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Cherry Blossoms, Culture & Sights of Japan

4.5/5 Based on 4 Reviews No Booking FeesDedicated Travel Advisor
Fully Guided Coach Group Rail Gardens Scenic Cherry Blossom Bullet Train (Shinkansen)
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 Trip Length
14 Days
 Trip Starts
Osaka
 Trip Finishes
Tokyo
14 Day Cherry Blossoms, Culture & Sights of Japan Itinerary (APT)
Countries Explored: Japan
Trip Operator
Trip Style
Botanica World Discovery
Accommodation
4 - 4.5 Star
Max. Group Size
25
Guide Level
Fully Guided
Trip Code
BTJPC14

Overview

Read 4 reviews and enjoy exclusive savings on APT's 14 Day Cherry Blossoms, Culture & Sights of Japan. 14 days with a Botanical Guide during cherry blossom season, exploring Japan’s iconic gardens and cultural sights, travelling by high-speed bullet train and luxury coach.

Itinerary

Arrive at Osaka airport, where you'll be met and transferred to your hotel. Enjoy a Welcome Dinner this evening where you will meet your Botanical Guide and fellow travellers. Stay: Osaka, Hilton Hotel (D)

This morning, after breakfast, we will set off for Kyoto. Visit the gardens of Ginkakuji, one of Kyoto's most celebrated Zen temples. Afterwards, take a stroll with your Botanical Guide along the famous Philosopher's Path, lined with sakura cherry trees, during cherry blossom season. Tonight, enjoy a private dinner and Maiko (apprentice Geisha) performance. Gain insight into the life of Maiko and Geisha during this unique experience. Stay Two Nights: Kyoto, Hotel Okura (B/L/D)

Visit the exquisite Ryoanji rock garden, before heading to Kinkakuji Temple, also known as the Golden Pavilion, a fine example of Muromachi-period garden design. Afterwards, visit Tenryuji Temple, then take a stroll through the famous Arashiyama Bamboo Grove on our way to the Shinto shrine Nonomiya. (B/L/D)

This morning you will board a bullet train bound for Himeji, home of Himeji Castle, one of Japan's biggest and most beautiful castles. You will also visit the Kokoen garden, which consists of nine separate walled gardens. Later, board another bullet train and travel to Hiroshima. Stay Two Nights: Hiroshima, Hotel Granvia (B/L/D)

Visit the compelling Peace Memorial Park. The park is dotted with memorials, including the cenotaph that contains the names of all the known victims of the atomic bomb dropped on the city in 1945. Visit the Peace Memorial Museum before continuing to Miyajima island, where you'll see one of Japan's top scenic wonders, the scarlet Torii Gate which appears to float above the surface of the water. (B/L)

Today, travel to Nagato via the town of Hofu, where we will explore the gardens at the Mohri Principal Residence, designed in the early 20th century. Considered a masterpiece of garden designer Sakuma Kintaro, the garden, which harmoniously mixes flat spaces with trees and water features, is designed to look attractive whatever the season. It will be particularly spectacular when we visit in early spring. While in Nagato, visit Motonosumi Shrine, one of the most beautiful places in Japan. This evening, choose to stay in a traditional Japanese-style room with tatami mat floor or a western-style room. Stay: Nagato, Yamamura Bekkan (a traditional Japanese style room*) (B/L/D)

This morning, explore Hagi, one of Japan's most beautiful castle towns, where you can explore the old streets, the Hagi Castle ruins, Shizuki Park and Tokoji Temple. We tour the old Samurai residential quarter, where we visit Kikuya Residence, a well-preserved Samurai family home. We will also visit the historic Kubota House. Built in the late Edo period, it represents a classic example of traditional life. Stay Three Nights: Matsue, Excel Hotel Tokyu (B/L)

Today explore Matsue, known as the ‘City of Water', which is nestled by a scenic lake and lagoon. We'll visit the stunning island garden of Yuushien, full of colour and blossoms, and famous for growing ginseng and peonies. Later we'll visit Matsue Castle. Known as the ‘Black Castle', it is one of only a few wooden medieval castles remaining in Japan today. Admire the graceful exterior of the complex structure, then take the opportunity to explore the interior, with its magnificent views of Lake Shinji. (B/L/D)

Today we'll delve into Japan's modern art and culture at the highly regarded Adachi Museum of Art. A collection of contemporary art works, including paintings by Yokoyama Taikan and other leading artists, are on display here. The museum's adjoining garden is a masterpiece of modern design which has won many awards and accolades. It is a work of ‘natural art', and designed not to be entered, but to be admired from various vantage points. (B/L)

This morning we travel to Okayama where we will visit the circuit-style garden of Korakuen, officially recognised by the government as a ‘Special Place of Scenic Beauty'. We will then enjoy some time in the quaint riverside town of Kurashiki, exploring its narrow stone-paved streets lined with traditional white-walled buildings, cafes and galleries. Stay Two Nights: Okayama, Hotel Granvia (B/L/D)

Today, tour the stunning city of Takamatsu on Shikoku, the smallest of Japan's four main islands. We'll cross over the Seto Ohashi Bridge, then wander through Ritsurin Park, a 350-year-old garden, famous for its magnificent spring colours and Chrysanthemum Moon Pavilion. We'll also visit Kinashi, a leading producer of pine trees used for bonsai and the home of around 100 bonsai nurseries. (B/L)

Board a bullet train this morning for your journey to Tokyo. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. Stay Two Nights: Tokyo, Shibuya Excel Hotel (B/L)

