CLASSIC JAPAN TOUR AT CHERRY BLOSSOM TIME 2025
24 March - 5 April 2025
Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Uji & Nara, Hiroshima, Miyajima, and Osaka.
From £6,495.00
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
This unforgettable tour marks the coming of spring and with it, new life, epitomised by Japan's spectacular cherry blossom season. All across the Japanese archipelago, people expectantly wait for the sakura blossoms to open and celebrate their beauty at day and night viewing parties.
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Escorted tours of Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Uji & Nara, Hiroshima, and Miyajima island
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Cherry blossom viewing
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Travel on the Bullet Train
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Japanese hot spring experience in Hakone and on Miyajima Island
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Dinner with a Maiko in Kyoto's Gion district
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Services of a knowledgeable Japan Journeys tour leader throughout
DAILY ITINERARY
24 & 25 March: UK / JAPAN
Fly overnight to Japan where you will arrive the next day. On arrival, you will be met by your tour leader who will take you by private coach to comfortable 4* hotel for 4 nights.
26 March: TOKYO GUIDED TOUR
Enjoy a full-day city tour by private coach beginning with a visit to the bustling Senso-ji Temple in the downtown area of Asakusa before moving on to wonderful Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden for a fantastic cherry blossom viewing. We will end the day by ascending Tocho (the Tokyo Municipal Government Building) for a panoramic view of Tokyo. Enjoy a welcome dinner tonight.
(Breakfast & Dinner included).
27 March: TOKYO GUIDED TOUR
This morning we head to serene Meiji Jingu, a shrine dedicated to the Emperor Meiji who was the first emperor of modern Japan. We will then head to Ueno Park - one of the most famous places for cherry blossom viewing in Japan and home to some of the finest museums in the country. Enjoy your afternoon at leisure.
(Breakfast included)
28 March: TOKYO FREE DAY
Today you are free to explore more of Tokyo's attractions. We recommend the trendy nearby district of Harajuku and the electronics district of Akihabara. There are also some lovely parks for cherry blossom viewing.
Alternatively, you might like to join a 1-Day optional tour to Kamakura (the political centre of medieval Japan) and Enoshima Bay, or a 1- day optional tour to Nikko, a superb temple town in the mountains north of Tokyo. Lunch is included on both optional tours.
(Breakfast included)
N.B. In order to make your journey to Kyoto more comfortable, we recommend that you pack a small overnight bag for your night’s stay in Hakone as the remainder of your luggage will be sent ahead separately to your Kyoto hotel. The cost of sending one standard-sized suitcase is included in our tour price. Additional baggage will cost extra.
29 March: TOKYO TO HAKONE
Today we say goodbye to Tokyo and board the Bullet Train bound for Hakone, a peaceful mountain resort in the foothills of Mt Fuji. We check into the lovely 4* resort-hotel for the night. You are free to spend the afternoon strolling the mountain paths and relaxing in your hotel's soothing private indoor and outdoor hot spring baths. Enjoy a delicious dinner tonight.
(Breakfast & Dinner included)
30 March: HAKONE TO KYOTO
Following breakfast, we will explore the landscape of Hakone by private coach, ride in a cable car for a 360-degree panorama of the surrounding mountains and volcanic valleys of Owakudani and enjoy a wonderful cruise across Lake Ashi. Before departing for Kyoto, we will briefly visit Odawara Castle to see the beautiful cherry blossoms in the castle grounds. We will arrive in Kyoto in the evening, and we will check in to centrally located 4* hotel for 4 nights.
(Breakfast included)
31 March: KYOTO GUIDED TOUR
Enjoy a full day visiting the sights of Kyoto by private air-conditioned coach, beginning with the beautiful temples and blossoming gardens of Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion. We will then visit Sanjusangendo, a temple in eastern Kyoto renowned for its 1,001 unique standing Bodhisattva statues. After lunch, we will visit we will visit Kiyomizudera, a hillside temple offering fabulous views over the city.
(Breakfast & Lunch included)
1 April: KYOTO AT LEISURE - DINNER WITH MAIKO
This morning is yours to enjoy at leisure. In the late afternoon, we will enjoy a walk in the famous Geisha district of Gion followed by a very special experience where we will enjoy a light dinner in company of a Maiko (apprentice Geisha) who will entertain us, and we will have the opportunity to take pictures with her.
