Cherry Blossom & Garden 13-Day Tour by MW Tours: Itinerary & Reviews

Japan in spring is a parade of contrasts: petals along Tokyo’s Meguro River, a ropeway over Owakudani’s volcanic terrain, old merchant streets in Takayama, and the sobering Peace Park in Hiroshima. This 13-day route connects the country’s headline sights without asking you to plan every train and hotel yourself.

I like the way the tour pairs seasonal gardens and cherry blossom spots with places that give Japan its depth, especially Hiroshima, Shirakawago, and Nara. I also like that transport, admission fees, 12 hotel nights, daily breakfast, and an English-speaking guide are bundled into the price.

The trade-off is pace. You change towns often, several days are tightly scheduled, and free time in Kyoto and Osaka is limited. Spring flowers are weather-dependent, too, so the tour can take you to famous viewing spots, but it cannot promise every tree will be in bloom.

• Meguro River and Ueno Park bring Tokyo’s spring color into the city sightseeing days.
• Gotemba, Lake Ashi, and Owakudani offer several angles on the Mount Fuji and Hakone region.
• Takayama and Shirakawago add traditional streets and farmhouses between the big cities.
• Kyoto and Nara combine temples, gardens, a tea ceremony, and Nara Park’s deer.
• Hiroshima, Miyajima, and Himeji bring reflection, island scenery, and a major castle into the route.
• Selected meals, hotels, transport, and admissions are included, though international flights, insurance, personal spending, and some meals are not.

Tokyo begins with markets, shrines, and cherry trees

You spend the first three nights in Tokyo, which gives you a useful base before the route heads west. On arrival day, the only planned activity is meeting the guide and the rest of the group. That first evening is a chance to settle in and get a sense of the trip ahead.

The next day covers a generous sweep of the city. Tsukiji Fish Market starts the day, followed by Ueno Park, Asakusa Temple, Odaiba, and Ginza. The itinerary describes Ueno as a prime cherry blossom stop. It is a good way to see several sides of Tokyo in one day, but expect a full schedule rather than a slow wander through each neighborhood. A welcome dinner gives the group time to get acquainted.

Day three uses the metro, a practical choice in a city where trains are part of daily life. Meiji Shrine offers a calmer start, then Harajuku brings a look at contemporary youth culture. You visit Shibuya Sky for a city view, walk beside the cherry trees along Meguro River, and finish in Shinjuku, where you can explore further or return to the hotel.

That final stretch of independent time is welcome, but it is not a full free day. If Tokyo is high on your list, consider arriving early or adding nights after the tour. The itinerary begins at your hotel, and international flights are not included.

Fuji and Hakone bring a change of scale

On day four, the tour leaves Tokyo for the Mount Fuji and Hakone area. You stop at Gotemba Peace Park, take a cruise on Lake Ashi, and ride the Owakudani Ropeway. The lake cruise and cable-car ride offer variety after city touring, with views of the surrounding mountains when conditions cooperate.

Day five includes a visit to Mount Fuji’s 5th Station before the transfer to Takayama. Fuji is Japan’s tallest peak, but visibility can vary with weather, so treat the mountain views as a possibility rather than a promise. The route then makes a long change of scene, moving from the Fuji area to the mountain town of Takayama for a two-night stay.

The itinerary’s details call this section Hakone and Mount Fuji, while the day headings and route descriptions use slightly different labels. The named visits are clearer than the lodging location: Gotemba, Lake Ashi, Owakudani, and Fuji’s 5th Station are the listed highlights. If hotel location matters to you, confirm it before booking.

Takayama and Shirakawago slow the rhythm

Takayama offers a welcome pause after several transfers. You spend a full day visiting an Exhibition Hall and Folkcraft Museum, then walk streets lined with traditional buildings and former merchant homes. This is one of the route’s stronger chances to see a smaller town rather than move from one famous landmark to the next.

The following day brings a stop at Shirakawago, a World Heritage site, en route to Kanazawa. The village is known for its traditional thatched-roof houses, and the stop breaks up the drive. You then visit Kenrokuen, one of Japan’s celebrated gardens, along with the castle grounds, before checking into your Kanazawa hotel.

These days are valuable because they balance the large-city schedule with older architecture and regional settings. They are still guided visits, not open-ended stays, so do not expect a full day to roam either destination on your own.

Kyoto and Nara mix ceremony, temples, and a close encounter

Day eight takes you to Kyoto, with a visit to Kiyomizu Temple, Keage Incline, and a traditional tea ceremony. Keage Incline is a former railway track known for its cherry trees. It is a particularly fitting seasonal stop, though flowering dates shift from year to year. Kyoto is one of the places where you may wish for more time: the tour includes two hotel nights, but those days are packed with visits.

The next morning is spent in Nara at Todai-ji Temple and Nara Park. The temple is a major historic site, while the park’s deer are known for bowing as they seek food. You also take part in a sushi-making experience before returning to Kyoto for the Golden Pavilion and the Philosopher’s Path, another cherry blossom route.

That is a lot of ground for one day, and the return to Kyoto does not leave much room for spontaneous detours. The guided format helps you fit in key sights, but if Kyoto’s lanes, gardens, or museums are a priority, plan for extra nights outside the tour.

Hiroshima and Miyajima add history and perspective

Day ten starts with two Kyoto sights, Fushimi Inari Shrine and Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, followed by a sake brewery visit. You then take the Shinkansen to Hiroshima. The bullet train is included in the tour, and it makes the long-distance transfer part of the Japan experience rather than an extra travel chore. Dinner features okonomiyaki, a local specialty.

