An upscale ryokan with a fantastic view of Mt. Fuji

The iconic Kaminari-mon in Asakusa, an amazing blend of times

The great Todai-ji temple in all its vernal glory

Classic Sakura

10 days

TokyoFuji Five LakesKawaguchikoKyotoKameokaArashiyamaKyotoNaraYoshinoOsakaHimejiOsaka

A luxurious hotel on a hillside overlooking Nara Park

The weeping Japanese cherry in Heian Jingu

A canopy of sakura along the Philosopher's Path

Kyoto-style kaiseki lunch in a traditional Japanese restaurant

A thoroughly beautiful hotel in the heart of Tokyo
The iconic Kaminari-mon in Asakusa, an amazing blend of times
Evening illumination of the cherry trees in Chidorigafuchi
Only the freshest sushi served in Tsukiji Fish Market!
Unusually designed restaurant and its special Hoto udon set
An upscale ryokan with a fantastic view of Mt. Fuji
The weeping Japanese cherry in Heian Jingu
A canopy of sakura along the Philosopher's Path
A classy ryokan in Yunohana onsen, Kameoka
Romantic train ride from Kameoka to Arashiyama
Kyoto-style kaiseki lunch in a traditional Japanese restaurant
The great Todai-ji temple in all its vernal glory
A luxurious hotel on a hillside overlooking Nara Park
By far Japan's most famous cherry blossom spot, Mt. Yoshino
The illustrious Osaka Castle, adorned with pinkish white petals
The best castle in Japan just got better with sakura!
The legendary wagyu steak prepared in teppanyaki-style
Tour code: CB-01-EN
Classic Sakura
Travel style: Comfort

10 days

TokyoFuji Five LakesKawaguchikoKyotoKameokaArashiyamaKyotoNaraYoshinoOsakaHimejiOsaka

Cherry Blossoms
Availability: From March 26 to April 10

Overview

Spring is a season of new beginnings. A season of hope and joy. A season where everything blossoms. To bring you the best of Japan during the best of seasons, we have created the definitive sakura experience. Spanning ten days, this tour features the best sakura spots during the bloom season from the end of March to early April.

This comprehensive itinerary covers the major destinations between Tokyo and Himeji. Between the two is every permutation for the best sakura viewing experience. You will see the magnificent cherry blossoms in urban parks, before a great mountain, around great temples, along a river, under the night sky, and more. You will also notice a diversity in species and colors. Such is the beauty of spring in Japan.

We made sure to include a variety of quintessential vernal activities to make the trip even more memorable. You will enjoy a hanami picnic, a romantic train ride, a philosopher’s walk, and more. You will also see the legendary hitome-senbon in Mt. Yoshino, where one thousand blossoming cherry trees are visible within your field of view. With our Classic Sakura tour, each spot is unique, each city has identity. A classic Japan tour has never been prettier.

You might be also interested in

Trip name days  
Valentine Sakura Tokyo to Tokyo 7
Festive Sakura Tokyo to Tokyo 10
Sakura Express Tokyo to Osaka 7

Overview

Spring is a season of new beginnings. A season of hope and joy. A season where everything blossoms. To bring you the best of Japan during the best of seasons, we have created the definitive sakura experience. Spanning ten days, this tour features the best sakura spots during the bloom season from the end of March to early April.

This comprehensive itinerary covers the major destinations between Tokyo and Himeji. Between the two is every permutation for the best sakura viewing experience. You will see the magnificent cherry blossoms in urban parks, before a great mountain, around great temples, along a river, under the night sky, and more. You will also notice a diversity in species and colors. Such is the beauty of spring in Japan.

We made sure to include a variety of quintessential vernal activities to make the trip even more memorable. You will enjoy a hanami picnic, a romantic train ride, a philosopher’s walk, and more. You will also see the legendary hitome-senbon in Mt. Yoshino, where one thousand blossoming cherry trees are visible within your field of view. With our Classic Sakura tour, each spot is unique, each city has identity. A classic Japan tour has never been prettier.

Highlights

Outline

Arrival: Narita International Airport

Day 1: Arrival in TokyoTokyo

Arrive in Tokyo. Adventure is about to start!

