Japan Cherry Blossom: The Ultimate Sakura Journey
Japan in full bloom — the most beautiful two weeks in the world's most beautiful country
From
£4,795pp
About this tour
Cherry blossom season is the moment Japan becomes entirely itself — when the nation collectively abandons its famously disciplined work ethic and devotes itself to the ancient tradition of hanami (flower viewing). Parks fill with picnicking families; temple gardens take on a dimension of beauty that photographs suggest but cannot fully convey; and the entire country seems to pause, awed by the same two weeks of bloom that has been celebrated in Japanese poetry since the eighth century. This twelve-day private tour is designed specifically around the sakura season — Emma monitors the blossom forecast in real time and adjusts the daily schedule to ensure the tour moves with the bloom rather than against it. Tokyo's Ueno Park and Shinjuku Gyoen, the Philosopher's Path canal walk in Kyoto, the moat of Himeji Castle, Miyajima's floating torii amid falling petals — the tour gathers the greatest sakura experiences in Japan into twelve extraordinary days.
“Emma Thornton has led the cherry blossom tour every year since 2016. Her understanding of the bloom progression — which parks peak first, which temple gardens hold their blossom longest — gives this private tour a significant advantage over group tours that cannot flex their schedule.”
Why this works for travellers over 50
- Emma's real-time blossom monitoring means the tour always finds the peak bloom wherever it is
- Entirely private — the schedule can flex day by day as Emma tracks the sakura forecast
- Himeji Castle — Japan's most beautiful castle and a UNESCO World Heritage Site — is rarely visited by standard tours
- Miyajima at full blossom, with petals falling on the tidal torii, is one of those images that stays forever
- All accommodation booked well in advance of the most popular season in Japan
- Spring temperatures (12–20°C) are ideal for gentle walking
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Price per person — based on two travelling together.
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Your journey
Day-by-day itinerary
1Arrival Tokyo
Tokyo
ArrivalPark Hyatt Tokyo
Arrival Tokyo
Tokyo
Welcome at the airport. Check in to the Park Hyatt. If blossom has opened early, an evening walk to Shinjuku Gyoen.
2Tokyo Blossom Parks
Tokyo
GentlePark Hyatt Tokyo
Tokyo Blossom Parks
Tokyo
Ueno Park at its blossom peak — the 1,200 cherry trees along the main avenue create the most celebrated hanami scene in Japan. Chidorigafuchi moat with rowed boats under blossom canopy. Evening in Yanaka.
3Shinjuku Gyoen & Senso-ji
Tokyo
GentlePark Hyatt Tokyo
Shinjuku Gyoen & Senso-ji
Tokyo
Shinjuku Gyoen — the National Garden with over 1,300 cherry trees of 65 varieties, ensuring a two-week spread of blossom through different cultivars. Afternoon at Senso-ji among the cherry blossoms.
4Hakone Day — Mount Fuji
Tokyo
Easy day tripPark Hyatt Tokyo
Hakone Day — Mount Fuji
Tokyo
Day trip to Hakone — the Hakone Open Air Museum and the ropeway over the volcanic crater, with Mount Fuji perfectly framed (spring weather permitting). Return to Tokyo.
5Bullet Train to Kyoto
Kyoto
Easy travelTawaraya Ryokan, Kyoto
Bullet Train to Kyoto
Kyoto
First-class Nozomi. Check in to the Tawaraya. Emma's evening briefing on which Kyoto locations are currently at peak bloom.
6Kyoto: Maruyama Park & Gion
Kyoto
GentleTawaraya Ryokan, Kyoto
Kyoto: Maruyama Park & Gion
Kyoto
Maruyama Park's weeping cherry (Japan's most famous cherry tree, over 200 years old and lit at night). Gion district with cherry trees along the Shijo-dori canal. Philosopher's Path afternoon walk under cherry canopy.
7Kyoto: Fushimi Inari & Arashiyama Cherry
Kyoto
ModerateTawaraya Ryokan, Kyoto
Kyoto: Fushimi Inari & Arashiyama Cherry
Kyoto
Fushimi Inari in the morning among the cherry blossoms, then Arashiyama where cherry trees line the riverbanks. Tenryu-ji garden in full spring bloom.
8Himeji Castle — Nara
Kyoto
Full day tripTawaraya Ryokan, Kyoto
Himeji Castle — Nara
Kyoto
Day trip to Himeji Castle — the White Heron Castle at peak blossom, its moat cherry trees reflected in the water, its white donjon rising above the pink canopy. Return via Nara for the deer and Todai-ji.
9Kyoto: Late Blossom Gardens
Kyoto
GentleTawaraya Ryokan, Kyoto
Kyoto: Late Blossom Gardens
Kyoto
Emma targets the later-blooming locations for this day: Daigo-ji temple's mountain cherry trees and the Heian Shrine's weeping cherries, both of which typically peak a few days after the main Kyoto bloom.
10Private Workshop & Final Kyoto
Kyoto
EasyTawaraya Ryokan, Kyoto
Private Workshop & Final Kyoto
Kyoto
Private kodo or wagashi workshop in the morning. Final kaiseki dinner at Emma's preferred Kyoto restaurant.
