Tour spot information - Fantastic private tours in Japan

Category: Tour spot information

Breathtaking cherry blossoms at Shinjuku Gyoen and a fun sushi class

Posted on 2025年3月31日2025年6月20日 by japan flower tour home

Today, I welcomed three guests, arranged by a travel agency, from the United States around Tokyo. The guests’ hotel was in Higashi Ginza, so we first walked to Tsukiji Fish Market and strolled around looking at fresh seafood and rare vegetables such as spring wild plants.

After that, I guided them to Meiji Shrine and served them simple snacks such as noodles at the cafe terrace inside the shrine.
After that, I guided the guests to a sushi making class in Shinanomachi, which was arranged by the travel agency. While the guests were enjoying the sushi class, I went to our next destination, Shinjuku Gyoen garden, to check out the best cherry blossoms to admire, and then welcomed the guests to Shinjuku Gyoen.

The Somei-Yoshino cherry trees were in full bloom, but I showed them the best cherry blossoms and took a commemorative photo. After that, we moved to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, where the guests enjoyed the evening project mapping of the buildings, and then I sent them off to the hotel.

A day of strolling in warm springtime historic town, Kawagoe

Posted on 2025年3月28日2025年6月18日 by japan flower tour home

Continuing on from the previous day, today I took a family from Oregon to Kawagoe, a popular tourist spot about 50km north of Tokyo that retains the atmosphere of the pre-modern and early modern eras such as the Edo and Meiji periods.
At Kita-in Temple, a famous temple with deep ties to the Tokugawa Shogunate, the Shidarezakura, weeping cherry blossoms were in full bloom, allowing us to relax and enjoy the cherry blossoms and gardens inside the temple.

At the request of the guests, we enjoyed a pancake lunch at a coffee shop in Kawagoe City, strolled through the unique streets of storehouses and sweets alley, and enjoyed Hikawa Shrine and the cherry blossoms, Somei-yoshino that were just starting to bloom on the Shin-Kashi River behind it.

Back in Tokyo, I showed them the view from the observation deck of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku, Shibuya Crossing, and the bronze statue of Hachiko.

This tour was organized through Tours by Locals.

Review from the guest posted to Tours by Locals

Atsu really made our trip incredible. Besides giving us a wonderful tour and history of some beautiful shrines, he accommodated our interests. He took us to a very nice knives store and worked with the owners to help us select some knives we wanted to buy. He was very invested in making sure our trip was as enjoyable as possible and designed the trip to our interests. It was clear he had carefully planned the day to ensure everything went smoothly. Really a wonderful guide with a wealth of knowledge.

A peaceful early spring stroll around Tokyo and an evening cruise on Yokohama Port

Posted on 2025年3月25日2025年6月18日 by japan flower tour home

Today, after showing a friendly family from Oregon around Sensoji Temple, the Imperial Palace, and Hie Shrine. We had Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki for lunch near Shinjuku Gyoen garden, and then strolled around Shinjuku Gyoen, where the early-blooming cherry blossoms, including Shidaresakura, weeping cherry and Yoko line cherry trees, were in full bloom.

The weather was nice, and the guests were very pleased. Afterwards, we went to Yokohama Port, where they enjoyed an evening cruise around the port.

This tour was organized through Tours by Locals.

Review from the guest posted to Tours by Locals

We have been communicating with Atsuhiro over several months to plan the day. It was amazing! He even made reservations at wonderful restaurants with foods as per our request and guided us to a Yokohama cruise after a lovely day filled with shrines, temples, cherry blossoms, and info regarding Japanese traditions and history. Truly memorable day. Highly recommend touring with Atsuhiro.

A preview tour of the popular tourist spot, Kawagoe

Posted on 2025年3月22日2025年6月14日 by japan flower tour home

Today, I went to Kawagoe City, Saitama to check the cherry blossom blooming situation for a guest I will be introducing next week. Kawagoe is located about 50 km north of Tokyo and is a popular tourist spot that retains the atmosphere of the Edo, Meiji and Taisho periods (pre-modern times to early modern).