Day 2: Tokyo TourTokyo

Explore Tokyo, a city where sakura is beautiful day and night

Meals included : Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Day 3: Mt. Fuji TourFuji Five Lakes › Kawaguchiko

Explore the Fuji Five Lakes area, and enjoy panoramic views of the mountain

Meals included : Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Day 4: Kyoto TourKyoto › Kameoka

Explore Kyoto, where cherry blossoms line your path between temples

Meals included : Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Day 5: Arashiyama and Kyoto TourArashiyama › Kyoto › Nara

Explore Arashiyama, where flowers give color to the mountains and river

Meals included : Breakfast / Lunch

Day 6: Nara TourNara

Explore Nara, where hundreds of deer roam under the cherry trees

Meals included : Breakfast / Lunch

Day 7: Yoshino TourYoshino › Osaka

Explore Yoshino, the most famous sakura viewing spot in Japan

Meals included : Breakfast / Lunch

Day 8: Osaka TourOsaka

Explore Osaka and its classic landmarks, and observe the city from above

Meals included : Breakfast / Lunch

Day 9: Himeji TourHimeji › Osaka

Explore Himeji, home to the best castle in the whole country

Meals included : Breakfast / Lunch

Day 10: Leaving JapanOsaka

Leave Japan, and bring home many wonderful memories!

Meals included : Breakfast

Departure: Kansai International Airport

Hotels

What is included?

Tour Accommodation

Western hotel: 7 nights -- Japanese ryokan: 2 nights

Meals

9 breakfasts -- 8 lunches -- 3 dinners

Transport

Airport pickup -- Private car: 8 days -- Bullet train: 1 time (Odawara - Kyoto)

Tour guide

Airport pickup -- Guided tour: 8 days

Included activities

Tickets for attractions and rides as defined in the itinerary, where necessary

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the tour

International flights are not included in the tour price, and should be independently arranged by the traveler. This particular itinerary starts in Tokyo and ends in Osaka. Please book a flight to either Narita International Airport (NRT) or Haneda Airport (HND), and a flight out of Kansai International Airport (KIX). It should be noted that we can arrange the included airport pickup service only if your flight arrives during working hours (between 9 AM and 5 PM, Japan time). We recommend flights that arrive around/after noon, as you can only check into your hotel starting at 3 PM.
An English-speaking guide will accompany you on Days 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. The guide will be at your service during the designated tour hours. Please note that the guide will be staying at the same hotel as you on Day 3 for logistical reasons. The guide will also pick you up at the airport if your flight arrives during working hours (between 9 AM and 5 PM, Japan time). In the event that your flight arrives early, we can arrange a half-day tour on the day of arrival at an additional cost.
The tour price includes seven nights in 3- or 4-star hotels and two nights in a predesignated ryokan (Japanese-style inn). Breakfast is included for each night’s stay in a hotel, whereas both dinner and breakfast are included for every night in a ryokan unless otherwise specified in the itinerary. Lunch is provided on every guided day, but not on days of arrival or departure. Dinner outside of the pre-included ryokan meal is provided on Day 2. As you can only check into your hotel starting at 3 PM, in the event that your flight arrives early, we can arrange lunch on the day of arrival at an additional cost.
The tour price includes the service of a driver and a private car on every guided day. It also includes a scheduled bullet train transfer between Odawara and Kyoto on Day 4. The driver and car will be available only during the designated tour hours, and only for the included destinations. Please note that the driver will be staying at the same hotel as you on Day 3 for logistical reasons. Airport pickup is also included if your flight arrives during working hours (between 9 AM and 5 PM, Japan time). In the event that your flight arrives early, we can extend the use of the private car for the purposes of lunch or a half-day tour at an additional cost. Please note that airport transfer for departure is not included.
All entrance tickets for destinations defined in the schedule are included in the tour price. Some tickets cannot be pre-booked, and it may be necessary for the guide to procure them on the spot. Please note that some attractions require strict compliance to pre-booked entrance times, and may void the booking if the schedule is not observed. As such, please complete your preparations to leave the hotel by the designated start time of the day.

You might be also interested in

Trip name days
Valentine Sakura Tokyo to Tokyo 7
Festive Sakura Tokyo to Tokyo 10
Sakura Express Tokyo to Osaka 7

Day 1: Arrival in Tokyo

  Tokyo

Arrival: Narita International Airport

Park Hotel Tokyo Western hotel

Activities

The first day is a standard affair. Your guide will pick you up at the airport and assist you with preparations for the tour. A private coach will take you to your hotel in the heart of the city. After the check-in procedures are completed, you will have the rest of the day to yourselves.

