Hokkaido, Tohoku and Central Japan Tour (Reverse)

Experience Japan’s famous cherry blossoms and captivating wisteria flowers as you explore popular attractions and local gems.

Destinations

Osaka / Nara / Uji / Kioto / Kanazawa / Shirakawago / Takayama / Matsumoto / Mt. Fuji / Hakone/ Tokio / Ashikaga / Nikko / Matsushima / Hiraizumi / Morioka / Towada / Aomori / Hakodate / Toya Lake / Noboribetsu / Shiraoi/ Sapporo / Otaru

Itinerary in brief

Day 1 Arrival in Osaka
Day 2 Nara – Uji – Kyoto
Day 3 Kyoto
Day 4 Bullet Train Ride – Kanazawa – Shirakawago
Day 5 Takayama – Matsumoto
Day 6 Mt. Fuji – Hakone – Tokyo
Day 7 Tokyo
Day 8 Ashikaga – Nikko
Day 9 Matsushima
Day 10 Hiraizumi – Morioka
Day 11 Towada – Aomori – Seikan Underwater Tunnel – Hakodate
Day 12 Hakodate – Lake Toya
Day 13 Noboribetsu – Shiraoi – Sapporo
Day 14 Sapporo – Otaru
Day 15 End of the Trip

Trip description

Cherry blossoms bloom in northern Japan about a month later than in central Japan, between late April and early May. We have designed this tour for people who want to see cherry blossoms and wisteria by starting the tour from Osaka, traveling to Ashikaga Flower Park to see its great Wisteria, and then viewing the cherry blossoms in Hokkaido in the first week of May. This tour features rarely seen places and the famous sights of Kyoto, Takayama, and Tokyo. This tour will focus on modern city attractions, historical cities, romantic rural landscapes, and other tourist attractions in Japan.

Start in Osaka before traveling to Nara to see the remarkable Todaiji Temple and Nara Deer Park. Spend two days in the prominent city of Kyoto, where we’ve hand-selected the best gardens and temples to enjoy Japan’s cherry blossoms. Visit Arashiyama, located on the outskirts of Kyoto, famous for its bamboo forest and traditional Zen garden at Tenryuji Temple.

Travel by high-speed bullet train before visiting the beautiful Kenrokuen Garden in Kanazawa, one of the top three gardens in Japan. Head to the charming town of Shirakawa-go and the picturesque town of Takayama, located in the Japanese Alps. These areas have maintained a traditional but unique atmosphere due to their isolated location. Our tour group will also visit the dramatic Black Crow Castle (Matsumoto Castle).

Check out the iconic Mt. Fuji before taking a cable car ride to see the natural scenery of Hakone and Owakudani. Next, enjoy a guided tour in Tokyo. Learn how to make sushi from a professional sushi chef, and visit Tokyo’s cultural landmarks, trendy neighborhoods, and various shopping districts. Tokyo attractions include Shibuya Crossing, Asakusa, Tsukiji Outer Market, Imperial Palace, and Tokyo Tower.

At Ashikaga Flower Park, enjoy a stunning tunnel of wisteria flowers and see the large 150-year-old Wisteria tree. Continue your journey to Nikko and visit its designated World Heritage Sites. Take a look at one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Japan (Kegon Waterfall), enjoy the natural scenery of Lake Chuzenji, and discover the lavish Toshogu Shrine.

Experience a boat trip around Matsushima, a picturesque bay full of pine-covered islands and designated as one of the Three Great Places of Japan. Then, head to Hiraizumi for a leisurely stroll through Chusonji Temple. Afterward, visit the Morioka Handi-Works Plaza, a “see, touch, create” facility where you will have the opportunity to make various Morioka handicrafts and foods.

Head to Lake Towada, the perfect setting for a nature walk along the Oirase Gorge stream. Spend time at the Nebuta Warasse in Aomori, an exceptional museum dedicated to the Nebuta Festival. Next, travel to the Hokkaido Islands through the underwater train tunnel. In Hakodate, sample fresh produce from the morning market, visit the uniquely structured Fort Goryokaku, and enjoy scenic trails along the lakes of Onuma Park. Our group will also take the Uzusan cable car for panoramic views of Lake Toya.

Hike the smoky trails of Jigokudani (Hell Valley) in Noboribetsu, learn about the indigenous peoples of Hokkaido at Ainu Village, and visit Sapporo City for its historical monuments and entertainment district. Lastly, spend some time in the picturesque town of Otaru for its nostalgic canal area and reminiscent shopping streets.

