Cherry Blossom & Garden 13-Day Tour by MW Tours

Japan’s spring show is the hook: this 13-day trip links cherry-lined city paths with Mount Fuji, historic villages, temple gardens and a moving stop in Hiroshima. You start in Tokyo and finish in Osaka, with an English-speaking guide alongside you throughout.

I like two things in particular: the range of places packed into one trip, from Takayama’s old merchant streets to Miyajima’s shrine island, and the practical ease of having hotels, transfers, rail tickets and admissions arranged. The route also makes room for cultural experiences, including a tea ceremony and sushi-making lunch.

The trade-off is the pace. There is little unstructured time in Kyoto and Osaka, and past tours have drawn mixed feedback about guide communication and the amount of information provided. This suits you best if you value a guided overview more than lingering in each city.

• Spring sights from Tokyo to Osaka: Ueno Park, Meguro River, Keage Incline and Osaka Castle are among the cherry blossom stops.
• A varied route: Visit Mount Fuji, Takayama, Shirakawago, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Nara, Hiroshima, Miyajima and Himeji.
• Convenience is a major part of the value: The package includes 12 nights in 4-star accommodation, daily breakfast, transport, admissions and second-class bullet train tickets.
• Expect a full schedule: The tour covers a lot of ground, with limited independent time in major cities.
• Group size needs clarification: The tour information gives a range of 16 to 32, while an operator response states a maximum of 25.
• Good to know before booking: The starting price is $6,285, while a single-room total is listed at $10,998 per person, land only.

A spring route with a lot of ground to cover

1 / 10

2 / 10

3 / 10

4 / 10

5 / 10

6 / 10

7 / 10

8 / 10

9 / 10

10 / 10

1 / 10

This is a guided, city-and-culture tour built around a March visit to Japan. It begins in Tokyo and ends in Osaka, with a long sweep through central Honshu and several of the country’s best-known historic sites. For a first visit, that breadth is the central appeal: you get modern Tokyo, mountain scenery, traditional towns, major temples and memorial sites without having to plan each connection yourself.

The route also has a seasonal focus. Cherry blossoms appear in the schedule at Ueno Park, along Meguro River, at Keage Incline, on Kyoto’s Path of Philosophy and around Osaka Castle. The tour is designed to bring you to these places in March, but no exact bloom dates are promised, so treat the flowers as a central aim rather than a guaranteed backdrop.

At a starting price of $6,285, the cost covers more than a seat on a coach. It includes 12 nights in 4-star accommodation, daily breakfast, transport as specified, admissions, an English-speaking guide and driver, tips for both, and second-class bullet train tickets. International flights, travel insurance, personal expenses and some meals are extra. The price can represent solid value if you want a managed trip with many major sights included, though it is less attractive if you prefer slow mornings and long stretches on your own.

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

Tokyo’s markets, shrines and city views

Your first three nights are in Tokyo, giving you time to adjust before the route heads west. On day one, you check in and meet the guide and group. The next day brings Tsukiji Fish Market, Ueno Park, Asakusa Temple, Odaiba and Ginza, followed by a group welcome dinner.

That is a broad first day, moving from food-market energy to park paths, temple grounds and modern city districts. Ueno Park is the key spring stop, while Asakusa offers a contrast with its famous temple setting. The itinerary also includes Odaiba and Ginza, so you get a taste of Tokyo’s contemporary side, though the schedule does not spell out how much time you spend in each place.

Day three uses Tokyo’s metro system, a useful way to see how the city works and a practical skill for any free time later. The route goes from Meiji Shrine to Harajuku, then to Shibuya Sky for a city view, the cherry trees along Meguro River and free time in Shinjuku. You can continue exploring there or head back to the hotel.

The group format makes the city easier to navigate, especially if you are new to Tokyo. The downside is that these are long sightseeing days, and the guided schedule may leave you wanting another day to explore neighbourhoods at your own pace.

