JAPAN: PARADISE OF EARLY-BLOOMING CHERRY BLOSSOMS

Expected flight: VJ 828 SGN – KIX 01:20 – 08:30
You spend the night on the flight.

You arrive at Kansai – Osaka airport, where the group completes immigration procedures. You have a boxed breakfast on the coach, then the coach takes the group to Kyoto – an ancient capital more than 1,000 years old. Kyoto is truly an old city, as it has no skyscrapers or modern buildings. You visit:
Sagano Bamboo Forest (Arashiyama Bamboo Forest) – one of Kyoto's most iconic scenic spots. You stroll along the path through the bamboo forest, listening to the gentle rustling sounds and watching sunlight filter through the swaying trees, which makes the place even more enchanting.
You have lunch at a local restaurant. The group continues to the city of Miyazu – a peaceful port city in the north of Kyoto. There the group visits:
"Bridge to Heaven" Amanohashidate: one of Japan's three classic scenic wonders, captivating with a narrow sandbank only 20 metres wide, surrounded by 8,000 majestic ancient pine trees. Legend says this is the mythical bridge connecting the human world and the heaven of the god Izanagi. You take a return cable car ride offering a panoramic view of the spectacular Miyazu Bay, where sea and sky merge into one.

You have dinner at a local restaurant.
You spend the night at the hotel.

You have breakfast at the hotel. After that, the group checks out and sets off for sightseeing:
The fishing village of Ine no Funaya, nestled on the north coast of Kyoto, appears like an ink-wash painting. It is known as one of the most beautiful and poetic ancient fishing villages in the land of cherry blossoms. The place attracts visitors with its unique complex of boathouse architecture stretching 5 km along the deep-blue Ine Bay. From afar, the wooden houses seem to float on the water, creating a fantastic scene that leaves every visitor in awe, which is why the village is affectionately called “the Venice of Japan”.

The group has lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, you continue exploring:
Kayabuki no Sato is one of the most fairytale-like and nostalgic old villages in Japan. Visitors are enchanted by a complex of 39 traditional thatched-roof houses, some of them hundreds of years old, peacefully nestled in a valley surrounded by green hills. Not only a preservation area, the village is still the daily home of local residents, bringing the authentic, simple breath of rural life. The exquisite blend of old wooden houses and natural scenery changing with the four seasons paints a landscape that captivates the heart.

You have dinner at a local restaurant.
You spend the night at the hotel.

You have breakfast and check out of the hotel.
The tour guide takes the group to continue exploring Japan:
The Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival is one of the most anticipated spring festivals in Japan. Featuring the early-blooming Kawazu-zakura variety, the festival takes place from early February, when more than 800 cherry trees bloom at once, creating a poetic scene with paths covered in flowers.

The group has lunch at a local restaurant. Then the group sets off for Yamanashi – the homeland of Mount Fuji. You visit:
Oshino Hakkai Village: An ancient village hidden at the foot of Mount Fuji, famous for its breathtaking scenery, interesting customs and traditions that have been preserved intact. As a mark of respect, before entering the village, stop at a small pond, wash your hands, splash some water on your face, then scoop water with a bamboo ladle, take a refreshing sip, and rinse the ladle for the next person. The water here is snowmelt from the peak of Mount Fuji and is therefore extremely pure.

Shop to your heart's content at Gotemba Outlet – a designer brand paradise bringing together more than 290 famous international brands. In particular, if the weather is favourable, you will have the chance to fully admire the magnificent beauty of Mount Fuji, its snow-capped peak standing out against the blue sky, creating a landscape painting that captivates the heart. (If time allows)

The group tries on a yukata and enjoys dinner at the hotel.
You are free to relax soaking in the Onsen hot spring pool at the hotel.
Overnight in the area near Mount Fuji.

You have breakfast and check out of the hotel. Continuing the journey, the tour guide takes the group sightseeing:
Mount Fuji: One of Japan's most famous symbols, Fuji is the highest mountain in the country and one of its “Three Holy Mountains”. You will visit the 5th station if the weather allows; if the weather is bad, you will sightsee and take photos at the foot of the mountain or at the Mount Fuji information centre.

Then the coach takes the group to Tokyo – the cultural, economic and political centre of Japan.
You have lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, the group visits:
Asakusa Kannon Temple (also called Sensoji) – the oldest and most sacred temple in Tokyo, built specifically to worship the Bodhisattva Kannon. Here you will explore Nakamise-dori, the arcaded shopping street full of the essence of Japanese culture, the five-storey pagoda Gojunoto, Asakusa Shrine, the Nitenmon Gate, the Kannondo Hall, the Kaminarimon Thunder Gate…

Take photos outside the Imperial Palace of Tokyo – the official residence of the Japanese imperial family. You can admire the ancient, majestic palace architecture hidden amid a shaded grove of ancient trees.

Check in at the legendary Nijubashi double bridge, reflected on the sparkling river, and capture a moment with the distinct cultural imprint of the Land of the Rising Sun.

Free shopping in the Ginza area – the most luxurious and fashionable shopping hub in Tokyo. Here you will find dazzling shopping centres such as Ginza Six and Wako, along with the flagship stores of famous fashion houses from around the world. (If time allows)

You have dinner at a local restaurant. When it is time, the coach takes the group to the airport to check in for the flight back to Vietnam.

Scheduled flight: VJ821 HND – SGN 02:00 – 06:10
Arrive at Tan Son Nhat Airport. The tour concludes; we bid farewell and look forward to seeing you again on your next journey.
(The programme sequence may change depending on the actual situation of the tour, but all sightseeing stops in the programme are guaranteed).