 

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Detailed itinerary

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Day 1
Osaka Kansai Airport

Welcome to Osaka! An AJT representative will greet you at the arrival gate with a “All Japan Tours” sign.
Hotel Nikko Kansai Airport or similar class
Hotel Elsereine Osaka or similar class (NOTE 1 and 2)

NOTE 1: If you want to stay in downtown Osaka for the first night instead of Nikko Kansai Airport Hotel, we can arrange for you to stay at Elsereine Osaka Hotel (or similar class). In this case, the airport transfer is not included, but we will provide you with directions to get to your hotel in advance.

NOTE 2: If you are flying to Itami Airport (ITM) instead of Kansai International Airport (KIX), we can arrange for you to stay in Downtown Osaka (Hotel Elsereine Osaka or similar class) instead of Hotel Nikko Kansai Airport. In this case, airport transfer and meetings are not included, but we will provide you with full directions to the hotel in advance.

NOTE 3: The meet and greet is ONLY available for flights arriving at Terminal 1 after 11:00 AM. For guests arriving at Terminal 2, airport pickup is not included, but we will provide directions to your hotel in advance.

NOTE 4: If you want to stay more nights before the tour starts, please contact us to book hotel accommodation.

 

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Day 2
Nara (Todaiji Temple / Deer Park), Uji (Green Tea Ceremony), Kyoto (Fushimi Inari Shrine)

In the morning we will travel to Nara, the oldest capital of Japan, by private bus. We will visit the Todaiji Temple, the largest wooden building in Japan. The temple is also home to the largest bronze Buddha statue that is 16.3 meters high, and the surrounding park that is filled with more than 1,000 Sika deer. We will continue our tour to Uji where you can experience a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. In the afternoon we will travel to Kyoto, a historic city that was saved from air raids and was saved from the atomic bomb during World War II for its cultural and historical value. We will visit the impressive vermilion-colored Fushimi Inari Shrine, whose 4 km tunnel of scarlet torii gates was featured in the movie Memoirs of a Geisha. This resort surrounds a bamboo wilderness that includes mountains, streams, and ponds, the perfect backdrop for a scenic hike. We will stay two nights in Kyoto.

Breakfast lunch
Grand Prince Hotel Kyoto or similar class

 

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Day 3
Kyoto (Arashiyama – Tenryuji Temple Zen Garden – Sagano Bamboo Forest – Togetsukyo Bridge / Golden Pavilion / Nishijin Kimono Show / Kiyomizu Temple / Gion Geisha District)

Today, we will continue our tour of Kyoto, which once served as the capital of Japan and the residence of the emperor from 794 to 1868. First, we will visit Arashiyama to see Tenryuji Temple, where a traditional Zen landscape garden design can be glimpsed. Make your way through dense bamboo forest, past several small shrines, tea shops, and private houses before reaching the Togetsukyo Bridge over the Hozu River. Continue to the Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion) covered in 18 karat gold leaves. This three-story structure was originally built by Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu in 1397. At the Nishijin Textile Center, you can see displays of kimonos, watch an elegant kimono fashion show, and learn how they are made. Our group will tour the Kiyomizu Temple, best known for its large wooden stage that stands 13 meters above a hillside. The setting offers visitors a beautiful view of the many cherry trees below, experiencing a first-hand view of the true feelings of spring, as well as the view of the city of Kyoto in the distance. Finally, we will tour Gion, a famous geisha district in Kyoto with many restaurants and ochaya (tea houses).

Breakfast dinner
Grand Prince Hotel Kyoto or similar class

 

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Day 5
Takayama (morning market / Takayama Jinya / old town), Matsumoto (Matsumoto castle)

After enjoying a Japanese breakfast at the ryokan, we will continue sightseeing in Takayama, including the Morning Market, Takayama Jinya, and Old Town. You can explore the market stalls for local crafts and fresh farm produce. Takayama Old Town has been beautifully preserved, with many buildings and entire streets of houses dating back to the Edo period (1600-1868). In some streets, like Sannomachi Street, you can find many old houses, shops, cafes and sake breweries, some of which have been on the market for centuries. In the afternoon, we will continue to Matsumoto. Visit Matsumoto Castle, also known as “Crow Castle” because of its black exterior. Inside, we can see the best examples of wooden construction of a traditional Japanese-style castle. This is a classic “plain” castle surrounded by a still intact defense moat.

