"Cherry Blossom of Japan" Luxury Tour

Upon arrival into Kansai International Airport, you will be met by an english speaking Jacada representative and assisted through immigration. You'll then be transferred in a private vehicle to your chosen hotel in Kyoto.

Today, you'll be brought to see the city of Osaka in its full spring glory. Our first stop is the ancient Osaka castle, which if we are lucky, will be surrounded by beautiful pink cherry blossom. We'll walk through the charming castle grounds up to the castle itself which was constructed in 1583 on the former site of the Ishiyama Honganji Temple, and was the largest castle at that time. Destroyed by fire several times, it has been rebuilt in its original form.

We then move on to the Dotombori area for lunch. Dotombori is celebrated for its billboards and advertising displays such as Glico’s famous neon runner and a stroll through this area is a great way to experience the unique atmosphere of Osaka.

The cherry blossom in Kyoto usually blooms in last week of March through to the middle of April. Unfortunately, it's very hard to predict just when the cherry blossom will appear and how long it will last, so it's important to remember that we cannot guarantee that you see it during your stay. Luckily, there are plenty of beautiful sights to see in Kyoto. Spend your time in Kyoto looking out for the signature pink sakura blooms and admiring the impressive imperial beauty of the city, evident in the abundance of prewar buildings such as grand palaces, traditional "machiya" townhouses and ornate shrines. See kimono-clad geisha on their way to engagements and stroll in the celebrated Ryoan-ji rock garden. Make sure you visit the magnificent wooden Kiyomizu-dera and the Golden and Silver Pavilion Temples. Your travel designer can help you to experience the city at its best with private guided tours and excursions.

This morning you'll meet your English-speaking guide in private chartered vehicle for an exploration of Kyoto, focusing on ancient architecture in UNESCO World Heritage sites and the best places for cherry blossom. Start your tour with a peaceful and meditative two-kilometre stroll along a canal commonly known as the Philosopher’s Path after the well-known Japanese philosopher Kitaro Nishida who used this route for daily meditation.

On the way, visit Ginkakuji, the Silver Pavilion which has an area of around 25,000 square meters and is known for its luxuriant growth of moss. The pavilion's garden is composed of two terraces, the upper of which is arranged in the style of a dry garden using stones, sand and plants with no water.

At the end of the Philosopher’s walk, we will stop by at Nanzenji temple which is the head temple of the Rinzai sect of Japanese Zen Buddhism and one of the most important temples in all of Japan. Sitting on a large tranquil hillside, the temple's gardens are truly impressive with serene ponds and a sublime dry stone garden in one of the sub-temples.

We then continue towards the Heian Jingu shrine, one of Kyoto’s most famous Shinto shrines which is beautifully depicted in Yasunari Kawabata’s novel The Old Capital. Because of its fame as one of the most scenic spots to view cherry blossom in Kyoto, it can also unfortunately get quite crowded.
Enjoy lunch at your own account before you're transferred to Nijo Castle which was built by Tokugawa Leyasu the founder of the Edo shogunate. The Momoyama architecture is particularly interesting with its decorated sliding doors and wooden floors that squeak when walking on them – an ancient security measure against intruders. There are 430 cherry trees in the grounds of this magnificent historical setting and the castle and its surroundings are equally stunning by day or night.

Finally, take some time to visit unique antique shops specially chosen by our guide for the exceptional quality of their pieces on offer. If time allows, we'll also stop by Nishiki, a narrow shopping arcade that's only 400 meters in length with just over 100 vendors where you can discover Kyoto’s distinctive culinary delicacies and surprising ingredients.

At the end of the tour you'll be brought back to your hotel where you can enjoy the evening at your leisure.

Early this morning , you'll meet your English speaking guide at your hotel who will first bring you to visit Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion temple. The temple was built in 1397 to serve as a retirement villa for Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu whose grandson used it as the inspiration for the Ginkaku-ji Silver Pavilion temple.

You'll then be brought to explore the serene Ryoan-ji temple which is celebrated for its rock garden of clay walls, raked sand and 15 mysterious and carefully placed rocks.

After lunch, we move on to Arashiyama, a beautifully verdant district for a welcome break from the city’s hustle. We start at the unique and quiet Otagi-Nenbutsuji Temple which is famous for its 1200 Rakan figures which were carved by worshipers to pray for the prosperity of the temple.

We then continue on towards Okochi Sanso, a splendid mountain retreat, previously occupied by the silent screen actor Okochi Denjiro. The grounds have something beautiful to offer each season and if we're lucky we'll catch the cherry blossom in bloom. Take a leisurely walk through the villa's beautiful gardens and savour the fine views of the city below.