Day 2: Tokyo Tour

  Tokyo
Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner Park Hotel Tokyo Western hotel

Schedule

  • 09:00 - 10:00 Transfer to Asakusa
  • 10:00 - 11:30 Asakusa and Senso-ji
  • 11:30 - 12:00 Transfer to Ueno Park
  • 12:00 - 13:30 Ueno Park (bento lunch and hanami)
  • 13:30 - 14:00 Transfer to Odaiba
  • 14:00 - 15:00 Sightseeing around Odaiba
  • 15:00 - 15:30 Transfer to central Tokyo / Shinjuku (Mon/Fri)
  • 15:30 - 16:30 Tokyo Imperial Palace (East Garden) / Shinjuku Gyoen (Mon/Fri)
  • 16:30 - 17:00 Transfer to Tsukiji
  • 17:00 - 18:30 Sushi dinner
  • 18:30 - 19:00 Transfer to Chidorigafuchi
  • 19:00 - 19:30 Chidorigafuchi (sakura light-up)
  • 19:00 - 20:00 Return to hotel

Meals

Breakfast
Western-style buffet
Lunch
Bento box, to be eaten in the park
Dinner
Sushi set served in Tsukiji Fish Market

Activities

This day is designed around 3 different sakura viewing spots, each a different experience. On the first one, you will enjoy the hanami custom as the Japanese do, eating a light lunch under a cherry tree. For the second, you will visit either the East Garden of Tokyo Imperial Palace or Shinjuku Gyoen, both of which offer you great sakura views and neatly organized gardens. Finally, you will see cherry blossoms light up during the evening at Chidorigafuchi.

The sakura appreciation will be interspersed with famous Tokyo spots along the Sumida River, Asakusa and Odaiba. You will see, among other things, the Senso-ji temple, Tokyo Skytree, Tokyo Tower, and Rainbow Bridge over Tokyo Bay. You will also have an early dinner of delicious sushi at Tsukiji, the famous fish market. The best is yet to come, for you will be treated to even more marvelous sights on the next day.

Day 3: Mt. Fuji Tour

  Fuji Five Lakes › Kawaguchiko
Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner Fuji View Hotel Ryokan

Schedule

  • 09:00 - 11:30 Transfer to Fuji Five Lakes
  • 11:30 - 12:30 Arakura Sengen Shrine
  • 12:30 - 13:00 Transfer to Iyashi no Sato
  • 13:00 - 14:30 Hoto udon lunch
  • 14:30 - 15:30 Drive around Lake Kawaguchi
  • 15:30 - 16:00 Transfer to ryokan
  • 16:00 - 18:00 Ryokan check-in >> onsen, free time
  • 18:00 - 19:30 Beef kaiseki dinner

Meals

Breakfast
Western-style buffet
Lunch
Hoto udon, Fuji Five Lakes’ signature thick noodles with vegetarian miso broth
Dinner
Beef kaiseki course served in the ryokan

Activities

The main highlight of the day is of course Mt. Fuji, which has high visibility during early spring. The destinations have been chosen to bring you the classic views often featured in Japanese postcards. You will see many faces of the great mountain: looming over a city, during lunch, reflected on a lake, outside your hotel. As beautiful as Mt. Fuji pictures are, they are at least twice as picturesque with the cherry blossoms in the same frame.

In an attempt to further capture the quintessential Japanese experience, we chose the meal and accommodation accordingly. For lunch, you will enjoy a local recipe. The famous udon noodles prepared with vegetarian ingredients is a specialty of the Fuji Five Lakes region. As for your hotel, it will feature not only an impressive panorama, but also indoor and outdoor hot spring baths. You will also enjoy a nice dinner of Koshu beef.

Day 4: Kyoto Tour

  Kyoto › Kameoka
Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner Sumiya Kiho-an Ryokan

Schedule

  • 09:00 - 10:00 Ryokan check-out >> transfer to Odawara
  • 10:00 - 12:00 Transfer to Kyoto by shinkansen
  • 12:00 - 13:30 Kyo-ryori lunch
  • 13:30 - 13:45 Transfer to Heian Jingu
  • 13:45 - 14:45 Heian Jingu
  • 14:45 - 15:00 Transfer to Ginkaku-ji
  • 15:00 - 16:30 Philosopher’s Path
  • 16:30 - 17:30 Transfer to Kameoka
  • 17:30 - 18:00 Ryokan check-in >> free time, onsen
  • 18:00 - 19:30 Sukiyaki dinner

Meals

Breakfast
Japanese- or Western-style buffet
Lunch
Kyoto-style kaiseki set, also known as Kyo-ryori
Dinner
Sukiyaki, a hot pot-esque dish featuring Tamba beef

Activities

A bullet train will take you to Kyoto, a historic city of a thousand temples. Two of them you will visit today: Heian Jingu and Ginkaku-ji. In the former, you will see budding shidare-zakura blossoms, also known as the weeping cherry. From the latter, you will take a walk on the famous Philosopher’s Path, a 2-km stretch of blooming cherry trees. A canopy of flowers will filter the sunlight along the path, creating a breathtaking scene.

