Mon–Fri 10:00–18:00 (JST)
Japan Tour
Japan's Cherry Blossoms, from the Front Row.
Follow the sakura front across Japan — an exclusive journey through the most beautiful season
Overview
Tour Overview
Travel south to north with Japan's cherry blossom front. Begin beneath the illuminated canopies of Meguro River and Chidorigafuchi in Tokyo, ascend the mountainside blanketed by 30,000 wild cherry trees in Yoshino, savour private viewings at Kyoto's Daigo-ji temple and Maruyama Park, witness the rare Takato Kohigan cherry at Takato Castle ruins, and finish under the legendary sakura tunnel and flower rafts of Hirosaki Castle. NEWT Bespoke opens doors that ordinary tours cannot — private boats, after-hours access, and Michelin-starred hanami dining — so every petal of your journey feels extraordinary.
* Per person based on double occupancy. International airfare not included. Converted at ¥150 = $1.
Highlights
Tour Highlights
Private Night Sakura Cruise on Meguro River & Chidorigafuchi
Glide beneath roughly 800 illuminated cherry trees lining Meguro River on a chartered boat reserved just for you. Watch the glowing pink canopy reflect off the water as you pass through Tokyo's most photogenic sakura tunnel. At Chidorigafuchi, board a private boat at dawn and drift under arches of blossoms in perfect silence — the Imperial Palace moat entirely yours.
Yoshino Mountain — 30,000 Cherry Trees Across Four Elevations
Known as 'hitome senbon' — a thousand trees at a single glance — Mount Yoshino is Japan's most revered sakura pilgrimage. Hike from the Lower Thousand to the Inner Thousand with a local guide, passing through rolling waves of white Yamazakura cherry blossoms that have drawn poets and emperors for over 1,300 years.
Daigo-ji Temple — Private Viewing of Hideyoshi's Legendary Hanami
In 1598, the warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi staged the most extravagant cherry blossom party in Japanese history at Daigo-ji. Walk the same grounds on an exclusive, after-hours visit. Roughly 700 cherry trees fill the temple precinct; your guide opens normally restricted areas so you can experience this UNESCO World Heritage site in extraordinary intimacy.
Michelin-Chef Hanami Bento Under Maruyama Park's Weeping Cherry
Beneath the iconic weeping cherry tree of Maruyama Park, a private tent awaits with a multi-course hanami bento prepared by a Michelin-starred Kyoto chef. Seasonal kaiseki artistry meets the centuries-old tradition of dining under the blossoms — an unforgettable lunch where gastronomy and nature converge.
Takato Castle Ruins — Japan's 'Greatest Cherry Blossoms Under Heaven'
The Takato Kohigan cherry tree blooms smaller and deeper pink than the common Somei Yoshino, and roughly 1,500 of them blanket the castle ruins in a blush-colored haze found nowhere else in Japan. Explore with a local historian who reveals the samurai-era stories woven into this mountain fortress, often ranked among the country's top three sakura destinations.
Hirosaki Castle Sakura Tunnel & Hanaikada Flower Rafts
At Hirosaki Castle Park, roughly 2,600 cherry trees frame the castle keep and fill the outer moat with cascading branches. Arrive at dawn during a special early-admission window to walk through the sakura tunnel undisturbed. If timing aligns with late bloom, witness the breathtaking hanaikada — millions of fallen petals blanketing the moat in a solid carpet of pink, with Mount Iwaki rising behind.
Itinerary
Sample Itinerary
* Every itinerary is tailored to your preferences — this is a starting point, not a fixed plan.
Arrive Tokyo — Evening Stroll Along Meguro River
Private airport transfer to your hotel in Shinjuku. After settling in, head to Meguro River as the lanterns switch on. Walk beneath roughly 800 cherry trees glowing pink against the evening sky, then sit down to a curated welcome dinner at a hidden kappo restaurant in Nakameguro.
Chidorigafuchi at Dawn & Imperial Palace Gardens
Rise early for a private boat ride on the Chidorigafuchi moat. Glide under cherry blossom arches as the morning sun filters through the petals. Continue on foot through the Imperial Palace East Gardens and Ueno Park's famed sakura avenue. The evening closes at one of Ginza's top sushi counters.
Tokyo to Mount Yoshino
Board the Shinkansen to Kyoto, then transfer by Kintetsu Railway to Yoshino. Spend the afternoon wandering the Lower and Middle Thousand areas, where cherry blossoms cascade down the mountainside. Visit Kinpusen-ji Zao-do, the grand hall of Japan's mountain ascetic tradition, framed by ancient sakura. The evening brings a seasonal kaiseki dinner at a storied Yoshino inn.
