14 Day Pass – Japan’s Best Of The West Cherry Blossoms Itinerary

Day 3: Sightseeing in Tokyo

Outside Tokyo, there are also many highly recommended cherry blossom viewing spots that you can visit.

• Yokohama Sankeien Garden – A spacious garden that features Japanese style landscaping and architecture, the Sankeien Garden contains many historic structures, such as the main hall and the three-storey pagoda of the old Tomyoji Temple that used to be in Kyoto.From Tokyo Station, board a JR Keihin-Tohoku Line train to Yokohama Station and then take the JR Negishi Line to Negishi Station. The walk to the garden takes about half an hour.

• Yokohama Ookagawa River – A popular activity in spring is strolling along the five-kilometre tunnel formed by dense blankets of cherry blossoms on the banks of the Yokohama Ookagawa River.The spot can be easily be accessed by walking from JR Sakuragicho Station, which is on the JR Negishi Line.

• Yokohama Minato Mirai 21 – Even in the middle of a bustling urban area, Minato Mirai 21 has great cherry blossom viewing spots. The site is also located close to JR Sakuragicho Station.

• Mt Fuji – The northern base of the mountain is where you can find the famous Fuji Five Lakes, which all have amazing cherry blossom spots that tourists flock to in spring.Board a JR Chuo Line train going to Kawaguchiko Station and then use the tourist buses (not covered by the JR Pass) to travel around the area to explore the lakes.

• Kamakura – In addition to its many historical and cultural spots, Kamakura is also a popular destination for cherry blossom viewing. Some of its most popular sakura spots are the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, Kamakura Daibutsu, and Genjiyama Park.From central Tokyo, you can reach Kamakura by taking the JR Yokosuka or JR Shonan Shinjuku Lines. The one-way trip takes less than an hour.

Day 4: Tokyo to Kanazawa (Spend 1 night in Kanazawa)

Kanazawa was home to the Maeda Family, the second most influential and powerful feudal lords during the Edo Period. Today, it is a very popular tourist destination as it offers a wide array of cultural and historical spots that date back from that eventful era. It also is home to several top-notch sakura viewing spots.

From Tokyo Station, take a Shinkansen to Kanazawa Station. The one-way journey takes about three hours and is entirely covered by your JR Pass.

To explore Kanazawa, it is recommended you purchase a one-day bus pass (500 yen) that will allow you unlimited rides to the city’s best cherry blossom spots and other attractions, including the following:

• Kenrokuen – Regarded as one of the three most beautiful landscape gardens of Japan, Kenrokuen is a spacious garden with a diverse collection of flowering trees, plants and shrubs.

• Kanazawa Castle’s Ishikawamon Gate – Both sides of Kanazawa Castle’s Ishikawamon Gate are lined with beautiful cherry trees that are a fantastic sight when in full bloom.

• Asanogawa Ohashi Bridge – With views of the Asanogawa River, a stroll along the Asanogawa Ohashi Bridge is popular during peak sakura season. This vantage point will allow you to enjoy scenery blanketed in pink cherry blossoms.

• Mt Utatsu – Mt Utatsu is home to a park with numerous cherry trees and offers overlooking views of Kanazawa and the surroundings.

Day 6: Sightseeing in Kyoto

Purchase a city bus all-day pass at the Tourist Information Center at Kyoto Station to be able to access the following cherry blossom viewing spots:

• Philosopher’s Path – Strolling the entire two-kilometre length of the Philosopher’s Path is quite popular during the sakura season, as the concrete walking trail is lined by gorgeous cherry trees from start to finish.

• Arashiyama – Located in Kyoto’s outskirts, Arashiyama is a busy yet uplifting district that has many varieties of cherry trees scattered all around.

• Maruyama Park – A public park that is known for its sakura parties, Maruyama Park is always crowded during the peak cherry blossom season, especially at night when it holds sakura illuminations.

Day 7: Sightseeing outside Kyoto

Outside Kyoto, there are also some cherry blossom viewing spots that are worth visiting.

• Kema Sakuranomiya Park (Osaka) – The Kema Sakuranomiya Park is a riverside park that has lush and rich natural scenery, with around five thousand cherry trees that look amazing during peak blooming season.From Kyoto Station, take the JR Special Rapid Service train to Osaka Station and then transfer to the Osaka Loop Line going to Sakuranomiya Station. The park is a few minutes’ walk away.

• Mount Yoshinoyama Park (Nara) – For many centuries now, Mount Yoshinoyama Park in Nara has been a highly-regarded cherry blossom viewing spot. It is covered by around 30,000 cherry trees of different varieties.The fastest way to get there from Kyoto is by taking the Kintetsu Ltd Exp to Kashiharajingumae Station, and then transferring to the Tourism Ltd Exp Blue Symphony Line to Yoshino Station. From there, get on a shuttle bus to Naka Senbon Park. If you want to go deeper into the sea of cherry trees, there is a mini bus route to the Oku Senbon area. The whole trip takes about three hours and is not covered by the JR Pass.

• Nara Park (Nara) – To enjoy both freely roaming deer and beautiful pink cherry blossoms, visit Nara Park, which is about a 20-minute leisurely walk from JR Nara Station.From Kyoto Station, take the JR Nara Line Rapid Service to Nara Station; the trip takes about three-quarters of an hour.

Day 9: Kyoto to Hiroshima (Spend 2 nights in Hiroshima)

Hiroshima has some sakura viewing spots that will take your breath away, particularly the Hiroshima Castle complex.

• Hiroshima Castle – A castle town constructed towards the end of the 16^th century, Hiroshima Castle used to be the home of powerful Western Japan feudal leader Mori Terumoto. It consists of a five-storey main keep, a moat, and a large garden that is home to numerous cherry trees.From Kyoto Station, take a Shinkansen to Hiroshima Station. Then, hop on tram line 1, 2 or 6 (not covered by the JR Pass, one-way ticket costs 160 yen) to Kamiyacho-higashi or Kamiyacho-nishi stop.

Day 10: Sightseeing outside Hiroshima

Not too far from Hiroshima is the island of Miyajima, which is also an excellent place to experience cherry blossoms in peak bloom.

• Miyajima – Famous for its large, seemingly floating torii, Miyajima has approximately 1,300 cherry trees scattered around Itsukushima Shrine and its hiking trails.From Hiroshima Station, board a train on the JR Sanyo Line going to Miyiajimaguchi Station, which is a short walk from the pier for ferries to Miyajima Island. Both the train and ferry are covered by the JR Pass.