Sakura: The Cherry Blossoms Experience

• We’ll land at Narita International Airport, 60km outside of Tokyo, where international carriers are serviced. It is also Japan’s biggest airport. Once you’ve arrived, our representatives will welcome you to the Land of the Rising Sun before transferring you to the hotel. Enjoy a delightful Indian dinner on your first night in Japan at the hotel or packed Indian dinner before spending the night at the hotel in Narita. Our team will help you with check-in at the hotel.
• (Dinner)

• Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel before we set off to Tokyo for our tour.
• We will proceed for a delightful ride on the Sumida River Cruise to view the beautiful Cherry Blossom Trees. With Hanami being one of the most famous events for both locals and tourists, Japan has a list of unique ways to enjoy it. Enjoy an exquisite experience as you’re taken through the river that witnessed the growth of Tokyo, which used to be Edo. With how gorgeous and crystal clear the water is today, you probably won’t believe how this river had no fish in it over 70 years ago because of pollution that came with the rapid economic growth. It became one of the first megacities and today, Tokyo is the largest megacity in the world.
• We head next to Sensoji Temple, also known as the Asakusa Kannon Temple. It is dubbed as Tokyo’s oldest temple and remarkably one of the most colourful ones in Japan. This ancient temple was built in 1649 by Tokugawa Iemitsu and houses Kannon, the Goddess of Mercy, who’s also known as Guanyin in Chinese.
• On our way out, take a stroll along Nakamise Street, Asakusa’s quintessential shopping centre right next to Sensoji Temple. It’s still bustling with life as thousands flock to the street to shop and eat while enjoying the old-Tokyo vibe. And to spice things up, you’ll be invited to wear the traditional clothing of Japan, yukata or kimono, while shopping and exploring the area. Then we’ll stop at Tokyo Skytree, which is an observation and broadcasting tower that looms over at 634m tall (outside view). After a shopping to your heart’s content, we’ll head to the restaurant for lunch.
• We’ll take you to enjoy your dinner at the restaurant before driving you back to the hotel for check-in and an overnight stay in Tokyo.
• (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)

• After a delightful buffet breakfast at the hotel, today’s tour starts with Hie Shrine of Tokyo. This popular temple is best known for the bright red torii gates. It is known as a hidden shrine located on a hilltop covered with trees, obscuring the building from afar. This Shinto shrine brags a stunning view and tranquil atmosphere, and known as home to the national treasure, a long sword named “Itomaki-no-Tachi.”
• Moving on, we’ll stop at another cultural landmark in Minamoto, the Odaiba Statue of Liberty. This Lady Liberty was originally a temporary tribute moved from Paris to Japan as France’s act of celebration of their ties for a year in 1998. It became so popular that a replica was erected in Odaiba in 2000. Not far is the Rainbow Bridge, another suspension bridge that connects Shibaura Pier to Odaiba waterfront.
• And we’re finally visiting Ueno Park, a famous public park where many museums are located at. But this place is best known as a popular cherry blossom viewing spot! During peak season when the flowers are at their most beautiful, you’ll see groups of employees, friends, and families having picnic under the trees, spending some quality time hanging out as they watch the ground gets covered in white and pink. We’ll take you to the restaurant for lunch after Ueno Park.
• We head out to Miraikan Science Museum next after the lunch break. You’ve heard of Japan as the lead when it comes innovative technology and life-changing engineering. But this National Museum is where you can see the progress of science technology, the history of how science changed our lives, and as it bears the name of “Future Museum,” you can’t help but be amazed of the cutting-edge technology that seems to appear from the future. It has also earned a compliment from US President Barrack Obama during his visit in 2014.
• We drive back to the city centre to visit Mori Art Museum. It is the centre of digital art of Japan, showcasing art from various aspects in life, from videography, to fashion and architecture. It was founded by Minoru Mori, a man with passion for contemporary art and located on Roppongi Hills, which is a constantly developing property with this museum being among many things to do and see in Roppongi Hills.
• Then we’ll head to one of Tokyo’s top shopping districts, Ginza. It’s a place dense-packed with stores of all kinds, from luxurious boutiques to giant electronics department stores. Foreigners liken the place to the famed London’s Oxford Street and New York’s Fifth Avenue, and this is where you find the latest, upscale fashion retailers selling the newest style and premium products.
• Once you have your share of exploring and splurging in Ginza, enjoy your dinner before heading back to your hotel for another night in Tokyo.

• After breakfast at the hotel, we leave Tokyo for Hakone Ropeway, which is an observation platform overlooking Owakudani. This is Hakone’s most popular destination, which takes about 30 minutes to reach by aerial lift. Enjoy the unforgettable sight of the rising volcanic fumes of Owakudani during the cable ride as well as from the observation platform. You can also see Mount Fuji from afar on a clear day. We’ll enjoy our lunch before continuing.
• If the weather allows, we’ll drive up to Mt. Fuji 5th Station. Fujinomiya 5th Station is the highest of the 5th stations and is also a popular choice to hike as it has the shortest route up Mt. Fuji. The ride up is also enjoyable with scenery that’ll keep you from getting bored.
• We head down from the 5th Station and head to Nagoya for your hotel. We’ll help you check-in and let you rest for the night in Nagoya.

