Welcome to Hanami….cherry blossom viewing in Japan. Hanami is a long-standing Japanese tradition of welcoming spring. Also known as the "cherry blossom festival", this annual celebration is about appreciating the temporal beauty of nature. People gather under blooming cherry blossoms for food, drink, songs, companionship and the beauty of sakura (cherry blossoms).
*Guest Note: Your Adventurous Women ™ host Sue, is arriving in Osaka a day earlier and will be available to accompany you to some of the sights in Osaka, enjoy Hanami together, or point you in the right direction should you wish to explore more of this lively city.
**An extra day here is Highly Recommended as Osaka is one of the best places for Hanami during this time.
Meals: None included
Accommodation: Osaka
We explore the temples & moss covered Oku-no-in cemetery (the largest in Japan) in the afternoon and then check into our unique accommodation at one of the Mount Koya Temples, where we witness the routines of the monks and dine on typical fare. In the evening, savour the shojin-ryori vegetarian cuisine and relax in a yukata, or kimono. Breath the fresh mountain air and soak in the beautiful surroundings.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Temple
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
For those who want an extra challenge, set out for the summit of Mt Misen, Miyajima’s highest peak at 500m above sea level. Opt to hike one of three trails through the forest, keeping an eye out for wild deer, or catch a ride on the rope way and walk the remaining distance to the top for rewarding views of the Seto Inland Sea.
Meals: Breakfast
We start our exploration with a visit to Fushimi Inari shrine, located just outside of Kyoto. We walk under the thousands of iconic Torii Gates (as seen in the film Memoirs of a Geisha) and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere.
In the evening we either take a stroll along the river or around Gion, enjoy a fabulous meal together and see the locals dress in traditional kimono.
Meals: Breakfast
Later in the day we take a walk through the gardens around Daisen-in Temple and practice meditation in the Zen rock garden, before finishing out the day with a walk along The Philosopher's Path. The stone path follows a canal lined by hundreds of cherry trees which come to life during this time "Hanami" - The Cherry Blossoms... one of the most famous symbols of Japan and they’re such a beautiful sight to see.
Meals: Breakfast
We have many suggestions on how you can make the most of your time in Kyoto and generally if you are wanting to do something, guaranteed that another from the group will be happy to join you if you’d like company. Your Adventurous Women ™ Host Sue, or your Japanese Group Leader will provide you with all options available, assist you in planning these and give you all the information necessary.
Ladies who would like to go to Nara on a day trip from Kyoto - Sue will accompany you today. With eight World Heritage Sites, Nara is second only to Kyoto as a fountain of Japan’s cultural legacy. Take a walk through lovely Nara Park with the deer roaming freely around you, visit the massive Tojai-Ji Temple and take time out to enjoy lunch at one of the local restaurants. It’s also a fantastic spot to do a little shopping with relative ease, compared to Kyoto or Tokyo. If you’d like to join Sue in Nara for part of the day only and spend some time doing your own thing, it’s very straightforward to return to Kyoto on the train unassisted.
Kyoto Options: Visiting “Ochaya†traditional tea house, Nishiki Food Market, hire a bike to explore the back streets of Kyoto or join a cycling tour…..great way to see this city, explore the Gion district a little more, perhaps it’s time to do a little shopping.
Meals: Breakfast
Kyoto Options: Visit Himeji Castle, Maiko makeover experience, attend a Theatre in Gion for a presentation of Miyako Odori (the Cherry Blossom Dance), traditional cooking class.
Meals: Breakfast
On our arrival, we board a passenger boat to cruise the waters of Lake Ashinoko and a walk along the Old Tokaido Highway ….if we’re lucky to have a clear day, we’ll capture a view of Mt Fuji. Afterwards we head back to our guest house, feast on a Japanese multi-course kaiseki meal, soak in the natural hot springs and sleep on a futon.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
There’s also the great collection of art at the Hakone Open-Air Museum and the Pola Museum of Art, an eclectic mix that includes work by the likes of Renoir, Monet, Picasso, Van Gogh, Cézanne and Gallé. Our Japanese Leader will provide us with some suggestions and tips about what to do in this famous onsen region.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
We meet in the evening to celebrate our time away together, finishing on a real high as we explore Tokyo’s vibrant food culture on a ‘street food tour’. Highlights of our evening include, eating Yakitori at a Street Yakitori Bar, enjoying Monja-yaki in the neighborhood where it originated - Monja Town (Tsukishima), visiting a confectionery shop in Ginza and learning about wagashi, a traditional Japanese sweet that changes with the season, we’ll check out a local pub and either finish our night at this point, or for those who want more … our guide can recommend other cool local bars in small alleys, or a karaoke place for more fun into the night.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Afterwards we visit Meiji Shrine. Enter via a massive Torii (gate) and the sights and sounds of the busy city are replaced by a tranquil forest. Approximately 100,000 trees were planted during the shrine's construction and were donated from regions across the entire country. Meiji is a popular location for weddings and the traditional Shinto service can often be observed there. Then we finish our journey with a visit to Harajuku, the home of quirky youth pop culture.
This evening the tour officially ends and for most, flights home to Australia are late tonight, although some may choose to stay an additional night in Tokyo and explore some more! Your Group Leader & Adventurous Women ™ Host Sue, will leave Tokyo this evening, however will be able to assist you in making your way to the airport with someone else from the group (or provide you with other transport options).
Meals: Breakfast
Our accommodation is mostly in traditional Ryokan's (with the bed being futons on tatami mats - very traditional), a few nights in guesthouses & hotels of 3 Star Standard and 1 night in a Monastery.
You'll have your own bed in a shared room along with another lady from the group (many of our travellers come along solo and have not met one another - it's all part of the fun). We mix it up for your comfort and that of others so that you get to room with a different lady from the group every evening - this is designed to bond the group, while alleviating any potential annoyances which may occur as a result of sharing with the same person throughout. If you're a light sleeper we suggest you bring earplugs or an ipod.
IS THIS TOUR FOR YOU?
This tour is not for the 5 Star traveller ..... and you're pretty much on the go the whole time while in Japan in order to maximise your time spent in this amazing country. We like our clients to be happy and feel that it's only fair to let them know what to expect, prior to signing up. 
Our accommodation is mostly in traditional Ryokan's (with the bed being futons on tatami mats - very traditional), a few nights in guesthouses & hotels of 3 Star Standard and 1 night in a Monastery. Our transport is mainly on trains, trams or on foot. This is the way Adventurous Women travel.... we stay in local establishments where possible (clean & neat,) and we use public transport to get around (no luxury coaches). Our method of travel enables us to provide you with a more budget friendly tour, within a country that can otherwise be very expensive to travel during Cherry Blossom season.
Notice of cancellation must be in writing, with an email as an acceptable form of communication, directly to Adventurous Women with the following conditions:
No refund is available after departure of a tour has commenced.
