Cherry Blossom & Gardens of Japan: Self-Launched 13-Day Tokyo to Osaka
13 days · Japan (Honshu)
MW Tours charges £4,950
No-markup version: ~£2,145 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of MW Tours' 13-day Cherry Blossom & Garden coach tour, covering the same spine of Honshu: Tokyo, Mount Fuji/Owakudani, Takayama, Shirakawago, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Nara, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Himeji and Osaka. Instead of a 40-seat coach and fully escorted guide, you'll ride Japan's superb trains and highway buses, sleep in hostels and budget business hotels, and book the few guided experiences (sushi class, tea ceremony, sake brewery) directly or via GetYourGuide/Klook. Crucially, this version is far less crammed — you get real free time in Kyoto and Osaka, the one thing past travellers criticised the original tour for. Timed for late March/early April cherry blossom peak. All costs are rough per-person estimates in GBP, excluding international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Tokyo — Shinjuku base and first night out
Tokyo
Land at Narita or Haneda and take the airport limousine bus or Keisei Skyliner/train into central Tokyo (~£8–18). Check into a hostel or budget business hotel near Shinjuku or Asakusa. Pick up a Suica/Pasmo IC card at the station (~£10 loaded) — it works on nearly every train, metro and bus in Japan. Evening: wander Shinjuku's Omoide Yokocho alleys for yakitori and gyoza dinner (~£8–12), and get an early night to shake off jetlag.
🚌Airport limousine bus or Keisei Skyliner to central Tokyo, ~£8–18
🛏Hostel dorm or budget business hotel (e.g. Shinjuku/Asakusa area), £16–25/night
- →Airport transfer into Tokyo
- →Buy Suica/Pasmo IC card
- →Evening walk through Omoide Yokocho, Shinjuku
Tokyo classic circuit: Tsukiji, Asakusa, Ueno, Odaiba, Ginza
Tokyo
TourRadar's Day 2 in one self-guided loop. Start at Tsukiji Outer Market for breakfast sushi and tamagoyaki (~£8–12), then metro to Asakusa's Senso-ji Temple (free). Walk to Ueno Park for cherry blossoms and a museum of your choice (~£4–6). Afternoon: Odaiba via the Yurikamome elevated train (~£3) for the bay views, then back to Ginza in the evening for the lit-up main street. Swap the group welcome dinner for a solo izakaya dinner in Asakusa (~£10–15).
🚌Tokyo Metro + Yurikamome day pass, ~£6–8
🛏Hostel dorm or budget business hotel, £16–25/night
- →Tsukiji Outer Market breakfast
- →Senso-ji Temple, Asakusa
- →Ueno Park cherry blossoms
- →Odaiba bayfront
- →Ginza evening stroll
Harajuku, Meiji Shrine, Shibuya Sky and Meguro River blossoms
Tokyo
Morning at Meiji Jingu Shrine (free) and the Harajuku/Takeshita Street area for vintage shopping and crepes. Pre-book Shibuya Sky online (~£14–16, sunset slots sell out weeks ahead) for the rooftop view. Late afternoon, walk the Meguro River cherry blossom promenade — one of Tokyo's best sakura corridors, lantern-lit at dusk. Finish with dinner in Shimokitazawa or Shinjuku (~£10–15).
🚌Tokyo Metro/JR, ~£5–7
🛏Hostel dorm or budget business hotel, £16–25/night
- →Meiji Jingu Shrine
- →Harajuku & Takeshita Street
- →Shibuya Sky observation deck (book on Klook/GetYourGuide)
- →Meguro River cherry blossom walk
Day trip to Mount Fuji: Lake Ashi, Owakudani and Hakone loop
Hakone / Lake Ashi
Ride the Odakyu Romancecar or JR from Shinjuku to Hakone (~£18–22 each way, or use a Hakone Free Pass ~£40 for two days including all transport). Do the classic loop: Hakone Ropeway over Owakudani's volcanic vents, then the Lake Ashi pirate sightseeing cruise (~£12, covered by the Free Pass) with Fuji views on clear days. Catch the bus back and stay overnight in a Hakone hostel or cheap onsen guesthouse so you're not racing back to Tokyo.