Breakfast lunch dinner
Yatsugatake Royal Hotel or similar class

 

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Day 6
Mt Fuji, Hakone (Hakone Ropeway / Owakudani), Tokyo (Shibuya – Shibuya Crossing – Hachiko Statue)

After breakfast, we will travel to Mt. Fuji in our private coach. Along the way, take in the changing scenery, from thick vegetation to lowlands to billowing clouds. We will stop at Mt. Fuji 5th station (depending on the weather) to admire the world famous peak. From Mt. Fuji we will head to Hakone and take a 20 minute cable car from Togendai to Owakundani. Much of the area here is considered an active volcanic zone since its creation since the eruption of Mount Hakone some 3,000 years ago. There, you can see the hot springs and hot rivers, where sulfurous fumes still linger. Owakundani also has splendid views of Mt. Fuji in good weather. In the afternoon we will travel to Tokyo. Our last visit for this day is Shibuya. We will be able to see the famous Shibuya crossing in action and cross the street with the crowd. Then we will take photos with the Hachiko statue at the crossing, which is a monument dedicated to a loyal dog who waited even after his master passed away.

Breakfast lunch
Tobu Hotel Levant Tokyo or similar class

 

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Day 7
Tokyo (Asakusa Sensoji Temple / Sushi Making Experience / Tsukiji Outer Market / Imperial Palace / Tokyo Tower)

Today, you will be taken to the Asakusa Kannon Temple, an active place of worship where you can see the largest paper lantern in Japan. You can also explore the Nakamise Market, which is located just past the outer gates of the temple. It is a commercial street with a traditional style and centuries of history. You will then have the opportunity to enjoy a sushi experience with a professional sushi chef. Whatever you prepare, you can eat! Then, we will head to the Tsukiji Outer Market, where various restaurants and shops line the streets. Then, pay a visit to the Imperial Palace, the former site of Edo Castle and the current residence of the Imperial Family of Japan. In the afternoon, we will visit the tallest self-supporting steel tower in the world. At 333 meters high, the Tokyo Tower is 13 meters taller than its model, the Eiffel Tower. See the city from 150 meters high on the main deck of the observatory for a panoramic view of the city.

Note: For Sushi Making Experience, if you are vegetarian, have gluten-free diets, have a shellfish allergy, or don’t eat raw fish, contact us for other ingredient options.

Breakfast lunch
Tobu Hotel Levant Tokyo or similar class

 

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Day 8
Tochigi (Ashikaga Flower Park), Nikko (Lake Chuzenji / Kegon Waterfall / Toshogu Shrine)

Today we will visit the Ashikaga flower park in Tochigi prefecture for the first time. There you will find the Great Wisteria Tree over 150 years old, designated a Natural Monument in Tochigi. Not only will you be shaded by the large wisteria tree, but as you venture through the park, different colored wisteria will decorate your hike from above. Beneath the various flowers, such as azaleas, the hanging wisteria will be complemented throughout the Ashikaga Flower Park. Afterwards, we traveled overland to Nikko National Park in the mountains north of Tokyo and discovered this beautiful region. The Japanese have a saying: “Don’t say kekko (wonderful) without seeing Nikko.” Nikko shrines and temples, along with their natural surroundings, have for centuries been closely associated with the history of the Tokugawa Shoguns. Visit Lake Chuzenji and Kegon Waterfall. The nearly 100-meter high Kegon Falls is the most famous of Nikko’s many beautiful waterfalls. In fact, it is even ranked as one of the three most beautiful falls in Japan, along with the Nachi waterfall in Wakayama prefecture and the Fukuroda waterfall in Ibaraki prefecture. Next is a visit to the lavishly decorated Toshogu Shrine, nestled in a forest of magnificent ancient Japanese cedars. Tonight, we’ll stay at the Onsen Ryokan at Kinugawa Onsen, where you can soak in the therapeutic waters of a hot tub and indulge in a traditional Japanese Kaiseki feast.

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Day 9
Matsushima (Matsushima Cruise / Godaido / Zuiganji Temple)

After a Japanese breakfast at the ryokan, you will visit Matsushima, a picturesque bay full of small pine-covered islands, where we will explore ancient caves, once frequented by meditating monks. Matsushima is famous for being one of the three most picturesque sights in Japan along with Miyajima and Amanohashidate. The bay is dotted with more than 200 small pine-covered islands. We will take the best way to see the islands by boarding one of the tourist boats. Then we will visit Godaido and Zuiganji Temple, the most famous in the Tohoku region, it was built by Date Masamune and is designated as a national treasure.

Breakfast dinner
Hotel Matsushima Taikanso or similar class

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Day 10
Hiraizumi (Chusonji Temple), Morioka (Morioka Handi – Plaza de las Obras)

This morning, we will head to Hiraizumi for a cultural interlude and to wander through the magnificent Japanese cedars and photogenic buildings at Chusonji Temple. Hiraizumi is now listed as a World Heritage Site and is home to the Konjiki-do (Golden Hall) within the Chusonji Temple, which attempts to recreate an ideal Buddhist world. As such, it is home to a set of exquisite remnants of the Buddhism brand “gold culture” that developed independently in the Tohoku region, far away from the cultural center of Kyoto, in the late 11th century Heian era. . UNESCO has recognized this area as a globally exceptional example of local culture manifesting itself at such a high level in the transition period from ancient to medieval times. Then, we head to Morioka for a visit to Morioka Handi-Works Square, a facility where you can “see, touch and create” various traditional Morioka handicrafts and foods.

