Top Cherry Blossom Tours to Enjoy the Japan Spring Season

One of the most special things you can do during the Japan spring season is to admire the country’s beautiful natural landscapes. Beyond enjoying the cool and pleasant weather, travelers everywhere share in the excitement of viewing the seasonal cherry blossoms or sakura.

The beauty of and accessibility to these magical trees are fleeting, so here are a few of the best tours you can book to catch a glimpse of the cherry blossoms in Japan.

If you’re traveling to Tokyo during the spring season in Japan, there are a number of tours and activities you can book from within the heart of the capital city. One of these highly recommended activities involves booking a one-day tour to see the Kawazu cherry blossoms.

On the tour, you’ll enjoy the Kawazuzakura Cherry Blossom Festival, where travelers are awed by a pinker type of cherry blossom – the Kawazu Sakura – from early February to around mid-March. On top of basking in the sea of pink, you’ll also be able to try out other fun activities, such as bathing in Shuzenji’s thousand-year-old famous hot spring and visiting the Bamboo Forest Trail. You can begin your Kawazu Town journey by departing from either the Tokyo Station or Shinjuku Station.

If you’re the type of traveler who longs to see more than one awe-inspiring sight at a time, this next tour recommendation is just for you! See the stunning Mount Fuji Cherry Blossoms when you book a Mt. Fuji Day Tour in the springtime. You’ll partake in all the classic Fuji activities, such as visiting the eight ponds of Oshino Hakkai and participating in guided tours around the surrounding local towns. Depart from Shinjuku in Tokyo to begin your Mt. Fuji Cherry Blossom excursion.

Another day tour you can embark on from Tokyo is the Watarase Cherry Blossom Day Tour, where the sakura is not the only dazzling highlight. Yes, the cherry blossoms in this area during the Japan spring season are still amazing, but in Watarase, you can also enjoy other activities. From partaking in a gastronomic adventure (like the 30-minute all-you-can-eat strawberry-picking experience and a delectable udon lunch) to hopping aboard the Watarase Valley Railway to relish in the natural landscapes of Japan.

You will never run out of things to do and see in breathtaking Watarase. Here’s a tip: while you delight in this roughly 10-hour tour, don’t miss out on seeing another example of Japan’s beautiful flora: the wisteria plants!

You can also admire beautiful nature scenes from just within the convenience of Japan’s capital city. Set sail on a Meguro River Cherry Blossoms promenade, or be captivated by the Tokyo cherry blossoms as you devour delectable street food from within Yanaka Ginza.

This three-hour activity in Ginza is more than enough time to participate in local culture while enjoying the cherry blossom views. This year, the Yanaka Ginza tour will be available for booking from ​​March 18 to April 10, 2024. 

The cherry blossom fun doesn't end beyond the surrounding towns of Tokyo! You can also book exciting tours from Osaka, like the 2024 Daytime Hanami Tour!

Indulge in local snacks and weave through maze-like streets with the cherry blossoms as your backdrop during the Japan spring season. This three-hour walking tour in the Karahori district will be available from March 18th to April 10th, 2024 (excluding Sundays).

The Nara deer are some of the most adorable tourist attractions in Osaka. What better way to improve the experience than to spend time with these cute creatures as the spring cherry blossoms paint the background? The one-day Nara Park and Mount Yoshino Cherry Blossom Tour allows you to experience the wonders of exactly that.

You can join guided tours through a sea of thousands of cherry blossom trees and explore the iconic Mount Yoshino, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This tour is ideal for basking in natural landscapes while developing a deeper appreciation for local Nara culture.

If you would like to explore beyond the outskirts of Tokyo or Osaka, we highly recommend the Southern Okinawa Day Trip! This roughly eight-hour tour allows you to experience the panoramic views of Okinawa via car. During the springtime (until around early February in Okinawa), you may even catch glimpses of the lovely cherry blossoms as you zoom past top spots like the Nirai Kanai Bridge and Cape Chinen Park.

Another option is to explore Northern Okinawa via the Hip Hop Bus Tour. This tour has various boarding points all over Naha and Chatan, but once you’re onboard, you’ll stop by an array of famous points like Kouri Beach, where you can walk along the shore, Cape Manza, a majestic rock formation overlooking the vast ocean, and the lush Yanbaru Forest that houses stunning greenery and wildlife. 

Okinawa is one of the first islands in Japan in the year to see cherry blossoms bloom, so if this is a stop on your list and the sakura sightseeing is non-negotiable, we highly recommend planning your visit from January to early February.

These are just a few examples of many exciting tours that’ll enable you to cherish Japan's spring season. Whether you’re traveling from Tokyo, Osaka, or Okinawa, there is an activity tailor-fit for your preference. Of all the gorgeous seasons the country has, we believe there’s no experience quite like visiting when cherry blossoms in Japan are in full bloom.