🚌Odakyu Romancecar / JR to Hakone + Hakone Free Pass, ~£40 total
🛏Hakone hostel or budget guesthouse with onsen, £20–30/night
- →Owakudani Ropeway
- →Lake Ashi sightseeing cruise
- →Hakone checkpoint and lakeside walk
Mount Fuji 5th Station, then bus to Takayama
Mount Fuji / Takayama
Morning bus from Hakone up to Mount Fuji 5th Station (~£10–14, seasonal — check Fujikyu/Keio highway bus timetables; usually closed in deep winter). Alternatively take a Fuji Five Lakes sightseeing bus and enjoy Lake Kawaguchiko's blossom shore. Afternoon: head back to Tokyo/Mishima and catch the Shinkansen + Hida limited express, or an overnight highway bus, to Takayama. The train combo Tokyo→Nagoya→Takayama runs ~£90–110 and takes about 5 hours. Check into a Takayama guesthouse in the old town.
🚌Fuji 5th Station bus ~£12 + Shinkansen/limited express to Takayama ~£95
🛏Takayama guesthouse or cheap ryokan, £20–28/night
- →Mount Fuji 5th Station (or Lake Kawaguchiko)
- →Scenic train ride into the Japanese Alps
Takayama old town, morning markets and folkcraft museums
Takayama
Morning at the Miyagawa morning market and the preserved Edo-era Sanmachi Suji merchant streets (free to wander). Visit the Takayama Jinya (former government house, ~£5) and the Hida Folk Village / Hida no Sato open-air museum of thatched-roof gassho houses (~£6) — the itinerary's 'folkcraft museum' and merchant homes in one. Optional: Hida beef skewer lunch (~£6–10). Slow afternoon, sake tasting at a local brewery (~£5).
🚌On foot / local bus to Hida no Sato, ~£3
🛏Takayama guesthouse or cheap ryokan, £20–28/night
- →Miyagawa morning market
- →Sanmachi Suji old town
- →Takayama Jinya
- →Hida no Sato folk village
- →Local sake brewery tasting
Shirakawago thatched village, then on to Kanazawa
Shirakawago / Kanazawa
Take the Nohi Bus from Takayama to Shirakawago (~£22, 50 mins, book ahead in blossom season). Spend 2–3 hours wandering the UNESCO gassho-zukuri village and its Shiroyama viewpoint. Continue by Nohi Bus to Kanazawa (~£17, 1h15). Late afternoon: Higashi Chaya geisha district and a free walk along the Kanazawa Castle park walls.
🚌Nohi Bus Takayama→Shirakawago→Kanazawa, ~£39
🛏Kanazawa hostel or budget hotel, £18–26/night
- →Shirakawago gassho village
- →Shiroyama viewpoint
- →Higashi Chaya district
- →Kanazawa Castle park
Kenrokuen Garden and castle, then train to Kyoto
Kanazawa / Kyoto
Early start for Kenrokuen Garden (~£2) at opening — one of Japan's three great gardens and spectacular in blossom season. Combine with the adjoining Kanazawa Castle grounds. Midday: 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art if you like (free main galleries). Afternoon: Thunderbird limited express Kanazawa→Kyoto (~£55, 2h15) or the cheaper overnight/early highway bus (~£30). Evening in Kyoto: walk Pontocho alley and the Kamogawa riverbank (~£10 dinner).
🚌Thunderbird limited express Kanazawa→Kyoto, ~£55
🛏Kyoto hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, £18–28/night
- →Kenrokuen Garden
- →Kanazawa Castle
- →Pontocho alley evening walk
Kyoto east: Kiyomizu-dera, Keage Incline and a tea ceremony
Kyoto
Walk up to Kiyomizu-dera (~£3) at 6am opening to beat the crowds — genuinely worth it. Follow the Higashiyama lanes down through Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka. Then the Keage Incline cherry blossom tunnel (free). Book a small-group tea ceremony in a machiya townhouse via GetYourGuide/Klook (~£25–35). Afternoon free for Gion, Yasaka Shrine and a slower wander — this is your built-in 'no rush' day the original bus tour didn't have.