From here, we take a relaxing stroll around the beautiful bamboo forests, listening to the sound of the leaves rustling in the wind. We then arrive at Tenryu-ji Temple, the head temple of the Tenryu-ji branch of Rinzai Zen sect and a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage monuments. It has an excellent garden with a pond stroll that was laid out by a garden designer of genius. We end our visit with a stop at the Togetsukyo Bridge, also known as “Moon Crossing Bridge”, and one of Arashiyama's most important landmarks. While it's never guaranteed to see cherry blossom, we hope to take in some impressive sights of sakura along the way.

Today is yours to spend at your leisure. Relax at your hotel or venture out to explore Kyoto further. Your travel designer can help you to experience the city at its best with private guided tours and excursions. Should you prefer, you'll also have the option of a taking a full-day tour of Nara, the ancient 8th century Japanese capital. If you choose this option, your English speaking guide and private driver will meet you at your hotel at 9 a.m. You'll start your visit with a trip to Nara Park. Commonly known as “Deer Park,” Nara Park is a large pleasant park in the centre of the city which is home to hundreds of freely roaming deers which are regarded in Shinto religion as messengers of the gods and symbol of the city. A large number of historical sites in Nara are located in and around this park.
Visit Kasugataisha Shrine, originally established in 768 AD as the shrine of the powerful Fujiwara Family, and see the magnificent interior which is famous for its numerous bronze hanging lanterns as well as the many stone lanterns that lead up to the shrine. We'll then move on to the gigantic Todaiji temple which is reputedly one of the largest wooden buildings in the world and one of Japan’s most historically significant temples. Inside the temple, you'll see the giant statue of Buddha Virocana.
We finish our tour in Naramachi, the former merchant district of Nara. Naramachi was fortunate enough not to have been affected by the bombings of the Second World War and the district features several traditional warehouses and residential buildings such as the the Naramachi Koshi-no-ie as well as many small boutiques, shops, cafes and restaurants. After your tour, you'll be transferred back to your hotel to enjoy the evening at leisure.

Upon arrival in Tokyo, you will be met by your English speaking guide and transferred in a private vehicle to take part in a traditional cultural experience of your choice. Choose between the Japanese fine art of "Ikebana" flower arrangement, a tea ceremony or Japanese calligraphy. Afterwards, we will make our way to visit the Kitanomaru Koen national park which is near the Imperial Palace to see the cherry blossom. You will then be transferred in a private vehicle to your chosen hotel in Tokyo to spend the evening at your leisure.

Tokyo, Japan’s bustling capital, mixes the ultramodern and the traditional, from neon-lit skyscrapers to cherry trees and temples. Enjoy the stunning views of Mount Fuji and the city's infectious energy with our recommendations for the best things to see and do.

This morning, your private guide will meet at your hotel and drive you in a spacious private vehicle to Tsukiji morning market. Tsukiji is one of the largest wholesale fish markets in the world, importing a diversity of seafood from 60 countries on six continents. Stroll around the outer-market before entering the actual wholesale market, where you will see fish and seafood being prepared and sold. Sample some fresh sushi at a nearby restaurant.

Next, we'll take a pleasant and peaceful stroll in Hamarikyu Garden, a vast landscaped park in the middle of Tokyo characterised by its tranquility where we hope to see cherry blossom. When we reach the reach the pier we'll board a cruise boat and sail down the Sumida River to Asakusa, discovering Tokyo’s skyline and bridges from a different perspective. Asakusa is one of Tokyo oldest and best-preserved districts and on arrival we'll walk along the Nakamise Dori merchant street to reach the Sensoji Temple, marked by its huge lantern. The Nakamise Dori merchant street dates back to the Edo period when the temple’s neighbours were given special permission to open their shops in the approach to the temple. Your guide will lead you to small streets where you can still feel the presence of Ancient Japan.

After lunch, we'll visit the Tokyo National Museum (TNM) inside Ueno Park. It is the oldest and largest museum in Japan, holding over 110,000 pieces of art including 87 Japanese National Treasures and 610 Important Cultural Properties. The collections are divided in thematic galleries and your guide will show you a selection of the best pieces in the Gallery of Horyuji Treasures. After your visit, you may enjoy strolling the Ueno park featuring more than 1000 trees. It is also an interesting people-watching experience in one of Japan's most crowded, noisy and popular spots for cherry blossom parties.

You then have the choice of participating in one of two private traditional ceremonies, a Japanese tea ceremony or a calligraphy class. We finish the day with a visit to the Ginza district, known for having the most expensive real estate on earth and home to some of the country’s most prestigious companies, numerous brand shops, department stores, boutiques, bars and restaurants. Here, architects rival in imagination with fashion designers from all over the world, including the Swatch and the Hermes buildings. Also take some time to visit some of Ginza’s famous department stores, especially their basement floors and high-end food courts, where Tokyoites buy their delicacies.