Japan Cherry Blossom Private Tour

Day 1

Arrival at Tokyo Narita or Haneda Airport

Upon arrival, proceed through customs and meet your driver just outside the exit gate, they will be holding an “All Japan Tours” sign for easy visibility. Proceed to your hotel by private car. Upon arrival at the hotel, you will be free for leisure.

Hotel Century Southern Tower or similar class

Day 2

Tokyo

Meet your guide in the morning and traverse through Tokyo’s pristine public transportation system. First, make your way to the Tsukiji Outer Market, filled with shops and restaurants where you can try fresh produce and other food-related goods. Then visit the beautiful landscape garden of Hamarikyu which features seawater ponds that change level with the tides. Next, board a Sumida River Cruise and enjoy views of the city’s skyline and bridges. You will then be taken to 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 several centuries of history. Next, we will tour Ueno Park, one of the most popular public parks with the largest gathering of locals during the cherry blossom season. Additionally, you may choose to add a Sushi-making lesson to your tour. These lessons make an excellent lunch-time activity as you will get to eat your creations! Cooked fish and vegetable options can be arranged.

Breakfast

Hotel Century Southern Tower or similar class

Day 3

Tokyo

Our first stop today will be the Imperial Palace where we can see the beautiful East Garden. This is the current residence of Japan’s Imperial Family and a historic landmark. Next, enjoy the natural atmosphere of the Meiji Shrine, dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. Stroll through the Takeshita district of Harajuku and surround yourself with fascinating shops and the latest fashion trends. Harajuku is especially known for its more eccentric fashions, but cute and conventional items can be purchased here as well. Not in the mood for shopping? Not to worry – Harajuku also is a great place for people watching! Our last destination for the day will be famous Tokyo Tower, the communications tower standing at 333 meters as the second tallest structure in Japan.

Breakfast

Hotel Century Southern Tower or similar class

Day 4

Tokyo - Hakone - Atami

Travel with your guide from Tokyo Shinjuku station to Hakone by way of Japan’s famously efficient transit system. You will travel on the Romancecar Limited Express. In Hakone, you will have many opportunities to view Mt. Fuji, if the weather is in your favor. Upon arrival, you may board a Lake Ashi Cruise where you can enjoy and appreciate Hakone’s natural scenery. Take a 20-minute ropeway ride from Togendai to Owakudani. Along the ropeway, weather permitting, there will be great views of Mt. Fuji in the distance. While in Owakudani, visitors will have the chance to experience hot springs and sulfurous fumes along the trails of an active volcanic zone. After your tour, you will arrive at your Japanese-style hotel, known as a Ryokan. Here, you can experience a traditional Kaiseki dinner and enjoy the Onsen hot spring bath.

Breakfast / Dinner

Atami Onsen Sakura Ryokan or similar class

Note: We will courier your big baggage from Tokyo to your hotel in Kanazawa. Please pack your essentials for 2 nights in a small bag to carry with you to Hakone.

Day 5

Atami - Takayama

This morning, you will make your way to Atami Station on foot and board the bullet train to Nagoya. From Nagoya, transfer to Takayama via JR express train (7-day JR pass included). Upon arrival at Takayama Station, make your way to the hotel on your own. You will be free for leisure for the rest of the day.

Breakfast

Takayama Green Hotel or similar class

Day 6

Takayama - Shirakawago - Kanazawa

You will tour Takayama in the morning with a local guide. You will begin with the Takayama Morning Market, where visitors can taste local farm products and snacks. Then, stroll through the beautifully preserved Old Town. After strolling through streets that are reminiscent of the Edo Period (1600 -1868), you will then tour Takayama Jinya. This building served as the local government office headed by the officials dispatched from Edo and was in official use until 1969. In the afternoon, you will visit Shirakawago with your guide via highway bus – the trip is approximately 50 minutes. Travel to the UNESCO World Heritage site in the rural area of Shirakawa-go. Ogimachi Village is the main attraction where you can walk past thatched roof farm houses and cultivated fields and see unspoiled Edo period wooden buildings. Once there, go to the Shiroyama Viewpoint, and also Gassho-zukuri Minaen, which is an open-air museum of farmhouses and structures relocated to this area. Wada- ke House is the largest farmhouse in the area, which belongs to the village leader, is now open for visitors to have a look inside these buildings. From Shirakawago, continue to Kanazawa via highway bus – the trip will take approximately 135 minutes and your bus ticket is included. Upon arrival at Kanazawa Station, make your way to the hotel on your own.

Breakfast

Nikko Hotel Kanazawa or similar class

Day 7

Kanazawa

Today, you will be fully guided as you traverse Kanazawa via public transit. Begin with a visit to Kenrokuen Garden, regarded as one of the top three gardens of Japan. Stroll along the garden and enjoy the view of trees, stones, bridges and teahouses. At Myoryuji Temple, you will see how it got the nickname “Ninja Temple”. While the temple is not associated with the Ninja, it was built as a disguised military outpost and so has many hidden defenses, secret rooms, traps, and a labyrinth of corridors and staircases. Step back through time in the Nagamachi Samurai District where many old samurai residences remain at the foot of the former Kanazawa Castle. One such house, the Nomura family residence, has been fully restored and filled with artifacts of the time period to reflect the samurai class. Then, visit the Kaga Yuzen Traditional Industry Center. Kaga Yuzen is a type of silk fabric made for Kimono. You can see many Kimono on display here which use this fabric. Additionally, should you choose to add the experience to your itinerary, you can try on one of the traditional garments. Other optional experiences in the area include a Gold Leaf Craft Workshop and a visit to the Kutani Pottery Kilns which are famous for their detailed and intricate designs.

