Cherry Blossoms of Japan

Day 1 - Sunday 24 March 2024

Melbourne - Tokyo (Meals Inflight)

Welcome to Sisterhood Womens Travel.  Your tour hostess and fellow travellers will meet you at the designated departure point at Melbourne Airport for your flight to Tokyo. Sit back, relax and enjoy your flight.  

Day 2 - Monday 25 March 2024

Tokyo

Welcome to Japan!

On arrival at Narita Airport, an English speaking guide will assist with our transfer to our hotel in Tokyo. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, a city with 12 million residents and 3 million further commuters from neighbouring cities daily, for a total of 15 million on most days. Famous for its spectacular architecture, futuristic displays, upmarket shopping and unique fashion sense, plenty of free time is allowed here to explore on your own.

Dinner tonight at leisure.

Overnight - Mitsui Garden Hotel Ueno (or similar)

Day 3 - Tuesday 26 March 2024

Tokyo (B,L)

Today we'll start of full day tour of Tokyo City.   

We take advantage of the Cherry Blossom Season with a visit to Ueno Park for some beautiful views.  Ueno Park is home to many art, history, science and technology buildings and is one of the best places to view Cherry Blossoms.  We'll then visit Asakusa in the old part of Tokyo city.  Asakusa is one of the most celebrated temples in Tokyo.  We then visit Nakamise Shopping Arcade, a great opportunity to pick uo some trinkets and local souvenirs. 

Lunch is included at a local restaurant, before more cherry blossom viewing at Chidorigafuchi and Hamarikyu Garden. Today’s sightseeing finishes at our hotel around 4pm.

Overnight - Mitsui Garden Hotel Ueno (or similar)

Day 4 - Wednesday 27 March 2024

Tokyo Sightseeing (B)

This morning we will have a sushi-making lesson, conducted by a professional sushi chef.

This afternon is free day to explore Tokyo. 

Overnight -  Mitsui Garden Hotel Ueno (or similar)

Day 5 - Thursday 28 March 2024

Tokyo (B,L,D)

This morning, our main suitcases will need to be packed, and essential supplies stored in an overnight bag. The suitcases will then be forwarded to the accommodation in Hakone, while we bring an overnight bag with us on the train to Hakone the following day.

This monring we see us head to Sogetsu Kaikan, an architectural marvel, to take part in a unique cultural experience of ikebana, the art of flower arrangement.

You have the rest of the day free at leisure until 5:30pm, free time for shopping. From 5:30pm you will be taken to dinner on board a Yakatabune (Japanese-style houseboat) with a cruise on Tokyo Bay.

Overnight - Mitsui Garden Hotel Ueno (or similar)

Day 6 - Friday 29 March 2024

Tokyo - Hakone (B,D)

Today we make our way to Hakone National Park, a hot spring resort area on the outskirts of Mt. Fuji, by train.  This will be our first traditional experience in Japanese-style accommodation; though to ease us in, this property will still have western bedding, and our own private hot spring baths. We have the afternoon free to relax, before heading to Itoh Dining for a Teppanyaki Dinner. 

Overnight: Kowakien Tenyu  (Japanese-style rooms with western bedding and private onsen)

Day 7 - Saturday 30 March 2024

Hakone (B,L,D)

Today we have a full-day tour of Hakone.  Firstly a stroll along the Old Cedar Avenue through the Hakone-machi.  This is followed by lunch then a cruise on Lake Ashi where, on clear days the view of Mt Fuji is excellent from here.  After our cruise, we'll take a ride on the Hakone Ropeway (gondola) across Owakudani Valley, open areas in the crust revealing hot spring steam and smoke, this is a famous attraction here.  Our day finishes with a visit to Hakone Open Air Museum, with world-famous artworks on display in meticulously landscaped gardens.  A Japanese banquet is included for dinner tonight

Overnight - Kowakien Tenyu  (Japanese-style rooms with western bedding and private onsen)

Day 8 - Sunday 31 March 2024

Yamanouchi (B,L,D)

After breakfast and checking out of our hotel today, we will be taken by coach to the town of Yamanouchi (lunch included along the way), famous for the Japanese Macaque, or more commonly known as “Japanese Snow Monkey”.  Jigokudani Park, located in the Kanbayashi Onsen area in Yamanouchi is the main attraction and we will be taken here to see the snow monkeys bathing in the hot springs among the snow. 

Tonight, we will be experiencing our first traditional “Ryokan” (Japanese guest house) stay, at Biyu no Yado. Our room will be a tatami mat Japanese room with futons to sleep on. Service will be exceptional, and a beautiful traditional Japanese banquet dinner and breakfast await. We will also have the opportunity to use the natural hot springs with 2 private hot springs available for our use on the rooftop. Dinner is included tonight.

Overnight – Biyu no Yado Japanese Guest House (or similar)

Day 9 - Monday 1 April 2024

Yamanouchi - Takayama (B,L,D)

After breakfast today we will travel to the town of Takayama in the Japan Alps. Lunch is included at a local restaurant along the way.  Takayama is a countryside farming town, famous for its traditional Japanese preserved architecture. Takayama has been well known in the past for producing some of Japan’s best architects and builders, and as such, part of the city has been preserved as National Treasures. Hida Beef, is also well known throughout Japan, rivalling even Kobe beef as some of the highest quality beef available. 

The rest of the day is free at leisure in Takayama, until we enjoy a delicious local specialty, Hida beef for dinner at local restaurant!