Today we will visit some of central Tokyo's most impressive sights and gardens, including the Imperial Palace East Gardens, the former site of Edo Castle's innermost circles of defence, and surrounded by the original moats, walls, entrance gates and guardhouses. Later we will visit Asakusa, Tokyo's Old Town, where you can soak up the atmosphere of what Tokyo would have been like hundreds of years ago. Enjoy time to explore the shopping street of Nakamise, which leads to Sensoji Temple. This afternoon is free for you to explore further. Enjoy a Farewell Dinner this evening. (B/D)

Your tour finishes after breakfast this morning with a transfer to the airport. (B)

Trip Inclusions

  • Visit Japan during the height of cherry blossom season. The tradition of hanami can be traced back to the Nara period.
  • Admire Japan's serene Zen temples during your time in Kyoto.
  • Enjoy a Maiko performance during a private dinner in Kyoto, stroll the Philosopher's Path and the famous Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
  • Visit the iconic Japanese Zen garden, Ryoanji, and see the Golden Pavilion in spring bloom
  • Spend time in Ritsurin Park, a 350-year-old garden, as well as the famous Korakuen Garden
  • Enjoy a traditional Japanese hotel experience in Nagato
  • Explore Matsue, the 'City of Water'
  • Visit the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima and spend time sightseeing in Tokyo

  • 14 days with a Tour Manager and Botanical Guide Simon Rickard during cherry blossom season
  • Shuttle transfers are provided in Osaka and Tokyo

  • 32 included meals over the course of your trip.

  • 13 nights in centrally located four and five-star hotels

  • Itinerary and inclusions are subject to change
  • Fitness Rating: Medium
  • Cherry blossom viewing is subject to nature
  • Traditional room includes futon-style bedding on floor
  • Prices are for land only. Flights not included.
4.5
AVG. RATING 4.5 / 5
4 Reviews
5 Star
50%
4 Star
50%
3 Star
2 Star
1 Star
Lovely Japan Tour 0 , VIC, Australia, Apr 2023
Beautiful trip with APT's Botanica. Their clients are a good match for me with common interests in gardens, visual arts, culture, cuisine. Perfectly organised tour with a fabulous Japanese guide as well as the botanical guide who was good enough. I had an accident with my knee and the guide handled it very well - ambulance, hospital, wheelchair, walking ...read more stick. My fellow travellers also pitched in. (Botanic guide did not). I have travelled with Botanica before and will do so again. Hotels were a mixture of excellent and OK. I loved the cultural experiences.
First time visit to Japan's smaller ports and South Korea 9 , QLD, Australia, Apr 2018
The holiday was fine but in a few respects, lacked attention to detail. The least satisfactory component was the lack of coordination related to the travel plan and the pre and post activities. APT claimed that they provided detailed options to clients for both but none of this information made its way to us. APT staff said that if clients booked direct ...read more they got all details but clients who booked via second parties missed out because agents fail to pass on information. The truth might be different?

We thought the trip overall was excellent but multiple journey APT clients seemed to be grumbling that the execution of arrangements fell short of previous experiences. Some are hard to please!

One real deficiency is that there was no meet and greet activity on arrival in Tokyo. We arrived at the hotel and found one other couple wandering around. We didn't see an APT representative until next day.

On departure we were scheduled to leave the ship at 9 am but not fly out until 11.45pm. Last minute changes were made by APT, at additional cost, but we still reached the airport almost 8 hours before fly time and five hours before luggage could be handed over.

Once on the ship we were well catered for and most daily plans seemed appropriate. We saw rather too many temples and gardens. With a little thought the program could be enhanced. For example, the staple Japanese food is rice. It would be possible to visit a rice farm and hear about production, transport and marketing of this important crop. We just drove past farms like they didn't play any role in society. Further, several major car manufacturing plants were observed being Mazda and Toyota. Many on the trip would have loved an opportunity to see a robotic car production line. Japan is a great manufacturing country and they have enormous price in their products. Surely more diversity is possible?

A lasting impression will be the friendly welcomes provided by locals in all of the small ports visited. Their efforts were remarkable. The brief visit to South Korea was no different.
Lovely cruise with great highlights   4 , NSW, Australia, Apr 2018
Great holiday but sadly with a few hiccups. Arrived on an early flight into Tokyo booked by APT picked up by rep and taken to our hotel to find that us as well as many others on the tour could not get into our rooms until mid afternoon (after 2pm) which left many weary travellers longing for a shower and rest to hang around the hotel.

Similar problem ...read more at the end of the tour when a lot of us had been booked on late night flights after disembarking in the early morning but APT did, on realizing the problem, organize a morning tour with an afternoon drop off at the airport, at an extra cost, which filled in a few hours but still a long wait for our 11.30pm flight home!

The tour itself was very enjoyable with great inclusions and a good group. Unfortunately we both came down towards the end of the trip with a very aggressive respiratory infection which laid us up for over a week which is why I am late sending in this feedback.
A great trip and enjoyed it all 3 , ACT, Australia, Apr 2018
I like small ship travelling as you get to interact with all the fellow passengers. I have been to Japan several times and have experienced much of its beauty and culture, but on this trip I did do some things that were new for me. I found this trip was a great mix of things to do with a friend who I was introducing to this part of the world, culture ...read more and people.

One thing that could be improved would be more tasting of the authentic Japanese food which is just great, healthy and a work of art also.

Thank you for the effort that was put into this trip.
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Prices & Dates

There are currently no departures available on this trip. Either it's the end of the season and new departures will be released shortly, or this itinerary has been changed and will no longer continue. Feel free to contact us for information about when next seasons dates will be released or click here to view the general release dates for all destinations.

Note
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Prices and trip information are correct at the time at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by APT. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from APT. These should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.

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