Breakfast

Nikko Hotel Kanazawa or similar class

Day 8

Kanazawa - Himeji - Hiroshima

Make your way to Kanazawa Station on foot and take the JR Express train to Osaka. From Osaka, board the bullet train to Hiroshima. Both trains are covered by your 7-day JR pass. On the way, you may choose to stop in Himeji for a visit for Himeji Castle, one of the original surviving twelve castles of Japan. It is known as "White Egret Castle" and "White Heron Castle" because of its brilliant white exterior, which resembles a bird taking flight. You may also choose to visit the nearby Kokoen Garden which is a relatively recently constructed Japanese style garden, opened in 1992 on the former site of the feudal lord's west residence. Upon arrival at Hiroshima Station, make your way to your hotel. You will then be free for leisure.

Breakfast

Hotel Granvia Hiroshima or similar class

Note: We will courier your big baggage from Kanazawa to your hotel in Kyoto. Please pack your essentials for 2 nights in a small bag to carry with you to Hiroshima.

Day 9

Hiroshima

Our first destination of the day is the Peace Memorial Park. The Peace Park consists of the Peace Memorial Museum, the A-Bomb Dome, and the Cenotaph for the A-Bomb Victims. The Peace Park is one of the most significant features of the city, devoted to the events that occurred on August 6, 1945. Afterwards, we will travel to Miyajima, where we will see Itsukushima Shrine. It is famous for being uniquely built over water, and its large torii gate that appears to “float” over the sea during high tide.

Breakfast

Hotel Granvia Hiroshima or similar class

Day 10

Hiroshima - Kyoto

Make your way to Hiroshima Station on your own and board the bullet train to Kyoto – included in your 7-day JR pass. Upon arrival at Kyoto station, you will make your way to the hotel on foot. For the rest of the day, you will be free for leisure. Or, you may choose to add a visit to a Traditional Wooden Townhouse to learn about Kimono, Green Tea Ceremony, Origami, Calligraphy and the art of Ikebana.

Breakfast

Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo or similar class

Day 11

Kyoto

Enjoy a fully guided day through the ancient city of Kyoto – one of the most deeply historic cities in the world. First, you can see the Fushimi Inari Shrine, renowned for its trail of thousands of torii gates. Tour Kiyomizu-dera, a famous temple in Japan that is best known for its large wooden stage that overlooks a hillside of natural scenery. Leading up to the temple are Ninen-zaka and Sannen-zaka, these streets are filled with preserved buildings that remind us of Japan’s past. Many of the buildings are selling souvenirs and Kyoto- specific wares. Then visit the brightly painted Yasaka- jinja Shrine, one of the city's best known and most popular landmarks, especially the two-story vermilion entrance gate at the end of Shijo-dori Avenue. Afterwards you will visit Maruyama Park, home to one of the biggest weeping cherry blossom trees and the most popular cherry blossom viewing location in Kyoto. We will end our day in the Gion Geisha District, where its streets are lined with ochaya (teahouses), exclusive establishments where guests are entertained by Geisha and Maiko. If you choose, you can also add the following optional experiences. Please note, optional experiences may require an additional day. One such experience is to try on the traditional garment of Kimono. Many visitors to Kyoto will wear a Kimono for the day to complete the traditional atmosphere that the city is known for. You can also experience a Rickshaw Ride, Green Tea Ceremony, Zen meditation in a temple with local monks, or a Kaiseki dinner with a Geisha performance.

Breakfast

Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo or similar class

Day 12

Kyoto

Once again, you will be fully guided on this day as you travel Kyoto via public transportation. Continue to explore Kyoto, traveling to Nijo Castle, a designated UNESCO world heritage site and a perfect architectural example of castles from the feudal era of Japan. Next, we will visit the Golden Pavilion covered with 18 carat gold leaf. This three-story structure was originally built by the Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu in 1397. Then we will tour Arashiyama. First is a visit to see Tenryuji Temple where you can have a glimpse of traditional rock landscape garden design. Then proceed through a dense bamboo grove, past several small shrines, tea shops and private houses before arriving at the Togetsukyo Bridge over Hozu River. Optional sections for this part of the tour include a Shojin Ryori Vegetarian Lunch, which is a traditional Buddhist lunch, a ride on the Sagano Romantic Train, or a cruise along the Hozugawa River.

Breakfast

Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo or similar class

Day 13

Kyoto - Nara - Kyoto

Today, we will travel to Nara and visit Nara Park which houses a number of interesting sites. First is Isuien Garden – a traditional Japanese Garden with a scenic view structured using “shakkei” or borrowed scenery, fusing the background with the trees within the area. Then, we will visit one of Japan’s most famous temples and a landmark of Nara, Todaiji Temple. Outside the temple, interact with the wild deer of Nara Deer Park. There are special deer crackers available at every corner of the area. Our last destination for the day will be Kasuga Grand Shrine, the family shrine for the powerful Fujiwara clan during the Nara and Heian periods, with unique architectural traits and an area filled with various styled lamps.

Breakfast

Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo or similar class

Day 14

Tour Ends

After breakfast, you will be free for leisure. You may make your own way to Osaka Kansai Airport via Haruka Express Train – train tickets included.

Breakfast

Note: If you would like the private airport transfer to be included, please contact us for the arrangements.