Overnight: Takayama Ouan (or similar)

Day 10 - Tuesday 2 April 2024

Takayama (B,L)

Today we will enjoy a full day guided tour of Takayama. First up will be a visit to Takayama Morning Market, a market where farmers’ wives from neighbouring villages come each morning to hawk fresh produce.  Following this will visit the Hida Folk Village, a museum that will allow us to learn about country farming life in the Japan Alps.  After lunch at a local restaurant, we will have the afternoon free to stroll around Takayama or relax at the hot springs at our hotel.  

From 4-6pm our guide will take us on a stroll around the Kami Sannomachi “Preserved Housing” district, returning to our hotel with dinner at your own leisure. 

Overnight - Takayama Ouan (or similar)

Day 11 - Wednesday 3 April 2024

Takayama - Kanazawa (B,L)

Today, we will travel to Kanazawa by coach, with a stopover in Gokayama to participate in “washi” (Japanese paper) making. The region of Gokayama is arguably the most famous in Japan for its washi.  Lunch is included at a local restaurant, before arriving in Kanazawa mid afternoon.  

Kanazawa is a city famous for Kenrokuen Garden, samurai heritage, a healthy appreciation of art, and cultural goods production, some of which we will have the opportunity to experience. 

The rest of the day and dinner is at your leisure.

Overnight - Hotel Mystays Premier Kanazawa (or similar)

Day 12 - Thursday 4 April 2024

Kanazawa (B,L)

Today we will have a full day tour of Kanazawa.   We’ll be heading through the Nagamachi Bukeyashiki, a preserved samurai housing district in Kanazawa; on our way to a local gold leaf museum. Kanazawa is famous for producing these cultural goods, along with ceramics, Kutaniyaki Pottery, and silver leaf; in fact, Kanazawa produces 99% of the gold leaf used throughout Japan.  

Lunch is included today, before a visit to Kenrokuen Garden.  Kenrokuen Garden is considered one of the 3 best landscaped gardens in Japan, and will likely be one of the most beautiful we will ever see. Touring concludes today at our hotel late afternoon with dinner at leisure tonight.

Overnight: Hotel Mystays Premier Kanazawa (or similar)

Day 13 - Friday 5 April 2024

Kanazawa - Kyoto (B,L,D)

This morning, we will travel to Kyoto by coach, with a picnic lunch near Lake Biwa along the way.  

We will have free time at the hotel until after which we will be taken to a traditional Japanese restaurant for a Japanese banquet dinner with geisha accompaniment. We will return to our hotel at around 8 PM.

Overnight - Amanek Kyoto Kawaramachi Gojo Hotel 

Day 14 - Saturday 6 April 2024

Kyoto (B,L)

This morning, we will be taken to Sagano Bamboo Grove, an area reminiscent of feudal era Japanese films. A fun Kimono fitting and a stroll through this area has been arranged for us, what a truly unique experience.  Lunch is included today at a local restaurant, following Sagano. 

The afternoon we will visit various sites in Kyoto, including Heian Jingu Shrine (a famous Cherry Blossom viewing spot), Ryoanji Temple (World Heritage listed temple, famous for its Zen garden and Weeping cherry blossom trees), and Golden Pavilion (gold leaf covered pagoda, World Heritage site, and former shogun villa converted into a Buddhist Temple).

Today’s touring concludes around 5 PM back at our hotel with dinner at leisure.

Overnight - Amanek Kyoto Kawaramachi Gojo Hotel

Day 15 - Sunday 7 April 2024

Kyoto (B,L)

There will be further cherry blossom viewing today at the World Heritage site of Nijo Castle (former Kyoto residence of the Tokugawa Shogunate, ruling party of Japan prior to the current royal family) We then visit the world heritage site of Klyomizu Temple (constructed without nails, overhanging a cliff with a great view of Kyoto city). Later we will take part in a special Yuzen dyeing program. Lunch is included today at a local restaurant. 

After lunch we will participate in a traditional tea ceremony, before being taken to our hotel at mid afternoon.

Dinner tonight is at leisure.

Overnight - Amanek Kyoto Kawaramachi Gojo Hotel

Day 16 - Monday 8 April 2024

Kyoto - Miyajima (B,D)

This morning our main luggage will be couriered overnight to our hotel in Osaka, while we take a detour to the island of Miyajima.  We will require an overnight bag as we will travel by train and ferry across to Miyajima Island. Before taking the ferry to the island we will travel by bullet train to Hiroshima, with some free time for lunch then a visit to Peace Memorial Museum as well as the Atomic Bomb Dome.  

Miyajima island is famous for its natural scenery, many wild deer and for Itsukushima Shrine. The view from Itsukushima Shrine is considered one of the best 3 in Japan and we will visit here as part of our touring this afternoon. Our touring today concludes at our ryokan in Miyajima, our second for this tour. Tonight we will sleep on traditional futon-style beds.

Overnight - Miyajima Hotel Makoto (or similar)

Day 17 - Tuesday 9 Apri 2024

Hiroshima - Osaka (B,D)

Today, we will head to Osaka by bullet train with lunch at your own expense.

Our accommodation will be in the popular Shinsaibashi area in Osaka, famous for its “Eat-til-you-drop” food culture, and is arguably the best place to finish up our fantastic tour. Diversity of cuisine is abundant here, as are wonderful shopping opportunities. We’ll enjoy a farewell dinner at a local restaurant and reminisce on great times spent with new friends. 

Overnight - Osaka Hinode Hotel

Day 18 - Wednesday 10 April 2024

Osaka (B)

Today we transfer to the airport  in Kansa.  Sit back, relax and enjoy the inflight entertainment of our airlines as we head towards home.

Day 19 - Thursday 11 April 2024

Arrive Home

Welcome Home!  Thank you for travelling with Sisterhood Womens Travel and we look forward to welcoming you back for your next adventure!