11Hiroshima & Miyajima in Blossom
Osaka
Full day tripThe St. Regis Osaka
Hiroshima & Miyajima in Blossom
Osaka
Day trip to Hiroshima and Miyajima — cherry trees line the Peace Memorial Park; Miyajima's blossom frames the floating torii. One of the most beautiful combinations available anywhere in Japan. Check in to Osaka for the night.
12Osaka — Departure
Osaka / KIX
Departure
Osaka — Departure
Osaka / KIX
Final morning in Osaka's Osaka Castle cherry grove, then transfer to Kansai International.
Like what you see?
Our specialists can tailor every day to your preferences.
Fitness & mobility
Pacing & accessibility
Designed around the cherry blossom season with maximum flexibility built in. Emma monitors the blossom forecast and adjusts the daily programme to ensure the peak bloom is experienced at its most spectacular.
Walking
4–6km/day during peak bloom days — all flat parks and gardens.
Transport
First-class Shinkansen. Private vehicle. Spring crowds require early starts.
Altitude
Sea level throughout.
Heat / Climate
Spring: 12–20°C. Perfect walking weather. Bring a light layer for mornings.
Accommodation
Your hotels
Park Hyatt Tokyo
★★★★★Tokyo · 4 nights
The iconic Shinjuku tower hotel.
- City views
- New York Bar
- Indoor pool
Tawaraya Ryokan
★★★★★Kyoto · 6 nights
Japan's most celebrated ryokan, founded early 1700s.
- 18 rooms
- In-room kaiseki
- Bamboo garden
The St. Regis Osaka
★★★★★Osaka · 1 night
Osaka's finest hotel for the cherry grove finale.
- Central location
- Osaka Castle proximity
- Butler service
Enhance your trip
Yoshino Mountain Cherry (Day Trip)
+£165
Yoshino in Nara Prefecture has over 30,000 cherry trees covering an entire mountain — the most spectacular cherry display in Japan outside the major cities. A day trip from Kyoto, available when bloom timing aligns.
per person
Pricing
Holiday pricing
All prices are per person, based on two people sharing. We arrange departures throughout the year to suit your preferred dates.
Starting from
£4,795
per person · 2 sharing
Solo traveller supplement: +£1,395 pp
Travelling solo?
Single supplement: +£1,395 pp
Full details
What’s included & not included
Included in your price
- 11 nights in premier hotels and ryokan
- All bullet trains first-class
- Emma Thornton throughout
- Private artisan workshop
- Chidorigafuchi rowing boat reservation
- Meals as specified
- All entrance fees
- IC transport cards
- Mineral water throughout
- Airport transfers
- ATOL-protected
Not included
- Travel insurance
- Single supplement
- Gratuities
Your specialist
Who will plan your holiday
Emma Thornton
Emma has led the cherry blossom tour every year since 2016 and has developed a real-time monitoring system for tracking the bloom progression across Japan's key locations. Her cherry blossom forecast system is the most sophisticated available to private tour operators.
Tailor-made
Like this tour but want it adapted?
Extra nights, alternative hotels, private transfers — our specialists will build your perfect itinerary from scratch.
What our guests say
Guest reviews
A dream realised in full
“We have wanted to see Japan's cherry blossom for thirty years. Emma timed every day perfectly — Ueno Park at the absolute peak, the Philosopher's Path just beginning its most beautiful days, Himeji Castle on the finest blossom morning it had seen in years. The Tawaraya with blossom visible from the garden room window was the most perfect hotel experience imaginable. This tour is worth every penny.”
Catherine & Michael Frost
London · 2025-04-06
Before you go
Practical information
Visa requirements
UK: visa-free 90 days.
Currency
JPY cash essential. IC cards provided.
Tipping
No tipping.
Electricity
100V, Type A.
Health & vaccinations
No vaccinations required. Excellent spring weather.
Flights
Tokyo Haneda/Narita in; Osaka Kansai out. Book well in advance for sakura season.
Local transport
First-class Shinkansen; private vehicle.
Travel with like-minded people
Join a Small Group Departure
Prefer to travel with a small group of fellow over-50s rather than as a couple or solo? Our fixed-departure group tours put you alongside eight to twelve like-minded travellers with a dedicated tour manager for the entire journey.
- Maximum 12 travellers — intimate by design
- Dedicated tour manager throughout
- Social dinners and shared discoveries
- Single supplement waived on selected departures
- Like-minded over-50s travellers
- No single friends needed — just arrive and enjoy
Register Your Interest
Tell us your preferred dates and travel companions — we’ll match you with the right departure and send full details.
Our team will respond within 1 working day.
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Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How does Emma ensure we see the cherry blossom at its best?
Japan's cherry blossom is one of the most closely monitored natural phenomena in the world — weather services issue weekly blossom forecast updates from January, and Emma receives daily updates from her network of contacts in Tokyo, Kyoto and Hiroshima during the season. The private tour format allows her to adjust the programme in real time: if Ueno Park peaks a day early, we go on that day; if the Philosopher's Path is holding its blossom longer than forecast, we extend the Kyoto programme accordingly. No fixed group tour can achieve this level of flexibility.
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