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2025 Cherry Blossom Tour of Sea of Japan Coast

2025 Cherry Blossom Tour of Sea of Japan Coast

An exhilarating adventure along the spectacular Sea of Japan coast at cherry blossom time, packed full of unique immersive experiences
“A top-quality, well planned & organised small group tour”
– Ross & Rosalind Hayward

Duration

14 days

Group size

Min 2

Max 8
ようこそ
welcome

Top Tour Highlights

Enjoy spectacular displays of cherry blossoms

You will see masses of cherry blossoms at less congested parks and castle grounds along the Sea of Japan coast

View live seafood auction

Watch over the lunch time auction followed by famous Toyama Wan (bay) sushi lunch

Learn about woodworking traditions

Admire the skills of sophisticated local artisans and even make your own piece in a workshop in Inami

Stroll around Kenrokuen Garden in Kanazawa

Experience the cultural heritage of Kanazawa with its top Japanese gardens, beautifully preserved precincts, and art & craft

Visit Eiheiji Zen monastery complex

Experience Zen meditation and staying overnight at the historic temple complex

See iconic sites of Kyoto in spring

Enjoy the popular destinations of Kyoto, the ancient capital and cultural hub of Japan

ようこそ
welcome

Tour Overview

The 2025 Cherry Blossom Tour of the Sea of Japan Coast takes you on an exhilarating journey away from Japan’s busy metropolitan centers to the fascinating Hokuriku region. Separated from Tokyo and the eastern seaboard by the rugged Japanese Alps, Hokuriku offers a less-hurried pace and the chance to experience natural landscapes and old rural and sea-faring traditions less impacted by mass-tourism. 

This comprehensive 14-day small group tour takes you into Hokuriku’s heartland as you travel through Niigata, Toyama, Ishikawa and Fukui, the four prefectures hugging the central Sea of Japan coast. Along the way, you experience the region’s deep Buddhist roots, its mountain culture and distinctive thatched roof houses, its strong artisanal traditions and its coastal towns and fresh seafood markets.

For those who like discovering the roads-less-travelled, this is a fabulous introduction to the raw beauty and rich traditions of the Sea of Japan Coast at magical cherry blossom time.

*From 2025 all our 8-member Small Group Tours will have guaranteed departure from 2 guests.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Tokyo

Welcome to Japan and your 2025 Cherry Blossom Tour of the Sea of Japan Coast! On arrival at one of Tokyo’s international airports, you’ll be met by a Journey to the East guide and escorted to your Tokyo hotel by airport bus or train.

Today is an arrival day and no group program is scheduled. Stretch your legs if you like and explore the local neighbourhood around your hotel, such as Ginza and Hibiya Park. Let us know if you need any local tips. You’ll be staying here for three nights, which will help you ease into the trip.

*Many of our guests arrive a day or so early to settle in before the tour starts. Please contact us if you’d like us to arrange additional night’s accommodation in the same room as the tour.

Tokyo (Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyobashi or similar)
No meals
Day 2: Tokyo

After orientation with your guide, you begin your exploration of Tokyo. A dazzling metropolis characterised by soaring towers and neon, Japan’s capital is also an intriguing collection of small neighbourhoods each with their own distinct flavour. As you explore the city, you’ll also get beyond its surface to discover some of the local places where ordinary Tokyoites live and socialise.

Today you head to the lovely neighbourhood of Fukagawa. Despite being close to the business districts of central Tokyo, Fukagawa has a laid-back and serene atmosphere, characteristic of Tokyo's traditional "shitamachi," the old heart of the city. This bayside district was historically a merchant neighborhood, and it still retains an unpretentious, down-to-earth feel. At this time of the year, the area bursts into pink air of cherry blossoms along the rivers.

While you are in the area, you will visit Kiyosumi Garden. Originally built by a local lord in Edo period, the garden was later owned by the Iwasaki family, the founder of Mitsubishi conglomerate as a place to entertain guests and employees. It is an exemplary stroll style garden with a large pond in the middle punctuated by magnificent stones transported from all over Japan.

After a full day’s exploration we head back to our hotel and a welcome dinner at a local Japanese izakaya pub.

Tokyo (Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyobashi or similar)
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Tokyo

Today you explore another local neighbourhood to get a sense of how Tokyoites live and socialise. Making the most of Tokyo’s ever-efficient transport system, you head to the lovely neighbourhood of Kichijoji. We walk its attractive sidestreets past local cafes and shops and head for the wooded expanse of Inokashira Park. The park attracts Tokyoites from across the city in spring for its stunning cherry blossoms.