• After breakfast in Nagoya, we’ll check-out and head to Kyoto. When it comes to Kyoto, you’d naturally think of the famed bamboo forest where couples love to visit as a dating spot. The Arashiyama Bamboo Forest is a natural bamboo grove known for the beautiful, silent view of a relaxing hour-long walk through the forest. There’s also the Sagano Romantic Train ride where visitors enjoy the beautiful view of cherry blossoms.
• After exiting the bamboo forest, we continue to the most popular temple in Kyoto, Kinkaku-ji. This is a Zen Buddhist temple, which also has the official name Rokuonji, “Deer Park Temple”. What makes this place fascinating is the top two floors of the Zen Temple, which is completely covered in gold leaf and earned this place the name “Kinkaku” or Golden Pavilion. On top of that, this was also the retirement villa of shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu who passed away in 1408, a descendant of the family that dominated Japan during their time.
• Then we’ll follow up with a visit to yet another gorgeous Shinto shrine, the Fushimi Inari Shrine. This temple worships Inari, who’s the god of rice and agriculture, and serves as the head shrine of Inari God. It is built 233 metres above sea level, with a number of smaller shrines spread across the 4-kilometre path leading up to the main shrine. The “Senbon Torii” or thousand torii gate was donated by Japanese businesses who believe in the God’s blessings and they continue to be added up to this day. The hike up is easy and takes two hours, great for a light workout and a satisfying view from atop Mount Inari as the goal.
• We’ll also attend a Japanese tea ceremony (Sado) in Kyoto, a very famous traditional event, but not to worry – you can keep your casual clothes in here. Enjoy an authentic experience in a calming environment as you learn the significance of tea ceremony and the unique taste of matcha. Bond with fellow guests and the host, ask curious questions about the tea, or simply drown in the exquisite taste of the unblemished tea.
• After tea, hop on the bullet train for our ride to Fukuyama, which takes less than 1.5 hours. Be marvelled as you ride one of the world’s fastest land ride, traversing across 220km on a train which runs up to 320km/h. Once we’ve arrived, check-in at the hotel and enjoy your dinner before spending an overnight in Fukuyama.

• We start the day with a satisfying breakfast in Fukuyama before starting our day trip to Hiroshima. We head to the Atomic Bomb Dome, which is part of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996, after the tragedy that befell the city in 1945. Back in 1915, this was the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall, where people showcased and sold products of Hiroshima and several art galleries were held. Then we move to the Peace Memorial Museum, which documents the aftermath of the destruction after a single atomic bomb decimated tens of thousands of lives. It is a symbol of Japan’s determination to advocate for the elimination of nuclear weapons.
• The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park also houses the Children’s Peace Monument, a beautiful reminder of the thousands of children, including Sadako Sasaki, who lost their lives on the harrowing day and the years that follow from exposure to the toxic radiation.
• Then we’ll head to Okayama Korakuen Garden, a beautiful landscape garden situated next to the Okayama Castle built around 300 years ago by a domain lord. This Japanese Garden is one of the best, classic way to spend your time watching cherry blossoms as you share the same magnificent view with people from hundreds of years ago watching the same flowers bloom and fall. The Korakuen Garden is one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan.
• We’ll return back to Fukuyama for dinner and to rest at the hotel.

• After breakfast, we check-out from Fukuyama and head to the Kansai region of Japan: Osaka. Once we arrive in Osaka, we visit Umeda Sky Building, a prominent landmark in Osaka consisting of two 40-floor towers connected by a bridge at the highest ground. It is the nineteenth tallest building in the prefecture, and the high-rise building serves as a great viewpoint of the city landscape.
• Osaka is possibly best known for Osaka Castle, one of the most famous landmarks in Japan that were built in 1597. It was the center point of Japan’s unification during the 16th century between opposing forces on the island. Today, it’s a museum that has survived numerous disasters, including fire from a lightning storm strike, and was rebuilt several times where you can learn about the history of Osaka, feudal lords, and the building itself inside the 8-story castle.
• You won’t have been to Osaka if you don’t visit Dotonbori & Shinsaibashi for their iconic arcade center. This area is Japan’s oldest shopping center and continues to be one of the busiest streets in Japan, stretching from Shinsaibashi station to Dotonbori. It’s impossible to run out of interesting things to see and buy here, and most importantly, good food and snacks! Enjoy your dinner after this.
• We’ll head to our hotel afterwards for check-in and let you rest on your first night in Osaka.

After breakfast, you’ll have free time on your own until time to check-out or your flight. We’ll drive you to the airport for your flight back home. We hope you had a great blast with us and tell how you enjoyed your trip to Japan along with suggestions on how we can improve for your next trip with us!