Fuji, Lake Ashi and the road to Takayama

The tour leaves Tokyo for the Mount Fuji and Hakone area on day four. Stops include Gotemba Peace Park, a cruise on Lake Ashi aboard a pirate-themed boat, and the Owakudani Ropeway. The gondola ride adds a view from above, while Lake Ashi gives the day a calmer change of pace after Tokyo.

On day five, you visit Mount Fuji’s 5th Station before transferring to Takayama for two nights. The mountain is the headline, but views depend on conditions on the day, and the schedule offers no guarantee of a clear look. The long transfer to Takayama also means this is more of a travel day than a leisurely mountain outing.

Takayama gives the tour a welcome shift in scale. Day six is devoted to the Exhibition Hall, Folkcraft Museum and the town’s traditional streets, lined with thatched-roof buildings and old merchant homes. This is one of the better chances to see a quieter, historic side of Japan between the large cities.

You should still expect a guided overview rather than an open day. The tour does not specify how much independent time is set aside in Takayama, so ask if time to wander alone is important to you.

Shirakawago and Kanazawa’s garden

On the way from Takayama to Kanazawa, the group stops at Shirakawago, a World Heritage site. Its traditional village architecture makes a strong contrast with Tokyo’s high-rise districts and the temples ahead. Because it is a stop between hotels, your visit is part of a transfer day rather than a separate overnight stay.

In Kanazawa, the plan takes you to Kenrokuen and the castle. Kenrokuen is one of the trip’s major garden visits, and it gives the tour a slower, more contemplative counterpoint to busy transport days. The schedule places this visit in the afternoon before hotel check-in, so your time in the garden may feel brief if you like to explore every path.

This stretch is one reason the trip’s title promises more than cherry blossoms. Gardens, folkcraft and historic architecture are woven through the route, giving you a wider view of Japanese culture than a city-only tour would.

Kyoto and Nara: temples, tea and deer

Kyoto begins with Kiyomizu Temple, Keage Incline and a traditional tea ceremony. The old railway incline is a seasonal draw for its cherry trees, while the tea ceremony offers a closer look at a cultural practice rather than another quick photo stop. The tour then gives you two nights in Kyoto.

Day nine is a full excursion to Nara and back. You visit Todai-ji Temple and Nara Park, where you can feed the deer, then take part in a sushi-making experience over lunch. Back in Kyoto, the day continues at the Golden Pavilion and along the Path of Philosophy, another cherry blossom route.

The mix is appealing, but the timing is ambitious. Nara and several Kyoto sights in one day leave little room for unplanned stops. Two visitors on earlier departures specifically wished for more free time in Kyoto and Osaka. If you want to sit in a garden, revisit a favourite temple or browse at your own pace, this schedule may feel tightly packed.

Hiroshima, Miyajima and a thoughtful change of pace

Before leaving Kyoto, the group visits Fushimi Inari Shrine and Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, then stops at a sake brewery. These are major sights, but the day also includes the Shinkansen journey to Hiroshima. The train is a welcome practical inclusion: second-class bullet train tickets are covered, and you avoid arranging a key intercity connection yourself.

Dinner in Hiroshima is listed as local okonomiyaki, a regional specialty. The tour stays two nights, which gives the city more time than a quick stopover. On the next day, you take the ferry to Miyajima Island to see Itsukushima Shrine and its floating Torii gate, then visit the Atomic Bomb Dome and Peace Park.

That pairing is powerful, but it calls for a different mood from the garden and temple visits. The Peace Park and Dome are places for reflection, not just another stop on a checklist. A guide can help provide context, though the past feedback on guide quality is mixed, so you may want to read independently or ask questions if you want more historical detail.

Himeji Castle and the final evening in Osaka

The last full day starts by train for Himeji Castle, a World Heritage site and national treasure. After lunch, you continue to Osaka and take an Aqualiner cruise around Osaka Castle, with cherry blossoms as the seasonal draw. The group finishes with a final dinner together.

Himeji adds a major castle to a trip already rich in temples and shrines, while the boat ride offers a less strenuous way to see Osaka Castle’s grounds. The final day is not an extra sightseeing day: after breakfast, you have free time until the airport transfer. If you want more of Osaka, consider arranging extra nights separately, as the tour itself gives little time to explore the city independently.