My friend kindly accompanied me and we walked around the town of shop of warehouses style and the popular Hikawa Shrine, and checked the cherry blossom blooming situation on the banks of the Shingashi River.

The early-blooming Okanzakura cherry on the river were at their best, but it seemed unclear whether the main variety Somei Yoshino cherry, would be in full bloom next week.

Flower report Japan 2025. 03.19 Cherry, Oh-kanzakura

Posted on 2025年3月20日2025年3月20日 by japan flower tour home

Flower :
Cerasus ×kanzakura ‘Oh-kanzakura/ Cherry var. Oh-kanzakura/ オオカンザクラ大寒桜
Cerasus spachiana ‘Pendula’/ Cherry var. Shidare-sakura/ シダレザクラ枝垂桜
Cerasus × kanzakura ‘Kawazu-zakura’/ Cherry var. Kawazu-zakura/ カワヅサクラ河津桜

Place & Date:
Ueno park, Tokyo 2025.03.19 東京上野公園

Oh-kanzakura

Shidare-sakura

Kawazu-zakura

#Cherry #Oh-kanzakura #Shidare-sakura #Kawazu-zakura #オオカンザクラ #シダレザクラ #カワヅサクラ #大寒桜 #枝垂桜 #河津桜 #上野公園

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#Satsua

Unseasonable snow fell in Tokyo

Posted on 2025年3月19日2025年6月16日 by japan flower tour home

Today (19th March 2025), we have unexpected snow even in the city center of Tokyo, with a thin snow layer on ground. A thin layer of snow has accumulated on the roof of the Kaminarimon Gate (Thundar gate) and main hall of Sensoji Temple, and the lawn of in front of the Imperial Palace and Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden are also slightly white.

The early-blooming cherry varieties have already begun to bloom, but the mid-season and later varieties that will bloom from now on may be a little late in blooming.

Flower report Japan 2025. 03.19 Cherry, Takatoh kohigan

Posted on 2025年3月19日2025年3月20日 by japan flower tour home

Flower :
Cerasus ×subhirtella ‘Takatoh-kohigan’ / Cherry variety Takatoh Kohigan/ タカトウコヒガン高遠小彼岸
Cerasus campanulata ‘Yoko’/ Cherry var. Yoko/ ヨウコウサクラ陽光桜
Cerasus x subhirtella ‘kohigan’/ Cherry var. Kohigan/コヒガン小彼岸
Cerasus campanulata/ Taiwan cherry/ ヒカンザクラ緋寒桜

Place & Date:
Shinjyuku gyoen garden, Tokyo 2025.03.19 東京新宿御苑

Takatoh Kohigan

Yoko

Kohigan

Hikan

#Cherry #Takatoh-kohigan #Yokocherry #Kohigancherry #Taiwancherry #タカトウコヒガン #ヨウコウサクラ #コヒガンサクラ #ヒカンザクラ #高遠小彼岸 #陽光 #小彼岸桜 #緋寒桜 #新宿御苑

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#Satsua

Sightseeing and preliminary inspection of tourist sites around Mt. Fuji

Posted on 2025年3月13日2025年6月15日 by japan flower tour home

Yesterday and today, I went sightseeing and preliminary inspection of tourist sites around Mt. Fuji, such as Arakurayama Sengen Shrine (Chureito Pagoda) and Mount Fuji Panoramic Ropeway, which I plan to introduce to my guests in early April.

Unfortunately, it rained yesterday, and Mt. Fuji was not visible at all. In the midst of all this, I have checked how to select the two types of hiking trails to Chureito Pagoda in rainy weather, and the facilities that take AI-generated commemorative photos (composite photos of Mt. Fuji on a clear day) at the observation deck I reached on through the Mount Fuji Panoramic Ropeway, and used these as reference for what to do in case of rainy weather.

Today, the weather is clear from the morning, and I am able to enjoy Mt. Fuji from early in the morning. I visit Saiko Iyashi-no-Sato Nenba (Traditional Japanese Village), where I enjoy the old Japanese thatched houses and the magnificent view of Mt. Fuji.

