JAPAN: Boutique Cherry Blossom Springtime Small Group Tour - 14 days

Destination:   JAPAN: Tokyo | Mt Fuji | Takayama | Kanazawa | Kyoto | Hiroshima | Osaka

Tour Commences In:  Tokyo

Tour Concludes in:  Osaka

Number of Days:  14 days / 13 nights

Tour Style:  Private Escorted Small Group Tour (groups, couples & solo travellers)

Accommodation:  Boutique Hotels

Meals:  Breakfasts; 13: Lunches; 10: Dinners; 7:

Leaders: Professional private guides

Transportation:  chauffeur driven air-conditioned private vehicles, buses & trains

Tour Grading:  MODERATE: Suitable for travellers with above average level of fitness and mobility

• A curated itinerary especially for Boutique Tours & Travel

• Be in awe of Tokyo, one of the world’s most exciting cities

  • Admire the beautiful cherry blossom and springtime blooms in the splendid Imperial Palace Garden

  • Sip tea in the tranquil Hama-rikyu Japanese Garden (optional)

  • Prayer for ‘good fortune’ at the Meiji Jingu Shrine

  • Visit Senso-ji Temple, Tokyo’s oldest temple

  • Walk and shop the area and continue onto the ‘Paris end of town’

  • Shop in Harajuku area, Ginza district and the famous Nakamise shopping street

  • Experience the Tsukiji Market, the largest in Japan

  • Participate in a Sushi Making lesson

  • Absorb the breathtaking view of Mt Fuji (No promises)

  • Discover the local produce on display at Kawaguchiko Natural Living Centre

  • Be in awe of the Kimono exhibition at the Kubota Itchiku Art Museum

  • Travel through beautiful scenery to Takayama

  • Be captivated at the Takayama Yatal Kaikan Museum

  • Experience a traditional Ryokan Hotel & indulge in an Onsen – Hot Spring Bath

  • Participate in the morning Miyagawa market and mingle with the locals

  • Try sake during our sake tour

  • Indulge your taste buds at Kanazawa Omicho Market

  • Explore Kenrokuen Garden, one of the top 3 gardens in Japan

  • Kanazawa, the city of handcrafts, participate in an activity workshop

  • Be captivated In Kyoto, tour temples, shrines & castles, some are listed as UNESCO sites

  • Experience an authentic Tea Ceremony

  • Delight in a kimono moment

  • Tour Gion geisha district

  • Try the delicious Kaiseki cuisine

  • Share a moment with Geisha/Maiko

  • Travel to beautiful Miyajima and the Itsukushima Shrine, a World Heritage site

  • Remember at Hiroshima - Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park & Memorial Museum

  • Walk Namba and Dotonburi area, the place to be in Japan

  • Experience Osaka, its castles, a river cruise and more

  • Ride an iconic ‘Bullet Train’

  • Along the way be enthralled with cherry blossom, springtime gardens, delicious cuisine, and the charming people of Japan

Day 1: Friday: Arrive Tokyo: (D)

Konnichawa, Greetings and Welcome to Tokyo! You will be met by a guide at the Airport (Haneda preferred) and transfer to our hotel on shared shuttle bus. Depending on your arrival time, you may have free time to explore Tokyo. We able to offer you a number of options including sightseeing and shopping. Later this evening, we will rendezvous in our hotel lobby and meet fellow travellers before departing for our welcome dinner at a lovely local restaurant.

You may wish to arrive a day earlier to shop or maybe just to get your bearings and recover from any jet lag you may have. If you do choose to arrive early, we can extend your hotel booking and provide any information or advice you may need in order to make the most of your time in this exciting city. (Please confirm ASAP)

Day 2: Saturday: Tokyo: (B/L)
Our professional specialised guide will meet us at our hotel after breakfast. We transfer by train to the Meiji Jingu Shrine. The Shrine was established in 1920 is dedicated to the spirits of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken.
We continue onto Harajuku district. Harajuku has been the centre of Tokyo teen fashion styles for decades, especially goth and funk and it includes big-name international fashion boutiques with Takeshita-dori, the pedestrian street, the most famous area of all. It includes great restaurants, cafés and gift shops galore. Just a short walk further along is the sophisticated area of Omote Sando street, the ‘Paris end of town’ with its artistic fashion buildings and galleries along the zelkova tree lined street.
Following lunch, we travel to the Ginza district and explore the area and visit one of the well-known Department stores here.
We then travel to the spectacular Imperial Palace Garden. The Imperial Palace in Tokyo is where the Emperor of Japan and his family resides. We stop and soak up the grandeur of this impressive spectacular garden and appreciate Japan’s honourable cherry blossom trees all about us.
Our final stop today is in the Roppongi area where we take in the amazing view from the Tokyo City Tower Observatory from the 52 floor, it is breath-taking. Dinner is on your own this evening.