What the guide and group format mean in practice

The tour is fully guided in English, with an experienced guide and driver accompanying the group. That support matters on a route with multiple hotel changes, rail journeys, ferries and city transit. The operator is based in Brisbane and has a 4.5 out of 5 operator rating across 80 reviews, while the tour’s own category scores are strongest for transport at 4.4 and accommodation at 4.2. Itinerary scores 4.0, guide 3.0 and food 3.2.

The personal accounts are mixed, which is worth taking seriously. Some past guides were praised for being gracious, generous and attentive to food concerns. Bruce and driver Jimmy were singled out for their help in Kyoto, while Thomas was noted for trying to resolve food issues. Ben, an MW Tours contact, acted quickly to arrange replacement accommodation when one customer was unhappy with the hotel they had chosen. These names show the range of support reported on earlier trips, not a promise that you will have the same people.

Other comments point to guide English and informative commentary as areas that could be better. The guide is central to a tour like this, so expectations matter: you are paying for an escorted route and logistical help, but the quality of explanations may vary.

The stated group size is another detail to confirm before paying. The tour information lists 16 to 32 people, while an MW Tours response says the maximum is 25 and notes use of a 49-seat coach. Ask which limit applies to your departure. The tour is for ages 40 and up, and a reasonably fit person in their mid-70s was told they could book if confident in their ability to travel. The physical rating is medium intensity.

Meals, rooms and the real cost

Daily breakfast is included, with other meals provided as specified. The schedule includes a welcome dinner, a sushi-making lunch, an okonomiyaki dinner and a final group dinner, among other meal entries. Some day summaries and detailed meal fields do not align perfectly, so check the exact meal plan for your departure rather than assuming every listed lunch or dinner is included.

Vegetarian meals can be requested. If you have other dietary needs, contact the operator before booking and ask how they will be handled; past guide Thomas was praised for trying to address food concerns, but that does not replace confirming your own requirements.

The $6,285 starting price is based on the cheapest room and does not include international airfare or insurance. A single-room supplement is listed as bringing the land-only total to $10,998 per person. That is a substantial difference, so solo travelers should compare it with any room-sharing options before deciding.

The value is strongest for someone who wants a guided route, comfortable transport and a broad set of admissions bundled together. It is weaker for a traveler who would rather choose their own hotels, spend several days in Kyoto or decide spontaneously where to eat.

Should you book the Cherry Blossom & Garden Tour?

Book it if you want a high-coverage first trip to Japan with spring gardens, famous temples, a Fuji-area visit and Hiroshima all in one organized route. The included transport and admissions take much of the planning off your plate, and the range of destinations is impressive for 13 days.

Think twice if you need generous free time, especially in Kyoto and Osaka, or if detailed guiding is your top priority. Before booking, confirm the group-size limit, the meals for your departure, and the single-room price. If those details fit your needs, this is a convenient way to see many sides of Japan without managing every connection yourself.

FAQ

How long is the tour, and where does it start and end?

The tour lasts 13 days. It starts at your hotel in Tokyo and ends with a transfer to Osaka International Airport.

What is included in the starting price?

The tour includes 12 nights in 4-star accommodation, daily breakfast, an English-speaking guide and driver, tips for the guide and driver, daily tours and admission fees, transport as indicated, and second-class bullet train tickets.

Are international flights included?

No. International airfares are not included.

Is travel insurance included?

No. Travel insurance is not included, and it is required for the tour.

Can I request vegetarian meals?

Yes. Vegetarian food can be provided on request. Tell MW Tours your preference.

What is the group-size limit?

The tour information gives a group range of 16 to 32 people. An MW Tours response states a maximum of 25 passengers and use of a 49-seat coach. Confirm the limit for your departure before booking.

Can a person in their 70s join?

The tour is listed for ages 40 and up. MW Tours said a reasonably fit person in their mid-70s could book if confident about traveling. The activity level is rated medium intensity.

What is the single-room price?

The listed land-only total with a single-room supplement is $10,998 per person.