We returned from our 16-day Japan trip chasing sakuras recently and like to share our itinerary.

We returned from our 16-day Japan trip chasing sakuras recently and like to share our itinerary.

This is our 2nd trip free and easy to Japan but first time visit during Sakura period. We already visited Himeiji, Kobe, Nara and Fushimi Inari in our last trip so decided to skip these this time.

– We enjoyed staying at Ueno area as it has so many shops, eateries and different train lines to travel. The train interchange is not so crowded and messy as Shinjuku station.

– Some might say that we were crazy to visit a cemetery to view sakuras but this Yanaka Cemetery is so peaceful and beautiful with cherry trees lining both sides of roads.

– We also happened to come across the lovely unagi place 千根や when walking from there to Yanaka Ginza. This place offers 3 different styles of unagi – Kanto, Kansai and Nagoya.

– Somehow we did not catch much of sakuras in Kyoto except The Philosopher’s Path

– Kanazawa castle park was so underrated as Sakura viewing as compared to the more popular Kenrokuen garden. We happened to be there earlier and there was no crowds with the sakuras in full bloom! Kenrokuen garden indeed is beautiful but not as many sakuras trees as the castle park, especially near the castle most towards the bridge exit to Kenrokuen.

– we bought 7 day whole Japan JR pass to use from 31 Mar – 6 Apr. We also bought Hakone-Kamakura 3-day pass and find it pretty useful to get around the 2 areas on public transport.

– We also used luggage forwarding service to forward our luggages from Tokyo to Osaka and Osaka to Tokyo, and just travelled with a backpack each for our trips to Kamakura | Hakone | Hiroshima, and Kanazawa | Kawaguchiko. The service is very reliable and not that expensive if you don’t request for same day delivery.

– Better to check weather forecast in advance for visiting the Itsukushima floating Torii gate in Miyajima island, and for viewing Mt Fuji days. If possible, try to stay min 2 nights in Five Lakes or Hakone to get better chance of viewing Fuji in clear day.

– We were keeping to a budget for hotel stays but find that Hotel Green Plaza Hakone offer relatively good value for their half board (dinner & breakfast), large Japanese style room with Mt Fuji view, and lovely outdoor onsens with Mt Fuji view. (Subject to weather conditions). This hotel is also walking distance to the Ropeway station Ubako.

Summary of our itinerary for Sakura Japan trip 2023:

25 – 28 March (3N) in Tokyo (Ueno)

Hotel: Mitsui Garden Ueno Hotel ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (Overall)

Activities:

1) OtonAshi Water Park & Sumida Park at night

Bar Bookshelf

2) Ueno Park🌸🌸🌸, grilled unagi @ 千根や, Yanaka Cemetery 🌸🌸& Yanaka Ginza, dinner @ Komagata Dozeu, Sanrio World Ginza, Rooftop Bar Andaz Tokyo Toranomon

3) Meguro River🌸🌸, chidorigafuchi Park🌸, Rikugien Gardens 🌸

28 – 29 March (1N) in Kamakura/Fujisawa

Hotel: Sotetsu Freda Inn Fujisawa-Minamiguchi ⭐️⭐️ (Location)

Activities:

Tsurugaoka Hachiman-Hu Shrine 🌸🌸🌸, Komachi Dori, Ginza Kagari, Kotaku-in Temple 🌸🌸, Shichirigahama beach, Teppanyaki Mikasagi

29 – 31 March (2N) in Hakone

1st Hotel: Hotel Green Plaza Hakone ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (half board, Jap style, outdoor Onsen + garden with lovely view of Fuji San)

2nd Hotel: Wisterian Life Club Verde No Mori ⭐️ (location ulu)

Activities:

1) Gora Park🌸🌸, lunch, Owakudani Volcanic Valley, try black eggs, bamboo charcoal ice cream, shopping, use hotel Onsen, jap style buffet dinner included

2) use hotel Onsen to view Mt Fuji, Togendai Pirate cruise to Motohakone, Hakone floating Torii gate, old Togendai cedar road, Onshi Hakone park, Hotoriya shopping & lunch at Cafe Komon, dinner at Gora Brewery & Grill