Throughout the day, you will experience the classic side of Japan that Kyoto epitomizes. For lunch, you will try authentic Kyoto cuisine, delectable for not only your palates but also all your senses. In the evening, you will enjoy a stay in a true ryokan in Kameoka, a hidden gem just west of Kyoto. In this atmospheric lodging, you can enjoy good food and refreshing onsen. Get plenty of quality rest after the long walk in Kyoto!

Day 5: Arashiyama and Kyoto Tour

  Arashiyama › Kyoto › Nara
Breakfast / Lunch Nara Hotel Western hotel

Schedule

  • 09:30 - 10:30 Ryokan check-out >> transfer to Kameoka Station
  • 10:30 - 11:00 Sagano Romantic Train (Kameoka - Arashiyama)
  • 11:00 - 12:30 Sightseeing around Arashiyama
  • 12:30 - 14:00 Kyo-ryori lunch
  • 14:00 - 15:00 Transfer to Kyoto
  • 15:00 - 15:45 Kinkaku-ji
  • 15:45 - 17:00 Transfer to Nara >> hotel check-in

Meals

Breakfast
Japanese-style breakfast set
Lunch
Kyo-ryori with ingredients that accentuate the essence of four seasons

Activities

Today, you will see the first highlight of the Classic Sakura tour. In the morning, you will board the Sagano Romantic Train from Kameoka Station. The scenic railway runs slowly along the Hozu River, affording you an incredible view of the surrounding nature, including the rows of cherry trees and the beautiful mountains. Stopping at Arashiyama, you will then take in even more unbelievable sights, including the panorama from the Togetsukyo bridge and the bamboo grove.

After a delightful kaiseki lunch by the river, you will return to the city of Kyoto and visit another of its iconic landmark: the golden pavilion. This temple will bedazzle you with its glittering exterior, reflected in the water along with the greens that surround it. You will bid Kyoto goodbye after briefly revisiting it and leave for Nara, where you will be staying tonight.

Day 6: Nara Tour

  Nara
Breakfast / Lunch Nara Hotel Western hotel

Schedule

  • 09:00 - 10:00 Transfer to Nara Park
  • 10:00 - 11:00 Nara Park
  • 11:00 - 12:00 Todai-ji
  • 12:00 - 12:15 Transfer to restaurant
  • 12:15 - 13:45 Cha-gayu lunch
  • 13:45 - 14:00 Transfer to Kasuga Taisha
  • 14:00 - 15:00 Kasuga Taisha
  • 15:00 - 15:45 Transfer to Horyu-ji
  • 15:45 - 16:30 Horyu-ji
  • 16:30 - 17:00 Return to hotel

Meals

Breakfast
Japanese- or Western-style breakfast
Lunch
Cha-gayu, a traditional Nara-style tea porridge

Activities

Nara Park is simply gorgeous in spring, combining both adorable wildlife and a forest of cherry trees. You can take your time feeding the cute deer that roam around and enjoying the scenic view in the park. You will then visit the great temples and shrine that make Nara world-famous. In particular, you will see the country’s largest Daibutsu statue in the country’s largest wooden structure.

For the complete the Nara experience, you cannot miss out on the tea porridge for lunch. Called cha-gayu in Japanese, the dish originated in old Yamato, which was Nara’s name more than 1,700 years ago. At the end of the exciting day, you will once again return to your hotel in Nara, where you will stay another night.

