2017 Cherry Blossom Package Specials

Japan is a country with four distinctive seasons, each one highlighting a different but equally spectacular aspect of the country’s beauty.
And the most renowned, of them all is Japan’s Spring season for its cherry blossoms.

This is one of the most colourful events and celebrated in Japan. At the same time, people from foreign countries also visit Japan around this time of year to see the “Hanami”. It is not surprising that accommodation gets booked out so fast around this season.

Cherry Blossom Season
From late March to mid - April or even every May, the country's iconic SAKURA (Cherry Blossoms) capture the attention of visitors and
locals alike as their beautiful pink flowers blanket the country in sort, colourful splendor.

How to "HANAMI"
Hanami (cherry blossom viewing)" in Japan often involves a picnic party to enjoy cherry blossoms as well as food and drinks.
People have a Hanami party with friends, family or colleagues under the cherry tree and have fun. It seems the dazzling cherry
blossoms in full bloom make many people get higher than usual. But there are manners and a certain way to have a Hanami party.
And a good preparation may help you to enjoy the party even more. Why not enjoy spring in the Japanese way.

Get a Hanami bento at a department store

Get food for a Hanami party at the basement food floor of department store. If you want to enjoy food at a Hanami party, Hanami bento is recommended. The bento for Hanami looks pretty as the colorful ingredients like carrot is cut in the shape of a cherry blossom petal. And as vegetables and fishes in season are used, you will be able to enjoy the taste of spring in Japan.
The basement food floor of department store is a good place to get a Hanami bento. You will find all sorts of food from Japanese to Western and many shops have a few types of Hanami bento. As there are so many choices, you will have a trouble choosing one.

Hanami bento from major department stores (Isetan Shinjuku & Daimaru Tokyo)

Isetan Shinjuku is closely located to
Shinjuku-sanchome Station on the
Tokyo Metro line. Quite a few stores
are found on the basement food floor
and a wide variety of Hanami bento
from a luxurious bento which is priced
at about 5,000 yen to a healthy bento
with lots of vegetables is available.
As a park called Shinjuku-gyoen National
Garden where there are 1,300 cherry trees
is close to Isetan Shinjuku, you can have
a Hanami party there. But please note that
no alcohol beverage is allowed in the park.

Cherry Blossom Season's Sweet "Sakura-mochi"

Sakuramochi is a rice cake with sweet red bean paste inside and wrapped with a leaf of cherry tree which is pickled in salt water. It is a confectionery with a scent of cherry blossom. As it is eaten without removing the leaf, you will enjoy the taste that the salty leaf and the sweet bean paste are finely mixed together. Sakuramochi usually is slightly pink-colored. As sakuramochi in Area of Kanto and Kansai is different, why not try both of them and see the difference.
	Kanto style: "Chomeiji Temple" The Kanto style sakuramochi has a crepe-like wrapping around bean paste and has an oblong shape. The wrapping is made with flour and is baked. The texture of the wrapping is soft and moist.
Kansai Style: "Domyoji Temple" The Kansai style has a round shape and bean paste is wrapped with a rice cake. The rice cake is made from glutinous rice which is dried after steamed and then roughly grinded. The rice cake has lumpy texture.

2017 Essence of Cherry Blossom 9 Days

Escorted tour from Tokyo

Hotel: Tokyo(3 nights), Hakone(1 night), Kyoto(4 nights)
Meals: 8 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 Dinners
English Speaking Guide/Assist : Day 2, 4-6, 8
Visit Japan World Heritage Site
Tokyo Full day sightseeing (Cherry Blossom Viewing)
Mt. Fuji & Hakone Sight Seeing
Kyoto afternoon tour
Kyoto & Nara full day sight seeing
Dinner with Maiko dance performance in Kyoto

from $5,390

2017 Cherry Blossom Dreams 11 Days

Escorted Tours from Tokyo

Hotel: Tokyo(3 nights), Hakone(1 night), Kyoto(5 nights), Hiroshima (1 night)
Meals: 10 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners
English Speaking Guide/Assist : Day 2, 4-6,8-10
Visit Japan World Heritage Site
Tokyo Full day sightseeing (Cherry Blossom Viewing)
Mt. Fuji & Hakone Sight Seeing
Kyoto afternoon tour
Kyoto & Nara full day sight seeing
Visit the Peace Memorial park and the sacred Miyajima
Dinner with Maiko dance performance in Kyoto

from $6,890