Breakfast lunch dinner
Towadako Lake View Hotel or similar class

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Day 11
Towada (Lake Towada / Oirase Gorge), Aomori (Nebuta Warasse), Underwater Train from Aomori to Hakodate (Mt Hakodate Ropeway)

Today we will visit the third deepest lake in Japan, Lake Towada, a volcanic crater lake 44 km in circumference. We will have a nature walk along the stream through Oirase Gorge. More than a dozen waterfalls cascade into the stream along its length from the walls of the gorge. The stream flows along the floor of the Oirase Gorge, winding through trees that glow lush green in spring and summer and turn brilliant shades of red, yellow and orange from late October to early November. Then visit the Nebuta Warasse, a well-done museum about the Nebuta Matsuri in Aomori. In the afternoon, we will cross the Tsugaru Channel between the islands of Hokkaido and Honshu by train through the underwater train tunnel, before reaching Hakodate. It is a small city that has some of the most authentic and best preserved historical buildings in Japan. Upon arrival in Hakodate, we will take a tram and cable car to Mount Hakodate from where we can see the twinkling lights surrounding Hakodate Bay. The views from the mountain are spectacular and ranked among the top three night views in Japan along with views from Nagasaki’s Mount Inasa and Kobe’s Mount Rokko.

Breakfast lunch
Four Points By Sheraton Hakodate or similar class

 

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Day 12
Hakodate (Hakodate Morning Market / Fort Goryokaku), Onuma Park, Lake Toya (Usuzan Ropeway)

Today we will continue our tour in Hakodate. Hakodate was one of the first Treaty Ports in Japan to be opened to world trade in 1854, so there are many preserved buildings in the area from that time on. First is a visit to the famous morning market, where you will see a variety of fresh seafood, local fruits and vegetables. Then visit the Goryokaku Pentagonal Fort, built in 1868 and the only structure of its kind in Japan. The surrounding moat and defense grounds are now a city park and gardens. From Hakodate, we head to Lake Toya, on the way we stop at Lake Onuma. At Lake Toya, we will take the Usuzan cable car to the observation deck and have a panoramic view of Lake Toya and neighboring Showa Shinzan. Tonight we will stay in Noboribetsu where we will have dinner at the hotel.

Breakfast lunch dinner
Noboribetsu Manseikaku or similar class

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Day 13
Noboribetsu (Jigokudani), Shiraoi (Ainu Village), Sapporo (Clock Tower / Odori Park / Susukino)

In the morning, we will visit the Jigokudani. The valley generates 10,000 tons of bubbling water every day, and visitors can walk to nearby Lake Oyunuma and watch the plumes of steam rise. Today we will have the opportunity to learn about the Ainu, the indigenous peoples of northern Japan. At Shiraoi Ainu Village, you will experience an authentic Ainu performance with music, dancing and singing. In the afternoon, we drive to the city of Sapporo. The tour includes a visit to the Sapporo Clock Tower and Odori Park, where you can stroll along the boardwalk. The next stop is Susukino, Hokkaido’s largest entertainment district. At night it is for you to enjoy your free time.

Breakfast lunch
ANA Hotel Sapporo or similar class

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Day 14
Sapporo (Historic Town / Sapporo Beer Museum), Otaru (Otaru Canal / Sakaimachi Street – Kitaichi Garasukan – Otaru Music Box Museum)

In the morning, our Sapporo tour continues with a visit to the Historic Village, you can see the architecture of the Meiji and Taisho periods when Japan experienced rapid expansion. From there we will visit the Sapporo Beer Museum, dedicated to all things beer. Sapporo is the oldest brewery in Japan and exports its beer around the world. Then, we will travel to Otaru, famous for its canals and glass blowing. During the first half of the 20th century, the Otaru Canal was a vital part of the city’s busy port. The canal allowed large vessels to be unloaded onto smaller ones, and then transported to local warehouses. Although the canal became obsolete when modern port facilities allowed the direct unloading of large ships, the canal remains an integral part of the city’s history and culture. As part of a citizen movement in the 1980s, the canal was restored and its former warehouses transformed into cafes, restaurants, museums, and shops. Next, we will visit the glass workshops and the Music Box Museum on Sakaimachi Street.

Breakfast lunch
ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel Chitose or similar class

 

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Day 15
Tour ends

After breakfast, our tour officially ends. Check out time is at 11am. And you can get to Chitose Airport by hotel shuttle service.

Breakfast