Day 7: Yoshino Tour

  Yoshino › Osaka
Breakfast / Lunch Osaka Daiichi Hotel Western hotel

Schedule

  • 09:00 - 10:30 Hotel check-out >> transfer to Yoshino Station
  • 10:30 - 11:30 Take the shuttle bus to Naka Senbon
  • 11:30 - 13:00 Washoku lunch
  • 13:00 - 14:00 Walk around Naka Senbon area
  • 14:00 - 15:00 Yoshimizu Shrine
  • 15:00 - 16:00 Kinpusen-ji Temple
  • 16:00 - 16:30 Walk to Yoshino Station
  • 16:30 - 18:30 Transfer to Osaka >> hotel check-in

Meals

Breakfast
Japanese- or Western-style breakfast
Lunch
Assorted washoku set served in a ryokan restaurant in Yoshino

Activities

Leaving Nara in the morning, you will be brought to another highlight of this Classic Sakura tour. Mt. Yoshino is by far the most famous cherry blossom spot in the country. Just by reaching the foot of the mountain, you will be treated to an explosion of spring colors. From there you will first ascend the mountain up to the Naka Senbon area, and then work your way down until eventually arriving at your starting point at Yoshino Station.

On the way down you will visit a shrine and a temple. The former features an iconic view of a thousand cherry trees covering entire slopes within an eyeshot. The latter has the second largest wooden structure in Japan, making it a nice follow-up to Todai-ji on the previous day. Words do not do the beauty of this mountain justice -- and as they say, seeing is believing. After the awe-inspiring adventure at Mt. Yoshino, you will be transferred to Osaka.

Day 8: Osaka Tour

  Osaka
Breakfast / Lunch Osaka Daiichi Hotel Western hotel

Schedule

  • 09:00 - 10:00 Transfer to Osaka Castle
  • 10:00 - 11:30 Osaka Castle
  • 11:30 - 12:00 Transfer to Namba
  • 12:00 - 13:30 Crab lunch
  • 13:30 - 15:00 Sightseeing around Namba/Shinsaibashi
  • 15:00 - 15:30 Transfer to Umeda Sky Building
  • 15:30 - 16:30 Umeda Sky Building (Floating Garden Observatory)
  • 16:00 - 17:00 Return to hotel

Meals

Breakfast
Western-style buffet
Lunch
A variety of crab dishes is Osaka’s most famous crab restaurant

Activities

Exactly one week since your arrival in Tokyo, you will once again be touring a big city. As a change of pace from the natural attractions of the past few days, you will be visiting the man-made landmarks of Osaka. Two impressive works architecture await you: first is the repurposed Osaka Castle, now a museum, and second is the two connected towers collectively referred to as the Umeda Sky Building.

From atop the castle you will be able to see Nishinomaru Park teeming with visitors during the cherry blossom season, whereas on the open-air observation deck of the skyscraper you may see as far as the Awaji Islands across the strait on a typical clear day in spring. Of course, a classic Osaka tour is not complete without the famous crab dishes in Namba! As you will be staying yet another night in Osaka, this is also your chance to enjoy the lively evening atmosphere of the city.

Day 9: Himeji Tour

  Himeji › Osaka
Breakfast / Lunch Hotel Nikko Kansai Airport Western hotel

Schedule

  • 09:00 - 11:00 Hotel check-out >> transfer to Himeji
  • 11:00 - 12:30 Teppanyaki lunch
  • 12:30 - 12:45 Transfer to Himeji Castle
  • 12:45 - 14:30 Himeji Castle
  • 14:30 - 17:00 Transfer to Kansai International Airport >> hotel check-in

Meals

Breakfast
Western-style buffet
Lunch
Teppanyaki, delicious wagyu beef prepared on an iron griddle

Activities

On your penultimate day in Japan, you will visit the ultimate castle. The newly restored castle complex, known for its brilliant white exterior, is the largest, best preserved, and most visited castle in the country. While exploring its vast premises, you may also get the chance to witness a sakura-fubuki (literally “a blizzard of cherry blossoms”) as the petals fall at the end of the flowering season.

Aside from the castle, another attraction of the day is the Japanese beef that Hyogo Prefecture is so renowned for. A teppanyaki lunch, where the chef prepares the beef in front of you, is an essential experience that you cannot miss in a classic Japan tour. When your time in Himeji is up, you will be brought to a hotel near Kansai International Airport, from which you will be flying out tomorrow.

Day 10: Leaving Japan

  Osaka

Departure: Kansai International Airport

Breakfast

Meals

Breakfast
Western-style buffet

Activities

You have completed the Classic Sakura tour! We hope that you enjoyed your trip with ILJT! On the last day, you will check out of your hotel and conduct an independent transfer to the airport. Have a safe flight back home, and see you again soon!

