The first day is a standard affair. Your guide will pick you up at the airport and assist you with preparations for the tour. A private coach will take you to your hotel in the heart of the city. After the check-in procedures are completed, you will have the rest of the day to yourselves.

Experience Tokyo, a metropolis where rich history and advanced technology blends in harmony. The day’s tour is designed to give you a taste of both past and present. In Asakusa, visit the oldest temple in the city, and see the tallest tower in the country. After lunch, drive around the majestic Imperial Palace adjacent to a developed commercial district. In the afternoon, take a ride on a fully automated monorail to Odaiba, where you will explore a gallery of antique cars of the past century, as well as preview the cutting edge of automobile technology by Toyota.

Sample an authentic flavor of Japan in Ginza, with high-quality sushi prepared by some of the best itamae (sushi chefs). Try out the street food and snacks sold in the stalls that line the Nakamise shopping street. Feel the cleansing smoke of holy incense on your skin, and get your fortune told at Senso-ji. The opening act of this tour will immerse you in many unique experiences that define Tokyo, a perfect appetizer for the romantic excursion on the next day!

Leaving Tokyo in the morning, you will take a dip into the Izu Peninsula, a beautiful land of many natural wonders. The stop today, Ito, is a hot spring resort particularly known for its coastal scenery. After a 3-hour drive from Tokyo, unwind and enjoy a meal of freshly caught fish in a traditional restaurant with a beautiful garden. You will appreciate the richness of Ito’s nature as you take the chairlift up to the crater of an extinct volcano. Take in the gorgeous panoramic view from atop this 580-meter mountain. Then explore the botanical garden at its foot, which exhibits different cacti from all around the world as well as pettable animals!

In the afternoon, you will check into a Japanese-style inn located on the old Tokaido Road. Afterward, you can decide how you would like to enjoy the nature of Ito. You might want to take a stroll along the Pacific coast. Or maybe you would prefer relaxing in the natural onsen before dinnertime. You can wear your yukata as you dine to fully enjoy the traditional atmosphere of this hot spring resort city.

Today is all about first-hand experience with the locals. After breakfast, you will leave Ito for the main highlight of the tour. In the city of Kawazu blooms a special variant of sakura that blossoms only in the month of February. Celebrate the beautiful flowers by taking part in the Kawazu-zakura Festival. Witness the rows of vibrant cherry trees that stretch 2.5 miles along the banks of the Kawazu River. The romantic scenery heralds the coming of spring, and what better place to be than in the heart of it all!

After the festivities, you will stop by Shimoda to enjoy a local specialty for lunch. Sit around the irori hearth and savor the himono (dried fish) grill, a traditional dish rich in both flavor and history. You will then be brought to Odaru Onsen to your place of stay, a ryokan with a picturesque scenery and 30 different kinds of onsen. Enjoy an afternoon repose in any of the spectacular hot springs that the ryokan offers, be it a fertility-boosting bath inside a cave or a steaming hot pool right in front of a cold waterfall. To close the spectacular day, feast on the famous Ise-ebi (spiny lobsters) and sashimi dinner, a specialty of the ryokan due to its proximity to the ocean.

Having experienced sakura and wonderful hot springs, you will leave the Izu Peninsula today and approach another natural wonder. The stop today, Hakone, is a historically significant spot on the Tokaido Road. Visit landmarks that originated from the Edo period, and catch a glimpse of the beautiful Mt. Fuji. When the cold air of Hakone leaves you in want of shelter and warmth, stop for a cup of sweet sake in the 350-year-old Amazake Chaya. In many ways, the day is tailored to give you a feel of exploring an old post town.

The lavish Taisho-era ryokan that you will be staying at today was built over the Tonosawa hot springs, first discovered over 400 years ago. In this establishment, whose rare architecture is designated as a Cultural Property of Japan, you can enjoy scenic open-air onsen with views of the Hayakawa river and mountains, as well as a private hot spring bath in your own room. After an optional walking tour around the Hakone Yumoto area in the afternoon, you will enjoy high-quality kaiseki dinner made with the best seasonal ingredients.

Leaving Hakone, you will approach the vicinity of Japan’s most famous natural wonder, Mt. Fuji itself. The penultimate day of the tour is designed to provide you with marvelous sights and a great sense of adventure. In the morning, you will visit Arakura Sengen Jinja, a mountainside shrine known for its Chureito pagoda. Even compared to other locations around the Fuji Five Lakes area, this spot grants you an iconic and unparalleled panoramic view of Mt. Fuji and Fujiyoshida City.

After a serving of the local specialty udon at the picturesque Iyashi no Sato, you will head to the two famous caves located in the lush forest northwest of Mt. Fuji. Experience a thrilling adventure as you explore the cold grottos. Witness the ice pillars, lava ropes, and luminous moss that form naturally inside these veritable natural refrigerators! At the end of the adventure, you will be transferred to your hotel in Haneda/Narita, depending on your port of exit. Enjoy your last night in Japan!

You have completed the Valentine Sakura tour! We hope that you enjoyed your trip with ILJT! On the last day, you will check out of your hotel and conduct an independent transfer to the airport. Have a safe flight back home, and see you again soon!