3) Brunch (Sea bream) at Youraku Kaiseiki 🌸🌸, 2 hrs private Onsen at Hakone Yuryo, go to Yumoto station & travel to Hiroshima via Shinkansen

31 March – 1 April (1N) in Hiroshima

NESTHotel Hiroshima ⭐️⭐️

Activities:

take ferry to Miyajima island, go Okeiko Japan for experience of kimono wear, tea ceremony, calligraphy on Japanese wooden spoon, making of omamori amulet & pray. Wore kimono to take pics at 5-story pagoda🌸🌸, Itsukushima Floating Torii Gate (low tide), Lunch @ Anagomeshi, return kimono, Miyajima brewery, Hakataya (fried momiji manju lemon), grilled oysters, oyster curry bun, take ferry back to Hiroshima, go Hatchabori for Onomichi ramen Akatsuki, Osaka izakaya near Hiroshima station, go to Shin Osaka via shinakansen

1 – 5 April (4N) stay in Shin-Osaka with day trips to Kyoto

Hotel: Meitetsu inn shinosaka station East Gate ⭐️⭐️

Activities:

1) Osaka castle 🌸🌸, okonomiyaki & yakisoba at Kote, kema-Sakuranomiya park 🌸🌸, takoyaki assortment at Takoyaki Tamaya, shopping Tenjinbashi-Suji & sushi at Sushimasa Nakaten, shopping at Shinsainashi-suji Shotengai, Dotombori, crab bento takeaway & crab ice cream at Kani Doraku main branch

2) Kyoto – Arashiyama Park 🌸, bamboo forest, Nishiki market, grilled unagi lunch @ うなぎ 昊-そら, Sanrio gallery Kyoto, Maruyama park🌸🌸, Kiyomizudera for 📸 🌅🌸, Gion Kyoto ramen, MOS burger

3) Nanzen-ji temple, The Philosopher’s Path 🌸🌸🌸, go to Gion Kong Kaburenjo, Musoshin Ramen lunch, desserts at Kyoto Tenro-in, watched Miyako Odori (Geisha show), dinner at JR Kyoto station

5 – 6 April (1N) stay in Kanazawa

Hotel Mystays Kanazawa Castle ⭐️⭐️

Activities:

1) Lunch, go to Sakura Bridge for 📸 🌸, Nagamachi (samurai district), gold leaf ice cream, sightseeing bus loop, go Kazuemachi 🌸🌸, Oriental Brewing for taster craft beers, dinner Kanazawa Mongolian BBQ

2) Kanazawa castle park 🌸🌸🌸🌸, Kenro Kuen garden 🌸🌸🌸, Hakuichi shopping & gold matcha ice cream, Higashiya chaya for 🛍️, travel to Tokyo station via JR Thunderbird

6 – 8 April (2N) stay in Lake Kawaguchiko

Kawaguchi Lakeside Hotel ⭐️⭐️⭐️

(Mt Fuji view, near Lake, free hotel transfer to station, jap style but no bathtub/ shower in room, not near station)

Activities:

1) grab snacks and instant noodles from Lawson, go to Kawaguchi Music Forest, walk all the promenade🌸🌸🌸, take bus to Oishi Park 🌸mountain🗻, shopping 📸 Kyoho grape and muscat grape ice cream cone, Oshino Hakkai village shopping 🛒 📸 🌸🌸

2) go to Arakura Fuji Sengen Jinjia Shrine and climb to Chureito Pagoda plus observation deck for Mt Fuji 🌸🌸🌸🌸, bought chicken karaage and sat at the makeshift tent to eat, bought sakura brewed ale, go back to Lake Kawaguchi, lunch at Hoto Fudo, rest for bus back to Tokyo station

8 – 9 April (1N) stay in Tokyo (Asakusa)

APA Hotel Asakusa Kuramae ⭐️

Activities:

1) Shibuya 109 & Shibuya scramble crossing at night

2) go to Gotokuji (Lucky Cat temple), lunch & shopping at Harajuku, collect luggages & go airport to depart for SG, last min shopping at airport

#japan

Source: FB Christina Pang

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