 Tokyo

Arrival: Narita International Airport

Park Hotel Tokyo Western hotel

Activities

The first day is a standard affair. Your guide will pick you up at the airport and assist you with preparations for the tour. A private coach will take you to your hotel in the heart of the city. After the check-in procedures are completed, you will have the rest of the day to yourselves.

 Tokyo

Schedule

  • 09:00 - 10:00 Transfer to Asakusa
  • 10:00 - 11:30 Asakusa and Senso-ji
  • 11:30 - 12:00 Transfer to Ueno Park
  • 12:00 - 13:30 Ueno Park (bento lunch and hanami)
  • 13:30 - 14:00 Transfer to Odaiba
  • 14:00 - 15:00 Sightseeing around Odaiba
  • 15:00 - 15:30 Transfer to central Tokyo / Shinjuku (Mon/Fri)
  • 15:30 - 16:30 Tokyo Imperial Palace (East Garden) / Shinjuku Gyoen (Mon/Fri)
  • 16:30 - 17:00 Transfer to Tsukiji
  • 17:00 - 18:30 Sushi dinner
  • 18:30 - 19:00 Transfer to Chidorigafuchi
  • 19:00 - 19:30 Chidorigafuchi (sakura light-up)
  • 19:00 - 20:00 Return to hotel
Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner Park Hotel Tokyo Western hotel

Activities

This day is designed around 3 different sakura viewing spots, each a different experience. On the first one, you will enjoy the hanami custom as the Japanese do, eating a light lunch under a cherry tree. For the second, you will visit either the East Garden of Tokyo Imperial Palace or Shinjuku Gyoen, both of which offer you great sakura views and neatly organized gardens. Finally, you will see cherry blossoms light up during the evening at Chidorigafuchi.

The sakura appreciation will be interspersed with famous Tokyo spots along the Sumida River, Asakusa and Odaiba. You will see, among other things, the Senso-ji temple, Tokyo Skytree, Tokyo Tower, and Rainbow Bridge over Tokyo Bay. You will also have an early dinner of delicious sushi at Tsukiji, the famous fish market. The best is yet to come, for you will be treated to even more marvelous sights on the next day.

Meals

Breakfast
Western-style buffet
Lunch
Bento box, to be eaten in the park
Dinner
Sushi set served in Tsukiji Fish Market

Open previous day

 Fuji Five Lakes › Kawaguchiko

Schedule

  • 09:00 - 11:30 Transfer to Fuji Five Lakes
  • 11:30 - 12:30 Arakura Sengen Shrine
  • 12:30 - 13:00 Transfer to Iyashi no Sato
  • 13:00 - 14:30 Hoto udon lunch
  • 14:30 - 15:30 Drive around Lake Kawaguchi
  • 15:30 - 16:00 Transfer to ryokan
  • 16:00 - 18:00 Ryokan check-in >> onsen, free time
  • 18:00 - 19:30 Beef kaiseki dinner
Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner Fuji View Hotel Ryokan

Activities

The main highlight of the day is of course Mt. Fuji, which has high visibility during early spring. The destinations have been chosen to bring you the classic views often featured in Japanese postcards. You will see many faces of the great mountain: looming over a city, during lunch, reflected on a lake, outside your hotel. As beautiful as Mt. Fuji pictures are, they are at least twice as picturesque with the cherry blossoms in the same frame.

In an attempt to further capture the quintessential Japanese experience, we chose the meal and accommodation accordingly. For lunch, you will enjoy a local recipe. The famous udon noodles prepared with vegetarian ingredients is a specialty of the Fuji Five Lakes region. As for your hotel, it will feature not only an impressive panorama, but also indoor and outdoor hot spring baths. You will also enjoy a nice dinner of Koshu beef.

Meals

Breakfast
Western-style buffet
Lunch
Hoto udon, Fuji Five Lakes’ signature thick noodles with vegetarian miso broth
Dinner
Beef kaiseki course served in the ryokan

Open previous day

 Kyoto › Kameoka

Schedule

  • 09:00 - 10:00 Ryokan check-out >> transfer to Odawara
  • 10:00 - 12:00 Transfer to Kyoto by shinkansen
  • 12:00 - 13:30 Kyo-ryori lunch
  • 13:30 - 13:45 Transfer to Heian Jingu
  • 13:45 - 14:45 Heian Jingu
  • 14:45 - 15:00 Transfer to Ginkaku-ji
  • 15:00 - 16:30 Philosopher’s Path
  • 16:30 - 17:30 Transfer to Kameoka
  • 17:30 - 18:00 Ryokan check-in >> free time, onsen
  • 18:00 - 19:30 Sukiyaki dinner
Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner Sumiya Kiho-an Ryokan

Activities

A bullet train will take you to Kyoto, a historic city of a thousand temples. Two of them you will visit today: Heian Jingu and Ginkaku-ji. In the former, you will see budding shidare-zakura blossoms, also known as the weeping cherry. From the latter, you will take a walk on the famous Philosopher’s Path, a 2-km stretch of blooming cherry trees. A canopy of flowers will filter the sunlight along the path, creating a breathtaking scene.