For a taste of Tokyo’s fashionable heart, you journey on to Shibuya. You head to the observation deck of Shibuya Sky Tower for spectacular views of Tokyo’s vast cityscape. Watch the crowds far below as they navigate Shibuya Scramble, Japan’s busiest intersection, and spot major landmarks such as Tokyo Tower and SkyTree, and on clear days Mt Fuji in the distance!

You have the evening free to experience your own slice of Tokyo. You may like to linger longer in Shibuya and enjoy its youthful vibe, or head to nearby Harajuku and stroll the elegant tree-lined boulevard of Omotesando. Our guide will be happy to provide suggestions.

Tokyo (Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyobashi or similar)
Breakfast
Day 4: Niigata & Toyama

You leave the big metropolis behind this morning and take a shinkansen (a super-express bullet train) to the Sea of Japan coast and the stunning Hokuriku region. First stop is the prefecture of Niigata, known for its bountiful nature, fertile soils and rural culture. Niigata is also a prolific rice producer, believed to produce Japan’s best.

Today you visit Takada Castle in the heart of Niigata’s rice-growing region. The castle is surrounded by an astounding 4,000 cherry blossom trees and its annual cherry blossom festival attracts visitors from across the country. You join the local community as they gather under the blossoms and enjoy local treats from festive food stalls.

Next stop along the coast is the prefecture of Toyama, a similarly appealing slice of rural Japan. Here you stop to enjoy a unique local landmark, only possible at this time of year. Known locally as the “Spring Quartet”, contrasting rows of rapeseed and tulips sit alongside cherry blossoms lining the Funakawa River, with the dramatic snow-capped Northern Alps in the background. You will also stop by the sublime two-storied villa of Shouokaku set in a lovely landscaped garden, once the home of a late 19th century politician.

By late afternoon you arrive at your onsen ryokan inn in the hot spring town of Unazuki, nestled in the foothills of magnificent Kurobe Gorge. Unwind in your first natural hot spring bath of the trip, enjoy the simple elegance of a tatami-mat room and feast on a delicious kaiseki multi-course meal. Bliss!

Unazuki Onsen (Enraku or similar)
Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5: Toyama

You head to Toyama City by private transport today, and for a slice of local history stop by an old medicine shop specialising in traditional medicines. Remarkably, some of the traditional medicinal herbs first sold centuries ago in Japan are still available.

Moving onto the bayside, you have the unique opportunity today to witness a fresh seafood auction at Shinminato Kitokito Market. The bay is one of the country’s best places to enjoy fresh seafood and that's exactly what you will do today. You sit down for a sushi lunch, perhaps the freshest you’ve ever had and caught from the bay in front of you! The bay is actually a member of the UNESCO-endorsed “Most Beautiful Bays in the World Club” and it’s easy to see why – the towering snow-capped Northern Alps provide a dramatic backdrop to the coast and its pine trees. The view has inspired Japanese poets and writers for centuries.

In the afternoon, you take a cruise through a stunning tunnel of cherry blossoms on the Matsukawa River. In the evening you step out for a relaxed local dinner in Toyama’s city centre.

Toyama (Hotel JAL City Toyama or similar)
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6: Takaoka and Inami

This morning you move onto Takaoka City and visit stately Zuiryuji Temple, a national treasure from the 17th century, with its striking hall and courtyard enclosed by wooden cloisters. The next stop is Takaoka Kojo Park, popular for its wide castle moats and arched bridges, fringed by cherry blossoms in spring.

The rest of the day is dedicated to exploring the traditional woodworking town of Inami in Toyama’s countryside. While there are other Japanese towns known for their woodcraft traditions, Inami is justifiably known as Japan’s best. Its high level of craftmanship is officially recognised as “Japan Heritage” designated by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, and its master craftsmen are regularly dispatched across Japan to help in the renovation of traditional buildings.

Inami’s picturesque Yokoaichi Street is lined with woodcarving studios, where artisans can be seen at work. You visit Inami’s museum which displays over 200 crafted pieces, including the ornate transom panels that sit above Japanese sliding doors. The town’s Zuisenji Temple represents the pinnacle of Inami craftmanship and we visit this grand temple to appreciate the beautiful woodwork on its main hall and Sanmon gate.

Reflecting our focus today, you stay at Bed and Craft, which has progressively renovated the town’s old buildings as lovely boutique villas. Dinner will be in the hotel restaurant, prepared from fresh, seasonal produce from surrounding farms. A very special day spent exploring the local!