Day 3: Sunday: Tokyo: (B/L)
It’s an early start, we're off to the Tsukiji Market, the largest fish market in Japan, with fish and other produce shops to explore. Our guide will take us through the market and discuss the food culture of the Japanese people.
We then transfer to our venue for our private Sushi making lesson. Sushi is a staple of the Japanese diet. In this hands-on program you will enjoy learning and making various types of Sushi. The staff will prepare the ingredients. We then reap the rewards of all our hard work with a delicious lunch.
We continue onto the beautiful Hama-rikyu Japanese Garden. This garden used to belong to a Samurai Family and is now operated as a government owned garden. We stop and reflect for a moment and appreciate the beautiful old cherry blossom trees and seasonal flowers blooming.
We then board a boat for a cruise on the Sumida River, one of the main rivers running through Tokyo. We disembark at Asakusa. Asakusa is known as Tokyo’s Old Downtown. We visit Senso-ji Temple, known as the oldest Buddhist temples in Tokyo. We have free time on Nakamise shopping street, another popular shopping spot before we return to our hotel and prepare for our departure from Tokyo in the morning. Dinner is on your own this evening.

Day 4: Monday: Tokyo – Mt Fujiyama: (B/L)
We depart Tokyo this morning by private bus. Our journey takes us to the area called Yamanashi, known as the home of Mt. Fuji. On arrival, glimpse the panoramic view of Japan’s Alpine Mountain Range from an observatory. at the Kawaguchiko Natural Living Centre located right in front of Lake Kawaguchi where there’s a stunning view of Mt. Fujiyama. (No promises, it’s not always a clear day) Our next stop is Kubota Itchiku Art Museum, which houses the stunning Kimono Collection organised by the Legendary Kimono Designer Icchiku Kubota. Following the visit to the museum, we will be transferred to our hotel. Dinner is on your own this evening.

Day 5: Tuesday: Mt Fujiyama – Takayama: (B/L/D)
We will be travelling by private bus today to Takayama. (Approx 4.5hrs) On the way we will pass by the beautiful scenery of the Nagano, the stunning Japanese alps and many farming communities. On arrival our guide will take us on a tour of some of the traditional houses, shops and restaurants and to the historical Takayama Jinya, a local Governors office in the Edo period that still retains its original form from over 200 years ago. It is the last remaining building of its type here. We then visit Takayama Yatal Kaikan, the Festival Floats Museum to see the colourful floats being prepared for the Takayama Festival in mid-April. There are also sake breweries and of course we cannot miss a visit to the local Sake Brewery. We will view Sake making process, and yes ‘sip’ some sake at the end of the tour.
This evening, enjoy our stay in a traditional Japanese hotel. There is an Onsen (hot spring bath) available here so take a moment to indulge. Dinner this evening is traditional Japanese Kaiseki cuisine.

Day 6: Wednesday: Takayama – Shirakawa-go – Kanazawa: (B/L/D)
It’s the local market day today and we visit Miyagawa morning market and mingle with local people selling fresh fruit and vegetables and other produce from the farms around the area. Our guide will explain some of the famous products of the region including miso and offer a taste of some traditional rice dumplings and Japanese home-made sweets.
We depart Takayama and travel through the picturesque Shokawa Valley to Shirakawa-go. This village is nestled in the countryside and is famous for its Gassho-Zukuri style farmhouses, with their steep thatched rooves that are designed to withstand the large amount of heavy snow that falls in the region during winter. We will walk through the village and meet some locals and learn about the traditional life in the countryside.
We continue our journey onto Kanazawa by bus. During the Edo Period, Kanazawa served as the seat of the Maeda Clan, the second most powerful feudal clan after the Tokugawa in terms of rice production and fief size. Accordingly, Kanazawa grew to become a town of great cultural achievements, rivalling Kyoto and Edo (Tokyo). During World War Two, Kanazawa was Japan's second largest city (after Kyoto) to escape destruction by air raids. Consequently, parts of the old castle town, such as the Nagamachi samurai district and Chaya entertainment districts, have survived in pretty good condition. Today, Kanazawa remains an important city in its region and serves as the capital of Ishikawa Prefecture. The city boasts many historical attractions such as restored residences and districts, as well as modern museums.
After arriving to Kanazawa, we will visit to Higashi Chaya-gai District. This district is known as the historical area were preserving the atmosphere of 18th - 19th century when Samurai dominated Japan. Enjoy the atmosphere of an old era as we wonder around this enchanting town. Dinner will be at a lovely local restaurant.