Throughout the day, you will experience the classic side of Japan that Kyoto epitomizes. For lunch, you will try authentic Kyoto cuisine, delectable for not only your palates but also all your senses. In the evening, you will enjoy a stay in a true ryokan in Kameoka, a hidden gem just west of Kyoto. In this atmospheric lodging, you can enjoy good food and refreshing onsen. Get plenty of quality rest after the long walk in Kyoto!

Meals

Breakfast
Japanese- or Western-style buffet
Lunch
Kyoto-style kaiseki set, also known as Kyo-ryori
Dinner
Sukiyaki, a hot pot-esque dish featuring Tamba beef

Open previous day

 Arashiyama › Kyoto › Nara

Schedule

  • 09:30 - 10:30 Ryokan check-out >> transfer to Kameoka Station
  • 10:30 - 11:00 Sagano Romantic Train (Kameoka - Arashiyama)
  • 11:00 - 12:30 Sightseeing around Arashiyama
  • 12:30 - 14:00 Kyo-ryori lunch
  • 14:00 - 15:00 Transfer to Kyoto
  • 15:00 - 15:45 Kinkaku-ji
  • 15:45 - 17:00 Transfer to Nara >> hotel check-in
Breakfast / Lunch Nara Hotel Western hotel

Activities

Today, you will see the first highlight of the Classic Sakura tour. In the morning, you will board the Sagano Romantic Train from Kameoka Station. The scenic railway runs slowly along the Hozu River, affording you an incredible view of the surrounding nature, including the rows of cherry trees and the beautiful mountains. Stopping at Arashiyama, you will then take in even more unbelievable sights, including the panorama from the Togetsukyo bridge and the bamboo grove.

After a delightful kaiseki lunch by the river, you will return to the city of Kyoto and visit another of its iconic landmark: the golden pavilion. This temple will bedazzle you with its glittering exterior, reflected in the water along with the greens that surround it. You will bid Kyoto goodbye after briefly revisiting it and leave for Nara, where you will be staying tonight.

Meals

Breakfast
Japanese-style breakfast set
Lunch
Kyo-ryori with ingredients that accentuate the essence of four seasons

Open previous day

 Nara

Schedule

  • 09:00 - 10:00 Transfer to Nara Park
  • 10:00 - 11:00 Nara Park
  • 11:00 - 12:00 Todai-ji
  • 12:00 - 12:15 Transfer to restaurant
  • 12:15 - 13:45 Cha-gayu lunch
  • 13:45 - 14:00 Transfer to Kasuga Taisha
  • 14:00 - 15:00 Kasuga Taisha
  • 15:00 - 15:45 Transfer to Horyu-ji
  • 15:45 - 16:30 Horyu-ji
  • 16:30 - 17:00 Return to hotel
Breakfast / Lunch Nara Hotel Western hotel

Activities

Nara Park is simply gorgeous in spring, combining both adorable wildlife and a forest of cherry trees. You can take your time feeding the cute deer that roam around and enjoying the scenic view in the park. You will then visit the great temples and shrine that make Nara world-famous. In particular, you will see the country’s largest Daibutsu statue in the country’s largest wooden structure.

For the complete the Nara experience, you cannot miss out on the tea porridge for lunch. Called cha-gayu in Japanese, the dish originated in old Yamato, which was Nara’s name more than 1,700 years ago. At the end of the exciting day, you will once again return to your hotel in Nara, where you will stay another night.