Inami (Bed and Craft or similar)
Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7: Inami, Gokayama & Kanazawa

This morning it is your turn to take a hands-on craft workshop, fashioning a small dish or spoon out of wood, guided by an Inami master artisan. This session provides an opportunity to chat with local folk in a relaxed studio setting and gain some insights into their work and lives as well.
Leaving Inami, you head by private vehicle to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Gokoyama where you spend the afternoon exploring this enchanting high-mountain village with its thatched-roof farmhouses. Some of the farmhouses, with their steeply slanted roofs built to withstand heavy snowfalls, are open to the public and we take a look inside to learn about their history, construction and ongoing preservation efforts.
You last stop for the day is Kanazawa, located on the Sea of Japan coast in Ishikawa Prefecture. With its lineage as a wealthy castle town steeped in samurai culture, Kanazawa offers an impressive list of architectural and cultural sites. For dinner tonight, you enjoy some local cuisine. You will stay here for three nights, giving you a chance mid-trip to enjoy a slower pace and do some of your own exploring.

Kanazawa (Kanazawa Tokyu Hotel or similar)
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8: Kanazawa

Kanazawa is home to Kenrokuen Garden, a castle garden dating back to the 17th century, regarded as one of three great gardens of Japan. After touring this sublime garden and nearby Kanazawa Castle Park admiring some of its ancient cherry trees, you will move on to try another cultural experience. Samurai warriors were required to regularly engage in Zen Buddhist practice as part of their training and the tea ceremony formed a key part of this discipline. Today you participate in a formal tea ceremony delivered by a master practitioner and learn about the philosophy and rituals of this ancient tradition.

Tonight’s dinner is teppanyaki – tender wagyu-beef and vegetables grilled to perfection on a hot plate.

Kanazawa (Kanazawa Tokyu Hotel or similar)
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9: Kanazawa

This morning you visit the Nagamachi district, the old part of Kanazawa where daimyo lords once resided. Its winding old streets are full of beautiful villas and gardens nestled behind traditional plaster-covered walls. Your guide will continue guiding you through backstreets of Kanazawa stopping at some small but worthy museums including DT Suzuki Museum. 

You have the afternoon and evening free to explore the city at your own pace. Perhaps visit Omi-cho Market, a lively working market full of fishmongers and eateries. Or the Higashi Geisha District, a well-preserved network of atmospheric streets where geisha once entertained patrons in slatted wooden tea houses. Kanazawa’s wealth and sophisticated culture helped develop highly sophisticated art and craft such as ceramics, gilded lacquerware and kimono (pictured on Kimono stand above), and you may find a special piece to take home.

Kanazawa (Kanazawa Tokyu Hotel or similar)
Breakfast
Day 10: Fukui

It’s time to reach the last stretch along the captivating Sea of Japan coast – Fukui Prefecture. Travelling by private transport, your first stop today is Tojinbo cliff where you take a cruise to view the rock formations sculpted by wind and wave over millions of years to form rugged honeycomb-shaped columns, a spectacular natural landmark in Echizen-Kaga Kaigan Quasi-National Park. 

From here, you undertake another unique cultural experience of meeting with some geisha from Fukui’s geisha community. In a relaxed session, they perform traditional dances and songs, and demonstrate some of the fun party games typically played at functions. Over tea and sweets, you’ll join in them and chat with them to get a unique glimpse into geisha life.

Tonight you stay at Awara Onsen, Fukui’s largest hot spring town. Guests staying at the town’s ryokan are able to dress up in yukata robes and stroll around the town – a lovely experience in the spring-time weather. Enjoy a delicious kaiseki meal serving Fukui’s fresh seafood and prized local wagyu-beef, and afterwards luxuriate in the communal open-air bath.

Awara Onsen (Haiya or similar)
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11: Fukui

Fukui has long and deep Buddhist roots and today you experience the spiritual side of this region. But before that, you stop at the Ichijodani Asakura Clan Ruin. Once the base of the powerful Asakura clan, the Ichijodani area thrived as a cultural, military and commercial center until it was destroyed by the great feudal lord, Oda Nobunaga, in 1573. Four hundred years later, the site was discovered and excavations began in 1967. Here you can enter the homes of samurai, merchants and craftsmen, several of which are fully furnished and feature lifelike mannequins offering a glimpse into lifestyles of the time.

In the afternoon, you arrive at the beautiful hillside temple of Eiheiji (Temple of Eternal Peace), where you overnight at its shukubo lodging. This large Zen Buddhist temple and monastery was founded in 1244 by the prominent priest Dogen Zenji and belongs to the Soto School, Japan’s largest Zen Buddhist sect. Here you can experience a Zazen meditation session, wander its forested paths and covered walkways, and sample shojin-ryori (traditional Buddhist vegetarian fare) for dinner and breakfast. The temple stay offers a very unique opportunity to experience Zen culture in a historic setting and welcoming environment.

