21 days Sakura Cherry Blossom Tour Japan

21 days Sakura Cherry Blossom Tour Japan:

Day 1 Departure Amsterdam

Day 2 Arrival Fukuoka
Fukuoka is the biggest city situated on the northern shore of the island Kyushu. Since the 7th century, this modern harbour city has been deemed as The Gateway to Asia; it’s closer to Seoul in South-Korea than to Tokyo. Canal City Hakata is a large shopping and entertainment complex, calling itself a “city within the city”. Attractions include a canal running through the complex, many fountains, hundreds of shops, cafes and restaurants. It’s the perfect place to try some tasty Japanese cuisine.

Day 3 Fukuoka
From Fukuoka it takes half an hour by train to reach Daizafu. This small, quiet city is well worth a visit. Dazaifu was established in the late 7th century and served as the administrative centre for the entire island of Kyushu. The ancient Tenmangu Shrine here is quite impressive and was founded the 10th century.

Day 4 Fukuoka – Nagasaki
From Fukuoka it’s a 2 hour journey to reach the port town of Nagasaki. Between 1642 and 1853, during Japan’s period of isolation, Dejima was the only door open to Europe and gave Nagasaki the status of Japan’s sole international trading port.

Nagasaki is engaging in plans to restore Dejima to its original 19th century state. All buildings and houses from that time period are being restored to illustrate, for example, Dutch people who used to work and live here.

Day 5 Nagasaki
Nagasaki became the second city after Hiroshima to be destroyed by an atomic bomb towards the end of World War II. The Peace Park commemorates the bombing of the city and its museum highlight the atrocities of war. Glover park is like an open-air museum that exhibits the old colonial mansions of several of the city’s former foreign residents, e.g. the house of Madam Butterfly. The garden offers nice views of the city and the harbour.

Day 6 Nagasaki – Mount Aso
The ancient caldera of Mount Asa, nicknamed Aso-san, ranks among the world’s largest volcanic caldera’s (128km in circumference). One of the more recent caldera’s is still active. Once up you will be greeted by clouds of smoke and the acrid smell of sulphur. There are many pleasant walking trails in the vicinity and you can even walk from the caldera to Aso. Onsen bathing at your ryokan is the perfect way to relax after a day of hiking!

Day 7 Mount Aso – Usuki homestay
Usuki is known because of its Usuki Sekibutsu (Stone Buddhas), statues of various Buddhas sculpted into a cliff. In Japan, Buddha statues are usually made of wood or metal; stone statues are much rarer. You can also visit the former residences of various samurai families from the Edo period. What makes this place really unique is the fact that you will be staying with a Japanese host family. 

Day 8 Usuki – Hiroshima
Travel to Hiroshima in 3 hours by superfast Shinkansen (bullet train). When the first atomic bomb was dropped over Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, the city became known worldwide. After the war, great efforts were taken to rebuild the entire city. The Shukkeien gardens, with a long history dating back to 1620, have been several times destroyed. In the garden’s landscapes, the valleys, mountains and forests are represented in miniature. These gardens always are a feast for the eyes no matter the season.

Day 9 Hiroshima – Miyajima – Hiroshima
After getting off the local train, catch a ferry boat to the island of Miyajima. For Japanese this island is one of the three most beautiful attractions in Japan. Here you will find the famous Itsukushima Shrine, known worldwide for its “floating” torii gate. The shrine and its torii gate are unique for being built over water, seemingly floating in the sea during high tide. Here you have a good chance to stumble across a Japanese wedding. The Senjokaku hall, built in 1587, is quite impressive. In Japanese Senjokaku literally means “The pavilion of a thousand tatami mats”.

Day 10 Hiroshima – Kyoto
No matter how long you stay in Kyoto, you will never see all of the city’s gems. From 794 till 1868 Kyoto was the capital of Japan and the residence of Japan’s imperial family. Because its cultural value, it was decided that bombing it towards the end of World War II would not be justified.

Day 11 Kyoto
A visit to the Nijo castle will give you great insights into shogun life. You can visit the Great Audience Hall, where the shogun used to receive visitors. The sliding doors, walls and gates in this castle are beautifully decorated with Chinese-style paintings. Also famous in the castle are the “nightingale floors”, which were designed to squeak when stepped upon and thus alert guards to any intruders.

Day 12 Kyoto
For great views over Kyoto, go to the roof of Kyoto’s Central Station. Its famous for its ‘big stairs’ that are the scene of a computer-automated light show of continually changing images. The ancient city of Kyoto is surrounded by mountains all around. Visiting temples and shrines is a must-do when traveling in Kyoto. There are over 1500 of them in Kyoto.