A volunteer guided tour of the beautiful Japanese apricot garden and Lucky Cat Temple on a calm spring day

Posted on 2025年2月23日2025年2月24日 by japan flower tour home

Yesterday, I guided the people who are participating in JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) course to Hanegi Park in Setagaya and Gotokuji Temple, famous for its maneki-neko (beckoning cat). Japaanese apricot or ume blossoms are less well known than cherry blossoms, and there are few opportunities to see them overseas, but when JICA recruited participants for the tour, over 20 people applied, and the tour was divided into five groups. I was in charge of one of the groups and guided four people. The four people were from Vietnam, Egypt, and two from Kyrgyzstan, and most of them had never seen ume blossoms before.

In the ume plum garden, I tried to explain the history of ume blossoms, their develoipment from wild one, their fragrance, and how to enjoy the differences between the various varieties, so that they could learn as enjoyably as possible.

And since it was February 22nd, Cat Day in Japan, Gotokuji Temple was crowded with many people. Recently, the temple has become popular with foreigners, thanks to the cuteness of its maneki-neko (beckoning cat), and I explained the story behind how this temple became a maneki-neko temple, how it is different from a normal maneki-neko (it has its right paw raised, but it does not have a gold coin, so it is not directly inviting money), and how to properly handle maneki-neko. I also told the visitors not to immediately place the cat in the temple grounds after buying it, but to take it home with them and to be sure to return with it when their wish is granted, and we all prayed for their return to Japan and to this temple.

I have learned a lot from these tour guides, who are mostly volunteers, and I hope to be able to combine them well with regular tour guides and become a guide who can handle a wide range of needs. Most of the photos were taken during the site inspection.

Flower report Japan 2025.02.19 – Cherry, Satsuma-kanzakuraa

Posted on 2025年2月19日2025年3月1日 by japan flower tour home

Flower :
Cerasus × kanzakura ‘Satsuma-kanzakura’/ Cherry variety Satsuma-kanzakura/ サツマカンザクラ薩摩寒桜
Cerasus ×kanzakura ‘Atami zakura’/ Cherry var. Atamizakura/ アタミザクラ熱海桜
Cerasus × kanzakura ‘Kawazu-zakura’/ Cherry var. Kawazu-zakura/ カワヅサクラ河津桜
Place & Date:
Shinjyuku gyoen garden, Tokyo 2025.02.19 東京新宿御苑

Satsuma-kanzakura

Satsuma-kanzakura is considered a hybrid of Kanhizakura (Cerasus campanulata) and Yamazakura (C. jamasakura) and belong to Kanzakura group. There are several varieties of Kanzakura, but in Tokyo, along with Atamizakura, it is the variety that blooms the earliest, blooming about one week earlier than Kawazuzakura, popular early blooming variety in Tokyo.

Atamizakura

The cherry variety hybred by “Kanzakura” or “Kanhizakura” (C. campanulata) which is local vriety in Taiwn or Okinawa and Yamazakura (C. jamasakura) in Westside Japan and planted in Atami almost 150 years ago. It is well known as one of the earliest blooming variety in Japan and also lasting blooming almost 1 month.In Atami, the Cherry Blossom Festival is held from January onwards, and these beloved cherry trees are planted all over the city, but in Tokyo there are not many opportunities to see them, and they are not as well known as the Kawazu cherry trees.

Kawadusakura

The large, pink Kawazu cherry blossoms are famous not only in Kawazu Town, Shizuoka Prefecture, where they originated, but throughout the Kanto region, where they bloom from early to mid-February, and cherry blossom festivals are held in various places. They are popular because their flowers are larger and fully open than the Kanhi-zakura (C. campanulata), blooming the same time.

Cherry #Satsumakanzakura #Atamizakura #Kawazu-zakura #sinnjyukugyoen #サツマカンザクラ #カワヅサクラ #アタミザクラ #薩摩寒桜 #熱海桜 #河津桜 #新宿御苑