🚌City bus/on foot, ~£4
🛏Kyoto hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, £18–28/night
- →Kiyomizu-dera
- →Sannenzaka & Ninenzaka lanes
- →Keage Incline blossoms
- →Tea ceremony (book via GetYourGuide/Klook)
- →Gion & Yasaka Shrine
Nara day trip: Todai-ji, deer park and a sushi-making class
Nara / Kyoto
Kintetsu limited express Kyoto→Nara (~£7, 35 mins). Feed the deer in Nara Park (~£1 for crackers) and see the giant Buddha at Todai-ji (~£5). Try a budget sushi or onigiri-making class — book direct with a local cooking studio or via Klook (~£30–40) instead of the tour's included sushi experience. Back to Kyoto by late afternoon for the Path of Philosophy and, if time allows, a quick hop to Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion (~£3).
🚌Kintetsu express Kyoto↔Nara + Kyoto bus, ~£12
🛏Kyoto hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, £18–28/night
- →Todai-ji Temple
- →Nara Park deer
- →Sushi-making class (Klook/direct)
- →Path of Philosophy
- →Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion
Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama bamboo and sake tasting
Kyoto
Dawn at Fushimi Inari (free) — the torii gates are nearly empty before 7am. Then JR to Arashiyama for the bamboo grove (free) and the riverside walk. Optionally the Gio-ji or Tenryu-ji garden (~£3–5). Afternoon: sake brewery tour and tasting in Fushimi (~£8–15, book direct with Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum or a small brewery — no reservation needed for the museum). Evening free — pack for the Hiroshima leg.
🚌JR Nara line + Randen tram, ~£8
🛏Kyoto hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, £18–28/night
- →Fushimi Inari Shrine sunrise walk
- →Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
- →Tenryu-ji garden (optional)
- →Fushimi sake brewery tasting
Shinkansen to Hiroshima and Miyajima Island
Hiroshima / Miyajima
Take the Shinkansen Kyoto→Hiroshima (~£75, 1h40) or a cheaper overnight highway bus from Osaka if budget is tight (~£35). Immediately hop the JR Sanyo line to Miyajimaguchi and the JR ferry to Miyajima (~£2, covered by rail pass if you have one). See Itsukushima Shrine and the floating torii (shrine ~£2, torii free to view). Back in Hiroshima: the Peace Park and Atomic Bomb Dome (free), Peace Memorial Museum ~£1. Dinner: local okonomiyaki at Okonomimura (~£8–12).
🚌Shinkansen Kyoto→Hiroshima ~£75 + JR local + ferry ~£4
🛏Hiroshima hostel or budget business hotel, £18–26/night
- →Miyajima Island & JR ferry
- →Itsukushima Shrine and floating torii
- →Hiroshima Peace Park & Atomic Bomb Dome
- →Okonomimura okonomiyaki dinner
Himeji Castle en route to Osaka — trip end
Himeji / Osaka
Sanyo line or Shinkansen to Himeji (~£18–30, 45 mins) and spend the morning at Himeji Castle (~£6) in blossom season. Continue by JR to Osaka (~£10, 1hr). Afternoon: Osaka Castle park or the Aqua Liner river cruise (~£9), then Dotonbori for takoyaki and kushikatsu (~£10–15) as your own final dinner. Fly out of Kansai (KIX) — the Nankai Rapi:t or Haruka train from Namba/Tennoji is ~£8–12.
🚌Himeji→Osaka JR ~£10 + airport train ~£10
🛏Departure day (or add a final Osaka hostel night ~£18–25)
- →Himeji Castle
- →Osaka Castle park
- →Aqua Liner river cruise (optional)
- →Dotonbori street food
Self-launched vs. MW Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | MW Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£2,145 | £4,950 |
| Duration | 13 days | 13 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,805 per person (57%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more MW Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£2,145
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Cherry Blossom & Gardens of Japan: Self-Launched 13-Day Tokyo to Osaka cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £2,145 per person for 13 days in Japan (Honshu). This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with MW Tours?+
Yes — MW Tours charges around £4,950 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £2,145 — a saving of roughly £2,805 (57%) per person.
How long is the Japan (Honshu) trip?+
This itinerary runs 13 days, covering 13 day-by-day stops through Japan (Honshu).
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, budget, backpacker trip through Japan (Honshu), self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
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