(Breakfast & Dinner included)
2 April: UJI & NARA DAY TOUR
Today we will take a day trip by private coach to Uji which is famous for the most delicious green tea. We will visit a lovely tea shop that has provided tea to the Shoguns and Imperial family. We will then go on to visit Byodoin Temple which you can find depicted on the back of a 10-yen coin. After lunch, we will head to the sleepy town of Nara, Japan's first permanent capital. In Nara we will visit Todai-ji Temple, home to the Great Buddha. Nara Park is a lovely place to stroll, relax and get close to the deer.
(Breakfast included)
NB. We recommend that you pack a small overnight bag for your night's stay on Miyajima as the remainder of your luggage will be sent ahead separately to your Osaka hotel. The cost of sending one standard-sized suitcase is included in our tour price. Additional baggage will cost extra.
3 April: KYOTO TO HIROSHIMA/MIYAJIMA
Today we head to the moving city of Hiroshima. We first visit the Atomic Bomb Dome, Peace Memorial Park, and Peace Memorial Museum. After lunch we will take a short train and ferry ride to the beautiful island of Miyajima, once considered so sacred that commoners were forbidden. Enjoy the beautiful scenery and fantastic views of the o-torii of Itsukushima Shrine, one of the most famous sights in Japan. By late afternoon the day-trippers will have left the island, and we will spend a magical evening at a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn). Enjoy your farewell dinner in the evening.
(Breakfast & Dinner included)
4 April: MIYAJIMA TO OSAKA
Spend the morning at leisure exploring Miyajima Island. Board the cable car to the top of Mt Misen for great views of the surrounding area. There is also the wonderful aquarium to visit. Later today we will head to Osaka where you will check in here for 1 night. In Osaka explore Dotonbori district for shopping, entertainment, and eating.
(Breakfast included)
5 April: DEPART JAPAN
It's time to say sayonara.
We will transfer to Kansai International Airport (Osaka) by private coach.
(Breakfast included)
ACCOMMODATION
TOKYO: KEIO PLAZA
HAKONE: HAKONE HIGHLAND HOTEL
KYOTO: RIHGA PLACE KYOTO SHIJO KARASUMA
MIYAJIMA: JUKEISO RYOKAN
OSAKA: CITADINES NAMBA OSAKA
DATES & INCLUSIONS
TOUR DATES:
24 March - 5 April 2025
Tour Prices
Total Price: £6,495.00 per person
PRICE INCLUDES:
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Economy class scheduled international flights (with a change of plane en route).
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10 nights' accommodation at centrally located 4* hotels in Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, and Osaka with breakfast daily.
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1 night's accommodation at a traditional ryokan with its own hot springs on Miyajima Island on a dinner and breakfast basis.
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Services of a knowledgeable Japan Journeys Tour Manager throughout.
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Airport Transfers by private coach in Japan for those passengers arriving and/or departing with the main group (customers flying to/from a different airport and pre and post extension passengers will need to arrange their own airport transfers).
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Welcome Dinner on 24 March & Dinner in Hakone.
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Dinner with a Maiko in Kyoto's Gion district on 30 March.
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Lunch on 31 March in Kyoto.
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Farewell Dinner at the ryokan on Miyajima Island on 3 April.
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JR Bullet Train and Limited Express train tickets for all journeys above.
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Additional prepaid transportation card which can be used across the transportation in Japan.
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Entrance fees and transportation fares to all attractions mentioned above.
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All Japanese sales taxes and service charge.
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Full financial protection via Japan Journeys' membership of the Travel Trust Association through which your monies are held in a Trust Account until you return home.
NOT INCLUDED IN PRICE
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Travel Insurance (available on our website).
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Any journeys made by you on your free days.
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Other meals not mentioned above.
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Entrance to any attractions not named in the itinerary.
OPTIONAL TOURS
1 Day Nikko World Heritage Tour: £155.00 per person (Lunch included)
1 Day Kamakura & Enoshima Bay Tour: £130.00 per person (Lunch included)
BOOKING INFORMATION
All price estimates are based on a minimum of 20 people travelling. All price estimates are based on current rates of exchange. To confirm a place on the trip, a deposit of 10% per person must be paid. The balance of the price of the trip must be made 12 weeks prior to departure. If you wish to extend your trip pre tour in Tokyo or post-tour in Kyoto, you can do so on request.
INSURANCE
Travel can be a great experience, but it can also be fraught with problems, so when going anywhere it is essential you are properly covered with good travel insurance. You should be protected against cancellation, curtailment, and loss or damage to your belongings as well as medical emergencies and have peace of mind if the unexpected happens.
Japan Journeys in association with Holiday Extras, is now able to offer excellent low-cost cover to their customers.