Spring Festivals of Japan
Japan celebrates Golden Week with festivals of azalea, peony and wisteria. Our journey begins deep in the mountains of Nikko and travels across three islands of the archipelago: Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu. Tunnels of wisteria are a highlight. Visit Tokyo, Matsue, Okayama and Takamatsu.
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Day 1
Tuesday 20 April 2027
Welcome to Tokyo. Make your way to your luxury hotel in Yokohama (or we can assist you with arranging an airport transfer). Settle in and meet your Tour Leader and fellow travellers the following morning.
Accommodation:
- Day 2
- Wednesday 21 April 2027
A full day at the Green Expo 2027 Yokohama today, also known as the International Horticultural Expo, to experience horticulture, landscaping and sustainability at its best. The Expo covers 100 hectares of a former US military base.
The theme of this year’s event is “Scenery of the future for happiness”, envisioning a society where individuals and communities flourish like a vibrant garden, nurtured by connections and in harmony with nature.
Accommodation:
- Day 3
- Thursday 22 April 2027
The day starts with a blast at Ashikaga Flower Park in Tochigi prefecture to see the world’s finest collection of wisteria. The Wisteria Festival will be in full swing with tunnels, arbours, arches and bridges smothered in weeping wisteria in white, mauve and pink. We’ll admire the 140-year-old ‘Great Wisteria’, a double petalled variety which spreads 1,000 square metres. We’ll track down wisteria flavoured ice cream then head into the mountains to Nikko.
Check-in to your hotel located in the forest by Lake Chuzenji in Nikko National Park.
Accommodation: Chuzenji Kanaya Hotel, Nikko
- Day 4
- Friday 23 April 2027
Another dazzling flower festival today, the fields of beautiful ‘Baby Blue Eyes’ nemophila at Hitachi Seaside Park overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Ibaraki Prefecture.
Nemophila covers Miharashi Hill, the tallest point in the park, with four million blossoms. Walk through the Seaside Park, and view the tulip display in the forest.
Dinner included tonight at your hotel .
Accommodation: Chuzenji Kanaya Hotel, Nikko
- Day 5
- Saturday 24 April 2027
The day will start with a special visit to the Toshogu shrine, built in 1542 to honour the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate.
Next door is the Rinnoji Temple Garden, a charming pocket-sized teahouse garden with Japanese maples bursting into leaf and azaleas flowering on the lake edge. The natural beauty of the place, its spiritual importance and its unique architecture still casts a spell on travellers today. Giant cryptomerias over 1000 years old, overlook the turbulent waters of the Daiya River and morning mists wrap mountain views. The entire site is World Heritage listed.
On the way to Tokyo, we’ll walk a little of the ‘Sacred Way’, an ancient road of Japanese Cedars, once the path from Tokyo to Toshogu Shrine.
Arrive in Tokyo and check-in to the Hotel New Otani with dinner included. Stroll through the lush 400 year old gardens.
Accommodation: New Otani Hotel, Tokyo
- Day 6
- Sunday 25 April 2027
Festival of Azaleas today at Shiofune Kannon Temple northwest of Tokyo. The garden surrounds an ancient 1300-year-old Buddhist temple, known as the ‘Temple of Flowers’ because of its extensive planting of 17,000 Japanese azaleas. Level pathways zigzag through the valley so you can walk through banks of colourful azaleas to reach the giant Buddha statue at the top for a beautiful bird’s eye view.
Incandescent colour today at Nezu Shrine, established in 1705 as a Shinto shrine, is famous for its incredible 300-year-old azalea garden displaying 3,000 azalea plants of 100 species, including rare varieties such as Fuji-tsutsuji (tiny bean-size flowers), Hanaguruma (pinwheel-like flowers), and Karafune (black azalea).
Then it’s all about peonies in the month-long peony festival in Tokyo’s Ueno Park at the Toshogu Peony Garden, which was opened in 1980 to commemorate friendly relations between China and Japan. Peonies are displayed fronting snow fences woven from straw in winter and shielded with brightly coloured Japanese parasols in spring – it’s a real delight!
Meet up again for an early evening stroll around Kameido Tenjin Shrine, the best place in Tokyo to see wisterias, lit beautifully at night. Stroll beneath arbours of fragrant wisteria that were planted in the Edo period.