The Kiyomizudera temple (literally “Pure Water Temple”) was founded in 780 on the site of a waterfall in the wooded hills east of Kyoto. It is associated with the Hosso sect, one of the oldest Buddhist sects in Japan. One of the most fascinating shrines is in southern Kyoto on the sacred Mount Inari. This Fushimi Inari Shrine has thousands of vermilion torii gates, which straddle a network of trails leading into the forest.

Day 13 Kyoto – Takayama
First travel by Shinkansen to Nagoya and then by Panorama Car – straight through the Japan Alps – to the old town of Takayama. Because of its valuable timber resources, Takayama was put under direct control of the shogun during the Edo period. The Takayama Jinya complex served as the local government office until 1969.

Day 14 Takayama
The Takayama Festival is held twice a year, in spring (14th and 15th of April) and in autumn (9th and 10th of October). It is held in the old town and is considered one of Japan’s best festivals, alongside Kyoto’s Gion Matsuri and the Chichibu Yomatsuri. The festival attracts large number of spectators from all over the country and hotel tend to be fully booked far in advance.

Day 15 Takayama – Matsumoto
By highway bus it takes two hours to the village of Matsumoto. It’s a very scenic ride through the mountains. Here you will see one of Japan’s most famous and most authentic castles, built in 1592. Wasabi lovers can visit Japan’s biggest wasabi farm and taste fresh and genuine wasabi, as well as wasabi beer, wasabi crackers, wasabi chocolate and even wasabi ice cream! 

Day 16 Matsumoto – Nagano homestay
The contrast between Japan’s busy ultra-modern cities and the peace and quiet of its rural countryside is hard to imagine. Today you will experience genuine Japanese hospitality. If you feel like, you can give your host a hand at the farm. Of course the lady of the house will spoil you with some delicious homemade cooking.

Day 17 Nagano homestay – Yudanaka
For more than 100 years Yudanka has been known as a famous hot spring resort. For people who want to enjoy an onsen immediately upon arrival, there is even a hot bath right inside the railway station. Nearby are the hot springs of the enchanting Shibu Onsen. You can spend the night in traditional ryokan. Some of the ryokan date back more than 400 years. In winter it’s delightful to watch macaque monkeys play and bathe in the hot waters.

Day 18 Yudanaka – Tokyo
By Shinkansen you travel in less than 3 hours and straight through the mountains to Tokyo. Tokyo, the capital of the Land of the Rising Sun, is one of the most dynamic, futuristic and complex on Earth, where the red gates of an ancient temple may well be found just next door to a glass skyscraper .

Day 19 Tokyo
Asakusa is one of Tokyo’s districts, where an atmosphere of the Tokyo of past decades still survives. Its main attraction is the Sensoji, a very popular Buddhist temple, built in the 7th century. When you stand with your back to the temple, look up towards the right and you will see the new Sky tree tower.  With a height of 634 meters, the Tokyo Sky tree is the world’s tallest television broadcasting tower. Jump on the subway and you will enjoy the best city views ever. At 450 meter high you can even see Mount Fuji.

Day 20 Tokyo
Shop ’till you drop at the department stores in the Ginza District and enjoy a last night out in the popular night-life Roppongi District. Go and take a look at some of Tokyo’s top flagship stores. In the Sony Building you can admire the latest technological gadgets. Why not purchase a beautiful Japanese kimono? Prices for a kimono vary between  € 500,– up to the price of a brand new Audi car. The interesting Edo-Tokyo museum illustrates Tokyo’s past from the Edo Period to recent modern times.

Day 21 Tokyo – Amsterdam

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Price 21 days Sakura Cherry Blossom Tour:

This complete package can be booked from € 2.590,- per person onwards, based on double occupancy and based on chosen travel dates.

Many different ways of traveling.

Many different people, many preferences, so many different ways of traveling. Some prefer it simple but good, others want it good, yet with a bit more luxury.

Our tours come therefore in different price categories.

Including:
– All accommodations include breakfast.
– 4 dinners in Mount Aso, Usuki, Nagano and Yudanaka.
– All journeys by train as per itinerary, including the high-speed Shinkansen.
– A 14 day Japan Rail pass.
– A detailed information folder with maps and translations.

Not including:
– International flight to and from Japan.
– Transfer to and from airport.
– All other meals.
– Entrance fees, Services of local guides.
– ferries, local busses and metros.
– Travel and Cancellation insurance.
– Administration cost € 25,– p.p. (Max € 50,– per file).
– Calamity Fund € 2,50 per file.