Japan Cherry Blossom Viewing Tours 2017

Cherry blossom is a busy time of year in Japan and our March and April 2016 tours were fully booked before the end of 2015.  If you would like to reserve a spot for 2017, please get in touch using the contact us form or email us at admin@japancustomtours.co.nz

March and April 2017 Japan Cherry Blossom Tours

For the 2017 cherry blossom (sakura) season in Japan we have put together a sequence series of tours covering the main cherry blossom season. These commence early in March and run through to the end of April and are designed to maximise the opportunities to view the different types of sakura (blossom) as it progresses from south to north. (More information on the forecast blossom timing can be found here.)

Each tour starts and ends in Tokyo, staying Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. This allows people flexibility to easily join or leave a tour on any one of these days.  The weekend in Tokyo allows us to do airport pickups, transfers and a basic introduction to Japan and Tokyo, one of the largest and vibrant cities in the world.  This also provides you with free time to adjust to time-zone, and explore the areas of the city that interest you before we head off on our journey around the country.

We have designed the tour schedules taking into account the dates for cherry blossom viewing in each location. These dates are based on the flowering times from the last ten years and are a guide only. The actual dates are out of our control. However, there are a couple of things that make chasing the blossom a little easier.  Firstly, the early part of the season is when plum blossom flowers, providing an alternative offering of spectacular colours.  Secondly, the cherry blossom forecast refers specifically to the five petal bloom type, and there are many different types of cherry that flower earlier and later, extending the season.

Joining a tour:  We try to meet you at your preferred arrival airport, but due to different schedules, that might not always be possible. If we are unable to meet you at the airport we will provide you with detailed instructions on how to join the tour.  

Departing a tour:  Activities on a day where you are departing a tour will be adjusted to take into account travel time to the airport. 

cherry blossom tour schedules - Closed to new bookings

To download a brochure with additional details of the three different tours, please click here.  There is a brief overview below, or for the individual tours, select one of the icons to download more detailed schedule.

Early Cherry Tour during March (19th March to April 1st)

Starting in Tokyo, before heading to the Japanese alps and the onsen town of Togura. After an overnight stop in Kanazawa travel south to Hiroshima and the beautiful Miyajima.

From our most southern point we head back to the old capital of Kyoto, before heading back into the mountains to the picturesque town of Takayama. From here the two weeks is completed with the journey back to Tokyo.

Classic Cherry Blossom Tour (2nd April to 15th April)

The peak period for cherry blossom viewing starts in Tokyo at the beginning of April, including some of the famous and popular viewing locations around the city before heading south to Hiroshima and the island Miyajima with its floating tori gate.

Leaving Hiroshima we head to Kyoto and a selection of its famous sights before heading west to Kanazawa and its famous Kenrokuen Gardens and castle.

We then head to the mountains for a stay at a traditional Japanese inn and onsen before chasing the cherry blossom in the area around Sendai city, including a cruise around Matsushima Bay. The end of the tour sees us return to Tokyo for the weekend.

Late Cherry Blossom Tour (16th April to 29th April)

Our late cherry tour includes some additional days in Tokyo that allows for side trips to Sendai (for Matsushima) and also to Nikko (for its famous temples and shrines).

Leaving Tokyo for the mountains we stay near Nagano for onsen and a visit to the snow monkeys before two days in the western city of Kanazawa.

We then we head east back into the mountains to the township of Takayama to before taking the scenic train route to Kyoto for three nights, to take in the unique sights that this city has to offer. From Kyoto, we return to Tokyo.

Price inclusions/exclusions

Pricing is takes into account the accommodation rates that we expect to be in place at the time of bookings. 

Early Cherry Tour: The price for a fifteen days (accommodation for fourteen nights) is from Y595,000 per person share twin/double. 

Cherry Blossom Tour: The price for a fifteen days (accommodation for fourteen nights) is from Y695,000 per person share twin/double.

Late Cherry Blossom Tour: The price for a fifteen days (accommodation for fourteen nights) is from Y595,000 per person share twin/double.

For solo travellers (one person, without a shared room), the cost of accommodation is unable to be shared, but we have a policy to limit the extra cost and have priced our tour for a single person at JPY695,000.

Prices include rail transfers from Narita to Tokyo and 14 day rail pass, entrance fees and tour fees.  Accommodation is selected to average 4-star or higher and will normally include breakfast.  Please let us know if you would like either twin or double beds.

Bookings and Inquiries

If you are interested in joining one of these tours, please contact us or email us directly at admin@japancustomtours.co.nz.

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