13 Day Central Japan Cherry Blossom Festival by UME Travel

Japan in spring is the draw here: over 13 days, you move from Tokyo’s parks to Mount Fuji, old Kanazawa, Kyoto’s temples, Nara, Hiroshima and Osaka. The route gives you a broad look at the country without asking you to plan every train and hotel yourself.

I like two things in particular: the mix of guided sightseeing and free time, and the variety of transport, from the Shinkansen to a Lake Ashi cruise and a scenic railway in Arashiyama. The main consideration is timing: cherry blossoms bloom on nature’s schedule, and the tour runs year-round, so spring flowers are not guaranteed on every departure.

Key points

• Spring parks in Tokyo: Shinjuku Gyoen and Ueno Park are suggested for blossoms, with Meiji Jingu as a quieter cultural stop.
• Mount Fuji by ropeway and bridge: See the mountain from Kawaguchiko, Hakone and the 400-meter Mishima Skywalk, weather permitting.
• Kanazawa’s old quarters: Visit Kenrokuen, Kanazawa Castle, the samurai district and the former geisha quarter.
• Kyoto and Nara in one stretch: See Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama, Todaiji Temple and Nara’s free-roaming deer.
• A serious history stop: Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park and museum bring the trip’s cultural sightseeing into sharp focus.
• A convenient package, with a caveat: Hotels, breakfast and internal transport are included, but international flights and most lunches and dinners are not.

👉 See our pick of the 25 Best Guided Tours In Tokyo

A wide-ranging route from Tokyo to Osaka

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This is a private tour for your own party, but it is partially guided, not a guide-led march from breakfast to bedtime. You get an English-speaking local guide for selected outings, while several days are left open for exploring independently. That balance suits people who want help with major sights and rail connections, but still want room to choose a café, museum or extra temple for themselves.

The route covers a lot of ground. You start in Tokyo, head to the Mount Fuji and Hakone area, continue to Kanazawa and Kyoto, then travel west to Hiroshima and Miyajima before finishing in Osaka. Shinkansen journeys are part of the package, as are listed cruises and private airport transfers at the beginning and end.

The advertised price starts at $5,580, based on the cheapest room option. For 13 days, the price includes 12 hotel nights, 12 breakfasts, internal trains and cruises, selected guided sightseeing, basic insurance, and arrival and departure transfers. That can be good value if you would otherwise arrange several hotels, train tickets and excursions yourself.

Keep the exclusions in mind. International flights are not included, and breakfast is the only meal included each day. Accommodation is based on two people sharing; solo room use brings a single supplement. The tour notes that strict dietary needs, especially vegan meals, can be hard to meet in Japan, so contact UME Travel before booking if you need specific food arrangements.

Tokyo’s gardens ease you into Japan

On arrival, a private car takes you from the airport to Dormy Inn Akihabara Hot Spring. That direct transfer is a useful start after a long flight, especially if you are not ready to negotiate Tokyo’s train system with luggage. The first day is otherwise set aside for rest and getting oriented.

Day two is open. Meiji Jingu offers a wooded shrine setting in the city, while Shinjuku Gyoen and Ueno Park are the suggested blossom stops. Ueno also has a zoo and several museums, so it can fill much of a day even if the flowers are early or past their peak. You choose how much ground to cover, and breakfast is included.

That freedom is welcome, but it also means you need to make your own plan for this day. If this is your first visit to Tokyo, decide in advance whether you want gardens, museums or neighborhoods, rather than trying to crisscross the city at random.

Mount Fuji and Hakone bring the big views

The Mount Fuji excursion takes you to Lake Kawaguchi, where the panoramic ropeway climbs to Kawaguchiko Tenjozan Park. From its viewing points, you can look out over the lake and, when the weather cooperates, toward Fuji. The ropeway makes the view accessible without a strenuous mountain hike.

Oshino Hakkai adds a quieter note. Its eight clear springs are fed by water filtered through old lava layers, and the village gives you a closer look at the natural setting beneath the mountain. The optional Appare sightseeing boat on Lake Kawaguchi is an extra, so check the final tour documents if you want to include it.

That night is at HOTEL MYSTAYS Fuji Onsen Resort. On the next day, the focus shifts to Hakone: a cruise on Lake Ashi, the Hakone Ropeway up to Owakudani’s volcanic valley, and a walk across the Mishima Skywalk. The 400-meter bridge offers views of Mount Fuji and Suruga Bay when conditions are clear.

Owakudani’s sulfurous vents make a striking contrast to the lake cruise. The tour description mentions the local black eggs, but treats them as a purchase rather than an included tasting. This is a full sightseeing day, and the schedule then returns you to Tokyo for the night. Fuji views are always weather-dependent, so keep your expectations flexible.

Kanazawa rewards a slower look

A Shinkansen carries you from Tokyo to Kanazawa in about three hours. The hotel is described as close to the station, and the first afternoon is free. This is a sensible pause after the Fuji and Hakone outings, and a chance to settle in before seeing the city’s historic districts.

Kanazawa’s main sightseeing day centers on Kenrokuen, one of Japan’s best-known gardens, and Kanazawa Castle. You also visit Nagamachi, the former samurai district, and Higashi Chaya, an old teahouse quarter associated with geisha culture. These neighborhoods show a different side of Japan from Tokyo’s modern scale and Kyoto’s temple circuit.

There is a practical detail worth checking before you pay: the supplied hotel schedule places Hotel Intergate Kanazawa on Day 5 and lists Kyoto’s Hotel Elcient on Day 6, even though Day 6 is the Kanazawa sightseeing day and the stated hotel allocation includes one Kanazawa night. Day 7 then describes the train from Kanazawa to Kyoto. Ask UME Travel to confirm exactly where you sleep on Day 6 and how the transfer is arranged.