Day 7: Thursday Kanazawa: (B/L/D)
This morning we visit the local vibrant Omicho market known throughout Japan for its fresh seafood and sushi. We stop and taste some delicious local products. We then explore the stunning Kenroku-en Gardens, it was developed in the 1620’s and includes the famous “Garden of Six Qualities”. It’s a private garden and one of the three great gardens of Japan. The six essential features include vastness, symmetry, solemnity, coolness, antiquity and pleasure. It also includes Japan’s oldest fountain operating by natural water pressure This truly is a beautiful garden.
Kanazawa is also famous for its arts and handcrafts including lacquer-ware decoration, ‘makie’ and ceramics. This afternoon we visit a fabric dyeing and kimono painting studio and observe the technique used to decorate kimonos by painting dye directly on the cloth. There is a workshop to hone your skills if you wish to participate. We then visit a gold leaf factory to view a demonstration of the process of gold leaf application. Dinner this evening will be at a lovely local restaurant.

Day 8: Friday Kanazawa – Kyoto: (B/L)
Later this morning we travel to Kyoto on a ‘bullet’ train. On arrival we will be transferred to our hotel. Kyoto has a large cultural legacy from its 1200 year-long history and offers an array of wonderful attractions for tourists. We begin our tour in Kyoto with visiting Kiyomizudera temple or ‘pure water temple’ as it is built near waterfalls. This temple predates the foundation of Kyoto and has had millions of pilgrims ever since. It is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site with over 30 structures, including a huge wooden veranda in front of the main hall that juts out over the cliff and provides you a panoramic view of Kyoto. There is a famous expression: that states "You must jump off the stage of Kiyomizu." It means that you should take the plunge to make your dreams come true.
We rendezvous later for our special event with VIP guests. We then walk down to Ninen-zaka and Sannen-zaka districts, known for its charming pedestrian thoroughfare and its classic architecture, teahouses & cherry blossoms. Dinner is on your own this evening. (‘Luggage forwarding’ today)

Day 9: Saturday: Kyoto: (B/L)
This morning we continue our tour of Kyoto and visit Nijo Castle. Nijo Castle was built in 1603 as the Kyoto residence of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo Period (1603-1867). After the Tokugawa Shogunate fell in 1867, Nijo Castle was used as an imperial palace for a while before being donated to the city and opened up to the public as a historic site. Its palace buildings are arguably the best surviving examples of castle palace architecture of Japan's feudal era, and the castle was designated a UNESCO world heritage site in 1994. The ancient pine trees and 430 Sukura cherry trees here are stunning. (If time permits, we may view a kimono fashion parade and visit a handicraft centre)
We visit Sanjusangen-do temple. The main hall of Sanjusangen-do contains 1,001 wooden statues of Juichimen – Senju - Kannon, "11-faced, thousand -armed Buddhist goddess of mercy". The principal image, the seated statue of Senju Kannon, sits in the centre of the collection. These statues exhibit an extraordinary level of craftsmanship from the Kamakura period, representing the essence of Buddhist art.
Following lunch at a local restaurant, we continue our tour of Kyoto and visit the striking Kinkaku-ji Zen Temple, the ‘Golden Pavilion’ in northern Kyoto whose two top floors are completely covered in 18-carat gold leaf. This temple was a retirement villa of the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimtsu, and he used it for entertaining. According to his Will it become a Zen temple after his death in 1408.
We also visit the picturesque and enchanting Fushimi Inari. It is an important Shinto Shrine. It is famous for its thousands of vermilion tori gates which straddle a network of trails behind its main buildings. The trails lead into the wooded forest of the sacred Mount Inari. At the shrine's entrance stands the Romon Gate, which was donated in 1589 by the famous leader Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Behind stands the shrine's main hall (honden). A place for prayer. Dinner is on your own this evening.

Day 10 Sunday: Kyoto: (B/L/D)
This morning, we tour the area called Arashiyma. It is rich in temples and has beautiful scenery. We visit Okochi Villa. Formerly the estate of the famed film actor Okochi Denjiro (1898-1962), this sublime villa and surrounding gardens are now open to the public. The main house here is one of the finest examples of traditional Japanese residential architecture anywhere. We walk through a famed bamboo grove to Tenryuji Zen Temple. It is one of the most important Zen temples in Japan and is listed on the UNESCO site. After lunch we have a special cultural experience of an authentic Tea Ceremony experience. Enjoy free time this afternoon in this picturesque area until we meet up again for dinner.