Yoshino Sunrise Hike & Onward to Kyoto
At first light, hike to the Upper and Inner Thousand elevations. From the panoramic lookout, take in the fabled 'hitome senbon' view — a mountainside of 30,000 white cherry blossoms stretching to the horizon. After lunch featuring Yoshino regional cuisine, continue to Kyoto. Stroll the Philosopher's Path, where roughly 450 Somei Yoshino trees line the canal-side walkway, then dine at a riverside kappo in Pontocho.
Kyoto — Daigo-ji & Michelin Hanami at Maruyama Park
Morning begins with an exclusive visit to Daigo-ji temple. Admire the weeping cherry of the Sanbo-in garden and wander through temple grounds normally closed to the public. At midday, retreat to Maruyama Park, where a private tent beneath the iconic weeping cherry tree is set with a Michelin-chef hanami bento. As twilight falls, walk to Kodai-ji temple for an illuminated night sakura display.
Kyoto to Takato — Arashiyama & the Castle Ruins
Start the morning at Arashiyama's Togetsukyo Bridge, where cherry blossoms frame the river and forested hillside. Then travel by private car through the Japanese Alps to Takato in Nagano Prefecture. At Takato Castle ruins, encounter the rare Kohigan cherry — smaller, deeper pink, and intensely fragrant. Stay for the evening illumination, when floodlights transform the ruins into an otherworldly pink glow.
Takato to Hirosaki — Northward to Japan's Finest Castle Sakura
Return to Takato Castle at sunrise for a final look at the blossoms bathed in morning light. Then board the Shinkansen via Tokyo to Hirosaki in Aomori Prefecture. Arrive as the evening illumination begins at Hirosaki Castle Park. Walk along the outer moat, where cherry branches sweep low over the water and the silhouette of Mount Iwaki rises in the distance.
Hirosaki Flower Rafts & Departure
Early morning at Hirosaki Park's western moat — the legendary sakura tunnel, where branches form a continuous canopy overhead. If the petals have begun to fall, witness the hanaikada: a solid carpet of pink cherry blossom petals covering the moat's surface, widely considered one of Japan's most transient and breathtaking sights. Spend the rest of the morning exploring the park's 2,600 trees at leisure. Board the Shinkansen back to Tokyo for a farewell tempura dinner. On Day 9, private transfer to the airport for your departure.
Experiences
Exclusive Experiences
Private Night Sakura Viewing Party
After the gates close to the public, step into a renowned sakura garden illuminated just for your group. Beneath glowing canopies of blossoms, a certified sake sommelier pours rare regional brews alongside seasonal Japanese delicacies — an intimate, after-hours hanami that captures the timeless spirit of cherry blossom season.
Sakura Dyeing Workshop
At a traditional Kyoto atelier, learn the art of sakura-zome — natural dyeing using real cherry tree branches. Coax out the delicate blush-pink pigment hidden in the bark and create a one-of-a-kind silk scarf to bring home. It is a hands-on souvenir you will treasure long after the petals have fallen.
Outdoor Tea Ceremony Under the Blossoms (Nodate)
A master of the Urasenke school prepares matcha at a specially arranged open-air tea seat set among the cherry blossoms. The ritual of whisking, bowing, and sipping beneath drifting petals distils centuries of Japanese aesthetics into a single, deeply meditative moment.
Professional Photographer Sakura Tour
A professional photographer who tracks Japan's cherry blossom front each year accompanies you throughout the journey. They know exactly where and when the light is best — from golden-hour reflections on the Chidorigafuchi moat to the soft pink glow of Hirosaki at dawn — ensuring you return home with images as vivid as the memories.
Accommodations
Recommended Accommodations
Park Hyatt Tokyo / The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto
In Tokyo, floor-to-ceiling windows high above Shinjuku frame panoramic views of the city's cherry blossoms. In Kyoto, a serene riverside setting on the Kamogawa places you within easy reach of the Philosopher's Path, Daigo-ji, and Maruyama Park. Both hotels deliver world-class hospitality and serve as refined retreats between blossom-filled days.
Chikurinin Gunpoen (Mount Yoshino)
Tracing its origins to a temple lodge founded, according to legend, by Prince Shotoku, this historic ryokan sits among the cherry blossoms of Mount Yoshino. Its garden — ranked among the three finest in the Yamato region — offers a private grandstand over the valley of sakura. Dine on refined shojin-ryori-inspired kaiseki made with seasonal mountain ingredients.
Hotel Ryumeikan Tokyo
A boutique hotel steps from Tokyo Station, inheriting the spirit of the Ryumeikan inn established in 1899. Clean, contemporary Japanese design meets warm, attentive service — an ideal final-night base before your departure from Japan.
Start Planning Your Cherry Blossom Journey
Japan's cherry blossom season is fleeting and accommodation books up fast. Share your preferred travel dates and our dedicated concierge at NEWT Bespoke will craft a personalized sakura itinerary, timed to the latest bloom forecasts, so you arrive at every destination in perfect petal.
Inquire — Free Consultation