Cherry blossom season in Japan: spring 2018 in 14 days

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  Arrival in Tokyo: Sunday, April 1, 2018

  Welcome to Tokyo. You are greeted by an English-speaking assistant at Narita or Haneda international airport. Departure by shuttle to your hotel, in downtown Tokyo.

• day 2

  Visit of Tokyo: Monday, April 2, 2018

  The visit of Tokyo is done by public transport in order to immerse yourself in the life of the Tokyoites. The Tokyo tour begins with a visit to the old Asakusa district with the most visited temple in Tokyo, Senso-ji. ★☆ Special offer for this tour ☆★ You can take a rickshaw ride in the Asakusa district (about 20 min). A short walk in Ueno Park to admire the cherry blossoms. After lunch, you will discover Tokyo's business district, Shinjuku, and the Tokyo City Hall (observatory). At the end of the day, you will visit the Meiji Shrine.

• day 3

  Free day in Tokyo: Tuesday, April 3, 2018

  Free day. You will visit Tokyo on your own. ★☆ Special offer for this tour ☆★ As a free option, we invite you to a tour of the illuminated cherry blossoms with your guide, using public transportation. The tour will last about 1h30. (If the cherry blossoms are not yet in bloom, this option will be cancelled. Participation is free, but you will have to pay the transportation costs on site. The staff accompanying you on the tour may be English-speaking.)

• day 4

  Tokyo-Hakone-Suwa: Wednesday, April 4, 2018

  Departure by bus to Mount Fuji Park. Cruise on Lake Ashi to admire the scenery with Mount Fuji (if the weather is good) and ascent to the fumarole valley (Owakudani). Arrival in Suwa. Check-in at the ryokan to experience the onsen, hot bath, and dinner at the ryokan. Your ryokan will be on the shores of Lake Suwa.

• day 5

  Suwa-Matsumoto-Takayama: Thursday, April 5, 2018

  After enjoying the onsen, the hot bath, you head towards Matsumoto. In Matsumoto, you will visit Matsumoto Castle, dating from the 16th century, classified as a National Treasure and possessing the oldest wooden keep in Japan. We will pass through the Japanese Alps; you can admire the beautiful landscape and the wasabi farm. Arrival in Takayama. Before settling in at the hotel, visit the Jinya, the governor's house from the Edo period.

• day 6

  Takayama-Shirakawago-Kanazawa: Friday, April 6, 2018

  In the morning, you will visit the morning market along the Miya River and the old Sanmachi district. Departure from Takayama towards Kanazawa. On the way, you will visit Shirakawago, a UNESCO World Heritage site, with its Gassho-zukuri houses, traditional thatched houses with three or four stories. Arrival in Kanazawa, visit of the Higashi-Jaya district, the Geisha district.

• day 7

  Kanazawa-Nara: Saturday, April 7, 2018

  In the morning, you will admire the Kenroku-en garden, considered one of the three most beautiful gardens in Japan, as well as the Samurai district with the Nomura-ke house. After lunch, departure towards Nara.

• day 8

  Nara-Kyoto: Sunday, April 8, 2018

  In the morning, visit of Nara. You will visit the Todaiji temple, founded in 742 and one of the most visited in Japan, with a huge Buddha; Nara Park, a large park of 1200 ha where you can encounter 1200 deer, considered messengers of the gods. Next, you will admire a thousand lanterns placed in the Kasuga-Taisha shrine. Departure towards Kyoto. Arrival in Kyoto, visit of the Fushimi shrine. You will attend the Miyako Odori show, which takes place only in April. After the show, stroll between Gion and the Kiyomizu temple passing through Ninen-zaka and Sannen-zaka. ★☆ Special offer of this tour ☆★ You will visit the illuminated Kiyomizu-Dera temple (the temple is illuminated during limited periods).

• day 9

  Kyoto: Monday, April 9, 2018

  Half-day tour of Kyoto, the former Japanese capital. You will visit the Kinkaku-ji Temple (Golden Pavilion), former residence of the shogun; the Ryōan-ji Temple, a Buddhist temple with a beautiful Zen garden, and Nijō-jō Castle, former residence of the Tokugawa shogun during his stays in Kyoto. In the afternoon, visits, lunch, and dinner are at your leisure.

• day 10

  Kyoto-Osaka-Koyasan: Tuesday, April 10, 2018

  In the morning, departure for Osaka. Arrival in Osaka, visit of Osaka Castle and the Namba district with its advertising icons. After lunch in Osaka, departure towards Mount Koya, the monastic center of the Shingon school of the Buddhist religion. Check-in at a monastery and vegetarian dinner. **Tip: bring luggage for the night at Mount Koya. As it is not a hotel, there is no elevator and, on the tatami mats, wheels are not allowed. Your suitcases will remain on the bus.** As it is a monastery, the service is limited: toilets and the bathroom are shared.

• day 11

  Koyasan-Himeji: Wednesday, April 11, 2018

  You can attend the morning prayer before having the vegetarian breakfast. In the morning, visit Okunoin (cemetery of great personalities), Kongo-buji (considered the center of the Shingon community), and Danjo Garan with its pagoda. Departure towards Himeji. Arrival in Himeji, visit of the Koko-en garden located next to Himeji Castle.

• day 12

  Himeji-Hiroshima: Thursday, April 12

  In the morning, visit to Himeji Castle, called the White Heron Castle, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and recently underwent a major restoration (castle reopening date: March 27, 2015). **During the cherry blossom season, it is expected that there will be many tourists. The number of entries for access to the Main Keep will be limited, and the visit to the Main Keep may be canceled.** Departure for Hiroshima and visit of the city, struck by the first atomic bomb in 1945. You will visit the Atomic Bomb Dome, the Hiroshima Peace Museum, and the Peace Park.

• day 13

  Hiroshima-Miyajima-Kurashiki-Osaka: Friday, April 13, 2018

  Departure by boat to Miyajima, sacred island. Arrival at Miyajima, visit of the Itsukushima Jinja shrine, also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. You can admire the gate built in the sea. Departure for the city of Kurashiki. You visit the historic Bikan district, where there are several well-preserved buildings from the Edo period, built around canals. Arrival in Osaka.

• day 14

  Osaka - your destination: Saturday, April 14, 2018

  Shuttle departure towards Kansai Airport (KIX).