Day 11: Monday: Kyoto – Miyajima – Hiroshima: (B/L)
This morning we transfer to Kyoto Station and take the ‘bullet’ train to Hiroshima. We then travel onto Miyajima by local train. At Miyajima Station, we then take a ferry boat to Miyajima island. Miyajima island is known as one of the most scenic places in Japan and has long been regarded as an ‘Island of Gods’. It is a romantic and historical island, located in the beautiful Seto Inland Sea along with the Virgin Forest of Mt. Misen. It has numerous preserved shrines, temples and historical monuments. We visit Itsukushima Shrine, a World Heritage site, which is famous for the view of its floating Torii Gate in the sea. (when high tide) Later we return to our hotel in Hiroshima. Dinner is on your own this evening. (Luggage Transferred to Osaka - overnight bag required)

Day 12: Tuesday: Hiroshima – Osaka: (B/L)
This morning we visit Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park & Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. (Atomic Bomb Museum) Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park is a memorial park in the centre of Hiroshima and is where the iconic A-Bomb Dome is located. Ground Zero. It is dedicated to the legacy of Hiroshima as the first city in the world to suffer a nuclear attack and to the memories of the bomb's direct and indirect victims. (as many as 140,000) The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum is located within the park; it has continuously appealed for the elimination of nuclear armaments and the realisation of permanent world peace. It is divided into east building and main building. We will visit both and stop and remember.
Following lunch, we travel by ‘bullet’ train to Osaka. Osaka is said to be a City of Waterways. On arrival we board an Aqua liner for a river cruise passing through the downtown area of Osaka offering us a glimpse of life in Osaka with an introduction to the city by our guide. We disembark at Osaka Castle. Known as a symbol of Osaka, we have a guided tour of the wonderful Castle and discover how Toyotomi Hideyoshi (founder of the castle and Samurai Leader in 16th century) was powerful. We later transfer to our hotel and dinner is on your own this evening.

Day 13: Wednesday: Osaka: (B/L/D)
We continue with our tour of Osaka this morning, visiting the outstanding and popular Umeda Sky Building. From the Observatory you can enjoy the sweeping view of Osaka. Lunch today is a delicious Okonomiyaki, referred to as Japanese Style Pancake, a specialty from Osaka. After lunch, we travel to Namba Area, known as the old downtown of Osaka, where people can enjoy the busy streets full of unique neon It consists of two 40-story towers that connect at their two uppermost stories, with bridges and an escalator crossing the wide atrium-like space in the centre signs and hundreds of restaurants lined up. In colourful Dotonburi, watch out for the large ‘crab’. We later gather for our special farewell dinner.

Day 14: Thursday: Depart Osaka: (B)
This morning, we check out of our hotel after breakfast. It is time to say farewell to acquaintances and new-found friends. ‘Sayonara’.

We take with us some wonderful memories of stunning scenery including the glorious blooms of cherry blossom, delicious food and fabulous times together filled with fun and laughter.

At your leisure before transferring to the airport for your onward or homebound journey.

Depending on your departure itinerary, you may have time for some last-minute sightseeing and shopping. We are able to organise our private guide to accompany you.

Some guests may wish to stay another day or more in this amazing country. Please don’t hesitate to contact Boutique Tours & Travel for further travel arrangements.

Our specially curated itineraries are carefully planned and well thought out and we often can find some wonderful surprises. The magic of travelling in such a small group allows us to cater for this spontaneity and it is sometimes these unplanned occurrences that can be the most memorable. The rich tapestry of experiences and the characters you meet along the way will make this guided tour something special and one you will remember for a lifetime.

Flexibility
The itinerary can be flexible, sometimes due to weather or on-going events which guests may wish to see. If there is something else you’d like to do or see on your trip please contact us and we’ll try our best to ensure it can be done.

• A specially curated itinerary for Boutique Tours & Travel

• A Small Group Tour (6-15 Guests)

• Airport Meet and Greet with Shuttle limousine minibuses for arrival & departure transfers

• Hand selected Modern & Boutique hotel accommodation

• Internet Access where possible

• Meals as indicated in Itinerary; B = Breakfast: L = Lunch: D = Dinner:

• Private services of a professional bilingual tour guide

• Concierge services throughout tour

• 24 hour on call support service

• Private air-conditioned vehicles as per itinerary

• Shinkansen Bullet Train & other JR Trains & Bus Travel tickets as per itinerary

• Entrance fees, taxes to all sightseeing & shows

• Some tipping and gratuities, to guide & driver

• Luggage forwarding as per itinerary

• Room Sharing option for single/solo travellers

Not included:

• International airfares

• Arrival & Departure Taxes, levies or other charges

• Passport & Visa Fees

• City Taxes for hotels if required

• Personal Travel Insurance

• Excess baggage charges

• Cost of any ‘luggage delivery’. – via FedEx or postal services

• Late check-out at hotels

• Porterage and gratuities on your arrival at airport and hotel and in free time

• Extra gratuities to tour guides and drivers and others.

• Meals and Alcoholic beverages not included in the itinerary

• Expenditure of personal nature

• Optional activities not included in tour