Experience the fleeting and fragile beauty of the cherry blossoms with these guided day tours from Tokyo. Also, visit Japan's top destinations - Mt. Fuji and Kawaguchi Lake.
These immersive day tours show around some stunning sites at Mt. Fuji, Hakone and Lake Ashi. Soak in the scenic beauty of this snow-capped natural volcano and enjoy some adventurous activities like paragliding, ziplining and Mishima Skywalk.
Japan is well known for a number of things — sushi, tea ceremonies, kimonos, ninjas, anime, manga, and most importantly, cherry blossoms. The very word Japan conjures images of Mount Fuji surrounded by the pink flowers. The sakura (Japanese for ‘cherry blossom’) symbolizes mortality — the fleeting nature of life; it reminds us of how something so beautiful can also be short. The cherry blossom reminds us to live every day to the fullest. Here are some Japan cherry blossom tours you can take to experience the graceful beauty of nature, while making the most of life.
Cherry blossoms are a symbol of high importance in Japan, so much so that the flower is even featured on the 100 yen coin. The flower reaches full bloom in spring, which is when visitors flock to popular spots around the city to view these blossoms from and have a picnic under the blanket of these blushing petals. Spring typically is a bit chilly in Japan, with temperatures reaching an average of 12°C in March and about 17°C in April. However, the mornings and nights are especially chilly, with northern parts of Japan such as Hokkaido being especially cold. Hence, it is advised that when you are packing for your cherry blossom tour in Japan, carry along sweaters as well in case it is cold.
As the Olympics 2021 is supposed to take place in July, the country is slowly opening up with stringent measures in place to ensure safety. For starters, visa exemptions have been suspended, meaning visitors have to apply for a visa to gain entry. Non-Japanese people who have been to any of the 150+ countries that Japan has effectively blocked entry from within the last 2 weeks will not be allowed to enter the country. The exception to this rule are Japanese citizens and those visiting under special circumstances. Travelers showing symptoms of COVID-19 or coming from a country severely affected by COVID-19 will have to undergo a test. Most visitors will have to self-quarantine for a fortnight at a designated place.
The cherry blossom 2021 season in Japan is expected to begin in early March, so you can book your tickets accordingly, but keep in mind that the opening of Japan’s borders is very gradual and that you may have to keep an eye on the changing restrictions and rules.
Cherry blossom season in Japan typically starts around March and goes on till the end of April. The northern parts of the country, such as Hokkaido, typically experience cherry blossom season much later — around May. In some cases, the season starts in February for slow blooming cherry blossom varieties like the Kawazuzakura (found in the city of Kawazu in Izu Peninsula) and the Atamizakura (found in the city of Atami, in Shizuoka perfecture). During this time, you can take a cherry blossom tour in Japan and check out the numerous cherry blossom festivals across the country that take place specifically around this time.
The following is a rough approximation of when cherry blossom season starts across the different cities in Japan:
The sakura (cherry blossom) is a flower of high importance in Japan. A symbol of transience, it is a reminder of the impermanence of life. To look at the beautiful pink canopy surrounding you may make you feel wistful, but is also an inspiration to enjoy every single minute.
The cherry blossoms only appear for about a month, so this time is filled with lots of revelry. Many people get together to indulge in hanami (cherry blossom viewing) with picnics or by attending sakura-themed festivals. A cherry blossom tour in Japan takes you to different places in the country from where you can admire the raw beauty of nature with a beautiful pink hue. To admire these delicate flowers is a peaceful experience in its own right.
A guided tour involves a professional English-speaking guide who tells you everything there is to know about cherry blossom season and takes you to places to get the best view of it. Transfers are usually covered as part of a guided tour, ensuring a hassle-free visit.
A combo cherry blossom tour combines visiting the cherry blossoms along with other landmarks or experiences like Mishima Skywalk, Shiraito Falls, Fujisan Sengen Shrine, and Mount Fuji’s fifth station. Transportation and a guide are usually included for a stress-free visit.
Shizuoka Prefecture is about three hours away from Tokyo, and offers some of the best cherry blossom-viewing opportunities. It is also home to Kawazu, Izu Peninsula, which is known for local cherry blossom species, Kawazukzakura, which typically has a longer life than most of the other species. When you go to see the Kawazuzakura, here are some other things you can do in and around Shizuoka Prefecture.
The best time to visit and admire the cherry blossoms is between March and April. It is within this period that the flowers’ bloom cycle takes place. While the Kawazu cherry blossoms starts blooming earlier (around February), they only bloom fully by March.
When admiring the cherry blossoms, try out cherry blossom-flavoured food such as:
There are numerous accommodation options available in Tokyo, which is typically where most tourists stay and see the cherry blossoms at. Additionally, Tokyo is close to the Shizuoka prefecture, which is where a lot of people head to see the Kawazuzakura.
It is recommended that you stay in Shinjuku when in Tokyo. Not only is it one of the best places to stay in the city, with a lot of different accommodation options, it is also close to Shinjuku station, which has great connectivity to the rest of the region.
Other great places to stay at include Ginza, Hamamatsucho, Hibiya, Roppongi, Shibuya, and Shinagawa. Tokyo is a large city, so ensure wherever you stay is close to a subway or railway station for easy access.
During cherry blossom season, one will find a number of cherry blossom-themed souvenirs and limited edition products to purchase. Starbucks rolls out sakura-themed tumblers and mugs, and Kit-Kat, Coca Cola, and Pepsi release sakura-flavoured products.
Other sakura-themed things you can purchase include kokeshi dolls, pens, chopsticks, bento boxes, stationary, sweets, tea, accessories, and jewellery.
Here are some attractions to visit and experiences to enjoy when visiting Japan to see the cherry blossoms bloom:
Yes, cherry blossom tour tickets can be purchased online. It is actually recommended that you purchase your cherry blossom tour tickets online and in advance to secure your visit on the day of your preference.
Yes. There are several guided cherry blossom tours from Tokyo that take you to different parts of the country to see the flowers in full bloom.
The best day tours are combo tours as they include a variety of other experiences such as strawberry picking, ziplining, and the Mishima Skywalk.
You can take your pick from a wide range of options, such as guided tours, park entry tickets (non-guided), and combo tours. The benefit offered by guided and combo tours is an English-speaking guide and the inclusion of transfers in your ticket. Combo tours, in addition, take you to more experiences in the surrounding area after the cherry blossom viewing.
This depends on the tour — some allow you to cancel 24 hours in advance, some require a week’s notice, and some cannot be cancelled or rescheduled. It is highly advisable to check the cancellation policy before booking your tickets.
Your cherry blossom Japan tour tickets are valid for the date selected when booking the ticket.
It is recommended that you purchase your cherry blossom tour tickets in advance to get the date of your choosing.
Guided cherry blossom tours in Japan are typically conducted in English.
The best time to see cherry blossoms is during the bloom season, which falls between March and April.
While this depends on the tour chosen, an average cherry blossom tour from Tokyo takes about half a day (12 hours) including transfer time.