Fukui (Hakujukan or similar)
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 12: Fukui & Kyoto

For those interested, get up at dawn to attend the morning prayer service where Eiheiji’s monks gather for the first prayers of the day.

Leaving the monastery, you journey by private vehicle to the region of Echizen, where the tradition of forging swords, knives and farming tools has continued for some 700 years. In the 1970s artisans from the area gathered to decide how to revitalise a declining industry impacted by agricultural mechanization and stainless steel knives. Echizen knives are now sold around the world and recognised on Japan’s traditional crafts register. You tour one of the progressive knife manufacturers in the area as artisans expertly forge metal into bladed implements using traditional methods.

From Fukui, you leave the Sea of Japan coast by express train and head inland to Kyoto. Established as capital in 794, Kyoto remains the cultural heart of Japan and home to 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites and a wealth of traditional craft boutiques, museums, galleries and restaurants.

You gather for a relaxed dinner in the city’s heart. Many of Kyoto’s key temples, such as spectacular Kiyomizu Temple, are beautifully illuminated at night during the spring season – talk to your guide if you’d like more information.

Kyoto (The Royal Park Hotel Kyoto Sanjo or similar)
Breakfast, Dinner
Day 13: Kyoto

Kyoto in spring time is a real delight and this morning you have a walking guided tour of the eastern part of the city. Firstly, you head to Heian Jingu Shrine to enjoy its weeping cherries. Famous for its giant torii gate and distinctive red and green-lacquered buildings, Heian Jingu was built in 1895 to commemorate the 1100th anniversary of the city’s founding. Landscaped around four lily and iris ponds, the shrine’s garden has been designed to incorporate garden styles from each era of Kyoto’s long history.

You journey on to the large Zen Buddhist complex of Nanzen-ji and pass through its massive San-mon gate to a forest of flowering cherry and maple trees and numerous sub-temples with raked gravel gardens. You take a look at the remarkable aqueduct built over 150 years ago as part of a major civic work. From here you stroll on to the Keage Incline, part of the same civic project, and enjoy the views and the uniquely beautiful sight of blossoms overhanging disused railway tracks.

You gather tonight for a farewell dinner and relive the best memories of your Japan adventure. Afterwards, perhaps stroll along atmospheric Ponto-cho in the evening lantern light, stopping for a Kyoto's craft gin or beer in a tiny bar to enjoy your last night!

Kyoto (The Royal Park Hotel Kyoto Sanjo or similar)
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 14: Goodbye in Kyoto

You check out of your hotel after breakfast and your 2025 Cherry Blossom Tour of the Sea of Japan Coast concludes.

You can take an airport express or limousine bus to Kansai International Airport (KIX) or a shinkansen and trains to one of the international airports in Tokyo. If you’d like to linger in Japan a little longer, we would be delighted to plan your personal post-tour extension to show you a different part of Japan. Please see our Model Extension Itineraries on Private Tour page for inspiration.

Note: The cost of an escorted transfer to your departure airport is not included in our Small Group Tours as we found many guests choose to stay in Japan a bit longer. However, we would be happy to arrange your transfer to your next destination or your departing airport. Please see our FAQ for more details.

Breakfast

Dates & Prices

2025 Cherry Blossom Tour of Sea of Japan Coast

Per person twin share:

Single supplement

Inclusions

Each guest is personally looked after with one-on-one interactions with our hand-picked, expert tour guides. As part of your investment, this tour includes:

  • First-class wisdom and higher standard of individual care and attention
  • 13 nights’ accommodation (including traditional Japanese inns)
  • All breakfasts
  • 7 lunches (5 free choice lunches)
  • 10 dinners (2 free choice dinners)
  • Airport meet & greet on arrival
  • Hotel transfer by public transport on arrival
  • All local transport (train, bus and private minivans)
  • Pre-loaded transport IC card
  • Expert English speaking tour guides (locally licensed)
  • Cultural activities and entry fees included in itinerary
  • Luggage transfers (1 piece per person)

DISCLAIMER: Unless otherwise stated, this tour does not include the costs of international and domestic airfares, transfers on the last day, travel insurance, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, transport during free time, personal expenses (laundry, internet, telephone, coin lockers etc.) and Visa (if required).

Who this Japan tour is for...

This is a perfect tour for people who:

  • Want to visit off-the-beaten-path locations of Japan at cherry blossom time
  • Are interested in Japanese art and craft, culture, religion and history 
  • Enjoy the guidance of professional tour guides as well as some free time
  • Like extra small group tours designed with healthy 55+ travelers in mind
  • Become up-close and interact with locals through public transport
  • Experience a variety in style, and typically 4+ star boutique accommodation with private bathroom including some traditional ryokan

Have a question about this tour? Get in touch with our staff directly.