Meals

Breakfast
Japanese- or Western-style breakfast
Lunch
Cha-gayu, a traditional Nara-style tea porridge

Open previous day

 Yoshino › Osaka

Schedule

  • 09:00 - 10:30 Hotel check-out >> transfer to Yoshino Station
  • 10:30 - 11:30 Take the shuttle bus to Naka Senbon
  • 11:30 - 13:00 Washoku lunch
  • 13:00 - 14:00 Walk around Naka Senbon area
  • 14:00 - 15:00 Yoshimizu Shrine
  • 15:00 - 16:00 Kinpusen-ji Temple
  • 16:00 - 16:30 Walk to Yoshino Station
  • 16:30 - 18:30 Transfer to Osaka >> hotel check-in
Breakfast / Lunch Osaka Daiichi Hotel Western hotel

Activities

Leaving Nara in the morning, you will be brought to another highlight of this Classic Sakura tour. Mt. Yoshino is by far the most famous cherry blossom spot in the country. Just by reaching the foot of the mountain, you will be treated to an explosion of spring colors. From there you will first ascend the mountain up to the Naka Senbon area, and then work your way down until eventually arriving at your starting point at Yoshino Station.

On the way down you will visit a shrine and a temple. The former features an iconic view of a thousand cherry trees covering entire slopes within an eyeshot. The latter has the second largest wooden structure in Japan, making it a nice follow-up to Todai-ji on the previous day. Words do not do the beauty of this mountain justice -- and as they say, seeing is believing. After the awe-inspiring adventure at Mt. Yoshino, you will be transferred to Osaka.

Meals

Breakfast
Japanese- or Western-style breakfast
Lunch
Assorted washoku set served in a ryokan restaurant in Yoshino

Open previous day

 Osaka

Schedule

  • 09:00 - 10:00 Transfer to Osaka Castle
  • 10:00 - 11:30 Osaka Castle
  • 11:30 - 12:00 Transfer to Namba
  • 12:00 - 13:30 Crab lunch
  • 13:30 - 15:00 Sightseeing around Namba/Shinsaibashi
  • 15:00 - 15:30 Transfer to Umeda Sky Building
  • 15:30 - 16:30 Umeda Sky Building (Floating Garden Observatory)
  • 16:00 - 17:00 Return to hotel
Breakfast / Lunch Osaka Daiichi Hotel Western hotel

Activities

Exactly one week since your arrival in Tokyo, you will once again be touring a big city. As a change of pace from the natural attractions of the past few days, you will be visiting the man-made landmarks of Osaka. Two impressive works architecture await you: first is the repurposed Osaka Castle, now a museum, and second is the two connected towers collectively referred to as the Umeda Sky Building.

From atop the castle you will be able to see Nishinomaru Park teeming with visitors during the cherry blossom season, whereas on the open-air observation deck of the skyscraper you may see as far as the Awaji Islands across the strait on a typical clear day in spring. Of course, a classic Osaka tour is not complete without the famous crab dishes in Namba! As you will be staying yet another night in Osaka, this is also your chance to enjoy the lively evening atmosphere of the city.

Meals

Breakfast
Western-style buffet
Lunch
A variety of crab dishes is Osaka’s most famous crab restaurant

Open previous day

 Himeji › Osaka

Schedule

  • 09:00 - 11:00 Hotel check-out >> transfer to Himeji
  • 11:00 - 12:30 Teppanyaki lunch
  • 12:30 - 12:45 Transfer to Himeji Castle
  • 12:45 - 14:30 Himeji Castle
  • 14:30 - 17:00 Transfer to Kansai International Airport >> hotel check-in
Breakfast / Lunch Hotel Nikko Kansai Airport Western hotel

Activities

On your penultimate day in Japan, you will visit the ultimate castle. The newly restored castle complex, known for its brilliant white exterior, is the largest, best preserved, and most visited castle in the country. While exploring its vast premises, you may also get the chance to witness a sakura-fubuki (literally “a blizzard of cherry blossoms”) as the petals fall at the end of the flowering season.

Aside from the castle, another attraction of the day is the Japanese beef that Hyogo Prefecture is so renowned for. A teppanyaki lunch, where the chef prepares the beef in front of you, is an essential experience that you cannot miss in a classic Japan tour. When your time in Himeji is up, you will be brought to a hotel near Kansai International Airport, from which you will be flying out tomorrow.

Meals

Breakfast
Western-style buffet
Lunch
Teppanyaki, delicious wagyu beef prepared on an iron griddle

Open previous day

 Osaka

Departure: Kansai International Airport

Breakfast

Activities

You have completed the Classic Sakura tour! We hope that you enjoyed your trip with ILJT! On the last day, you will check out of your hotel and conduct an independent transfer to the airport. Have a safe flight back home, and see you again soon!

Meals

Breakfast
Western-style buffet

Open previous day