata Ukiyoe Museum .
- Astonish yourself with the panorama of Osaka City by standing in Floating Garden Observatory .
See how takoyaki be cooked
- We hope your journey home provides a happy conclusion to your holiday!
- Hotel to airport transport is up to you. We recommend a taxi. Your hotel would be glad to assist!
The Kansai International Airport in Osaka
Hand-Picked Hotels
We select hotels with style and local features, and we may adujust the hotel arrangement based on their availability due to high demand .
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Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro (4-star)
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Kyoto Ryokan the Kinoe (4-star)
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Vischio Osaka by Granvia (4-star)
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Price Includes:
- Train tickets between Tokyo and Kyoto as mentioned in the itinerary.
- English-speaking tour guide and business vehicle service
- All guided sightseeing as detailed in the itinerary
- Hotels listed in the itinerary or similar options based on availability
- Breakfasts at hotels and listed meals in the itinerary
- Governmental taxes
Price Excludes:
- International flights to Tokyo and depart from Osaka
- Airport transfers on Day 1 and Day 10
- Tips for the guide and the driver
- Personal expenses
Cancellation Policy
- Cancellation received up to 30 days before departure: 100% refund
- Cancellation received 14 to 29 days before departure: 50% refund
- Cancellation received 0 to 13 days before departure: 0% refund
Tour code: ah-jp-11-gp
* It is possible to have a private tour with the same itinerary as this one (or a bespoke version of it). Please contact us for a quote using the tour code: ah-jp-11-gp, and let us know any customization you would like.
Book this trip now. Your 1:1 travel consultant will reply within 1 working day.
For a quick conversation, simply reach us via WhatsApp:
Email: contact@asiahighlights.com
Why Travel with Asia Highlights During the Pandemic
- Tailor-made experience: All of your ideas/needs will be carefully considered to create your ideal trip.
- Worry-free planning: Your 1:1 travel consultant in Asia will take all the uncertainty out of your planning, helping you navigate any travel restrictions.
- No-risk booking: 100% refund policy! (up to 14 days before departure)
Get Inspired with Our Sample Itineraries
At Asia Highlights, we create your kind of journey — your dates, your destinations, at your pace. You can have any trip tailor made for your travel.