The next day combines Miyajima Island with Hiroshima’s Peace Park and Atomic Bomb Dome. You take a ferry to the island to visit Itsukushima Shrine and see its famous torii gate, described in the itinerary as Japan’s only floating torii. The gate’s appearance depends on the tide, so the view can change during your visit.

Back in Hiroshima, the Atomic Bomb Dome and Peace Park call for a different pace from the day’s scenic stops. Give these sites your attention. They are not simply another photo stop, and the tour’s inclusion of them gives the route a vital historical dimension.

Himeji and Osaka close the route

On day twelve, you take the train to Himeji Castle, a World Heritage site and national treasure, then continue to Osaka. The day ends with an Aqualiner cruise around Osaka Castle, where the focus is on cherry blossoms, followed by a final group dinner.

Osaka is the endpoint, not a long independent stay. Day thirteen includes breakfast and free time before the airport transfer. If you want to explore Osaka beyond the castle area, arrange extra nights. The tour’s scheduled farewell dinner is a pleasant way to close the group portion, but the final morning is not a substitute for a full day in the city.

What the price includes, and what it does not

The advertised starting price is $6,285, based on the cheapest room. For a 13-day guided trip, the value depends on how much you would otherwise spend arranging hotels, intercity transport, admissions, and a guide across several regions. This package includes 12 nights in quality four-star accommodation, daily breakfast, transport as listed, admission fees, an English-speaking guide and driver, tips for them, and second-class bullet train tickets.

Many lunches and dinners are included, but not every meal. The itinerary lists a welcome dinner, sushi-making lunch, okonomiyaki dinner, and final group dinner, among other meals; check the specific departure’s meal schedule before you book. Vegetarian meals can be requested.

International airfare, travel insurance, personal expenses, and other meals are extra. Insurance is required. The itinerary also says there are no optional experiences available, so you should not count on adding organized activities through the tour operator.

A single-room supplement was quoted at a land-only total of $10,998 per person in the supplied tour information. That is a substantial jump from the shared-room starting price, and prices can change, so ask for a current quote before deciding. A $265 deposit and interest-free fortnightly installments are listed, with the balance due 65 days before departure.

Guide quality and group pace deserve a closer look

The tour is fully guided in English and is aimed at people aged 40 and older. The physical rating is medium intensity, which fits a trip with regular walking, several sightseeing stops in a day, train transfers, and repeated hotel changes. You should be comfortable keeping up with a busy group schedule.

Past departures have had different guides, so names in earlier trips are not a promise about who will lead yours. Travelers praised guides named Thomas, Bruce, and a particularly generous guide whose name was not provided. Bruce and driver Jimmy were singled out for their work in Kyoto, while Thomas was praised for trying to sort out food concerns. One traveler also described Ben, an MW Tours contact, resolving a hotel problem quickly and arranging replacement accommodation and transport.

The praise is not universal. Two three-star assessments raised concerns about a guide’s English and the amount of information provided, while also describing one guide as a lovely person. The guide category averages 3.0 out of 5, lower than the scores for transport (4.4), accommodation (4.2), and itinerary (4.0). Food averages 3.2. The overall tour score is 3.9 from five reviews, a small sample that suggests a generally solid trip with real room for variation.

Group size needs clarification, too. The tour details give a range of 16 to 32 people, while an answer about group size says a maximum of 25 passengers and a 49-seat coach. Ask MW Tours to confirm the limit for your chosen departure.

Who should book this spring route?

I would choose this tour if you want to see a broad cross-section of Japan in one organized trip and are happy to trade free time for a reliable sequence of major sights. It is especially appealing if you want cherry blossom stops folded into a first visit, but also want Takayama, Shirakawago, Hiroshima, and Miyajima rather than a Tokyo-and-Kyoto-only holiday.

I would hesitate if you prefer unhurried mornings, long stretches in one city, or the freedom to change plans day by day. The pace is full, the route moves often, and the blossom is never guaranteed. March departures are offered, including dates in 2027 listed as March 21, 25, and 30. The operator’s 2028 program was not yet finalized in the information provided.

Before booking, confirm the current price, hotel locations, group-size limit, meal plan, and guide arrangements. If you are comfortable with a medium-intensity schedule and value having transport and logistics handled, this is a practical way to connect Japan’s spring highlights. If Kyoto or Osaka deserves more than a quick visit, add nights before or after the tour.

FAQ

Where does the tour start and end?

It starts at your hotel in Tokyo and ends with a transfer to Osaka International Airport.

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts 13 days and includes 12 nights of accommodation.

What is the starting price?

The listed starting price is $6,285, based on the cheapest room. Confirm the current price and room basis when booking.

Are international flights included?

No. International airfares are not included.

What accommodation is included?

The tour includes 12 nights in quality four-star accommodation, with daily breakfast.

Are meals included?

Daily breakfasts and selected meals are included. The exact meals are specified in the itinerary, and vegetarian options can be requested.

Is travel insurance included?

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

What is the group size?

The tour details state a group size of 16 to 32, while a separate answer gives a maximum of 25 passengers. Confirm the limit for your departure.

What is the physical intensity?

It is rated medium intensity. Expect regular sightseeing and walking, a full schedule, and multiple transfers.

Can I skip Hiroshima or shorten the itinerary?

No. This is a group tour, and the itinerary cannot be shortened to remove the Hiroshima portion.