Kyoto pairs temples with open time

The train trip to Kyoto goes through Tsuruga, with a change between the two Shinkansen legs. The stated travel times are about 45 minutes from Kanazawa to Tsuruga and 52 minutes from Tsuruga to Kyoto, plus time for the connection. Once in Kyoto, the plan points you toward Kiyomizu-dera, Yasaka Shrine and Hanamikoji Dori, but this day is also described as free time. Confirm which sightseeing is guided or included before you set your expectations.

Arashiyama gets a half-day outing. Tenryuji Temple and its gardens provide a calm start, followed by the Sagano Scenic Railway along the Hozugawa River. You then walk through the bamboo forest, see Togetsukyo Bridge and visit Okochi-Sanso Villa. It is a pleasing mix of temple grounds, woodland views and traditional architecture, though popular sights such as the bamboo path can feel busy.

Day nine links Fushimi Inari, Fushimi’s sake district and Nara. At Fushimi Inari, the vermilion gates form paths up Mount Inari; you can choose how far to walk rather than treating the entire mountain route as a quick photo stop. The Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum includes a tasting, giving the day a useful local craft element.

In Nara Park, deer roam freely, and Todaiji Temple houses the Great Buddha. Buy deer crackers only if you intend to feed the animals, and do not tease them with food. The schedule puts this night at the Osaka hotel, so you should also confirm how the day’s transport and return are organized.

Hiroshima and Miyajima add depth

The Hiroshima day includes a Shinkansen journey and a guided visit to the Atomic Bomb Dome, Peace Memorial Park and Peace Memorial Museum. The park covers a broad area in the city center, while the museum uses photographs, artifacts and explanatory displays to show the effects of the atomic bombing. It also addresses Japan’s wartime actions in Asia, making this a more complex visit than a simple memorial stop.

The next day takes you to Miyajima with a guide. Itsukushima Shrine is known for its torii gate, which appears to float when viewed from the water at the right conditions. Deer also roam the island, but unlike in Nara, you must not feed them.

After the island visit, you travel by train and public transport to Osaka. The rapid sequence of Hiroshima, Miyajima and Osaka is efficient, but it makes for a full couple of days. If Hiroshima’s history is a major reason for your trip, you may want extra time there; this tour gives you an important first visit, not a slow study.

Osaka gives you a flexible finish

Your final full day is free. You might browse Kuromon Market, walk through Osaka Castle Park, explore Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi, or ride the Hep Five Ferris Wheel. With breakfast at the hotel and no set sightseeing schedule, you can keep the day relaxed or make it a food-and-shopping finale.

A private car transfers you to Kansai International Airport on departure day. This is a useful bookend to the private arrival transfer, particularly if you have luggage or an early flight. Your international flight itself remains your responsibility.

Who should book this Japan tour?

I would consider this tour if you want to see several major regions in one trip and value prearranged hotels, rail travel and selected guiding. The strongest parts are the variety of the route, the convenient transport and the chance to balance guided outings with independent time. The single rating provided describes the planning and transportation as especially smooth, and the operator has an overall 4.8 out of 5 rating across 224 reviews.

It is a less natural fit if you want a guide beside you every day, extensive meals included, or long stays in each city. You will change hotels several times, and several days require you to make your own plans. The published activity level is low, but shrine paths, station transfers, gardens and city sightseeing still mean walking.

For a cherry blossom trip, compare your departure dates with the stated regional windows: Kanto and Kansai are generally listed for late March to early April, while Central Japan is listed for early to mid-April. Those are broad seasonal guides, not a promise of peak bloom. If flowers are your main reason for booking, ask UME Travel about the specific departure dates and be prepared for nature to vary.

Before confirming, get the Kanazawa hotel-night discrepancy resolved in writing, and ask which Kyoto sights are included with a guide versus left for independent visits. If those details suit you, this is a strong choice for seeing Japan’s headline sights in one organized, varied trip.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts 13 days. It starts in Tokyo and ends in Osaka.

What is the starting price?

Prices start at $5,580, based on the cheapest room option. A single supplement applies if you do not share a room.

Are international flights included?

No. International flights are not included.

Which meals are included?

The package includes 12 breakfasts. Lunches and dinners are not listed as included.

Is the tour fully guided?

No. It is a private, partially guided tour with an English-speaking local guide on selected excursions. Some days are free for independent exploring.

What transport is included?

The package includes internal trains and cruises, plus private airport transfers in Tokyo and Osaka. The schedule also describes public transportation for some city visits.

Which hotels are listed?

The listed hotels are Dormy Inn Akihabara Hot Spring in Tokyo, HOTEL MYSTAYS Fuji Onsen Resort, Hotel Intergate Kanazawa, Hotel Elcient Kyoto Hachijoguchi, Hotel Intergate Hiroshima and Best Western Plus Hotel Fino Osaka Kitahama.

When is cherry blossom season in the regions on this tour?

The supplied seasonal guidance lists Kanto and Kansai from late March to early April, and Central Japan from early to mid-April. Bloom timing varies, and departures are offered year-round.

Is the Mishima Skywalk included?

Yes. The schedule includes a visit to the 400-meter Mishima Skywalk, along with the Lake Ashi cruise and Hakone Ropeway.

Are dietary requirements accommodated?

The tour says it will try to accommodate dietary requirements, but notes that options can be limited in Japan, particularly for vegans. Contact UME Travel before booking if you have strict requirements.