Accommodation: New Otani Hotel, Tokyo
- Day 7
- Monday 26 April 2027
To Okayama this morning by train to visit Koraku-en, one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan (along with Kenroku-en and Kairaku-en). This quintessential Japanese garden was created 300 years ago by the daimyo (domain lord) Ikeda Tsunamasa, lord of Okayama, as a symbol of the power of the Samurai.
See wisteria, zig-zag bridges, mounds of azaleas, streams lined with iris and a tea plantation. With the spectacular backdrop of Okayama Castle, the garden is designed as a circuit to experience the magic of the borrowed landscape, particularly Yuishinzan Hill. The daimyo loved the peace of the rest house, Ryuten, where he went to relax and watch the water flowing below. Walk past the famous Japanese cranes that breed here.
Check-in to the Hotel Granvia Okayama.
Accommodation: Hotel Granvia, Okayama
- Day 8
- Tuesday 27 April 2027
Our coach will take us to Japan’s fourth main island of Shikoku across the Great Seto Bridge which is the longest series of double-decker bridges in the world.
Our destination is the sublime Ritsurin Garden in the city of Takamatsu. Built by local feudal lords during the early Edo period, it’s considered one of the finest gardens in Japan. It’s divided into a Japanese style garden in the south and western style garden in the north; all are set in front of the wooded Mt. Shiun which serves as a wonderful background and great example of borrowed scenery.
Accommodation: Hotel Granvia, Okayama
- Day 9
- Wednesday 28 April 2027
To the old picturesque town of Kurashiki with its preserved canal area that dates back to the Edo period (1603-1867), when the city served as an important rice distribution centre. The name Kurashiki translated as town of storehouses where rice was kept.
Local shopping is excellent here with Japanese denim and local ‘Bizen’ ceramics in high demand. Or visit the art gallery with many famous paintings by European masters.
Afternoon train to Kokura.
Accommodation:
- Day 10
- Thursday 29 April 2027
The famous wisteria arches await today at Kawachi Fujien Wisteria Garden, a private garden in the hills south of central Kitakyushu, famous for its spectacular planting of wisteria. Two tunnels each 100 metres long are planted with different species of wisteria, ranging from white, lilac, pink, mauve to dark purple.
A viewpoint at the top of the hillside garden allows for views across the sea of wisteria and the surrounding valley. Lunch included today.
Afternoon express train to Matsue. Check into our Ryokan for the next two nights. Dinner at the hotel included tonight.
Accommodation: Hotel Gyokusen, Matsue
- Day 11
- Friday 30 April 2027
Peony heaven today at Yuushien Garden, a treasure trove of peonies in an area famous for ginseng and peonies. Located on the sparsely populated Daikonshima Island in the middle of brackish Lake Nakaumi lies this exquisite Japanese garden full of mist, maples, ponds, waterfalls and stone bridges. You’ll come across a little timber house with a collection of fish tanks in the portico. Inside its cool and the peony display is breathtaking. Wandering on, we admire the local peony growing competition with peonies as large as your face.
Next stop is the Adachi Museum of Art’s meticulous celebrated garden, awarded the best garden in Japan. Founded by Adachi Zenko in 1980 as a way of combining his passions for Japanese art, garden design and the works by Japanese painters and ceramicists. A true lover of gardens, Adachi collected each of the pines and stones himself for the six picture or ‘scroll’ gardens: the Karesansui Garden, the Garden of White Sand and Green Pine, the Moss Garden and the Pond Garden which you view from windows inside the museum. This garden crystallises the Japanese landscape – depicting its island geography, forests, bamboo glades, pine-topped mountains, rushing rivers, mountain crags and surrounding sea.
Dinner included tonight.
Accommodation: Hotel Gyokusen, Matsue
- Day 12
- Saturday 1 May 2027
A taste of old Japan at Matsue, famous for its a feudal castle, one of the few remaining medieval castles built of wood from the early 1600’s. It sits on a hill with commanding views of Izumo below, we can walk to the top to enjoy the view. Walk along the canal on Shiomi Nawate, an ancient street lined with timber samurai houses.
A train ride to Okayama this afternoon.
Farewell Dinner at your hotel included tonight.
Accommodation: Hotel Granvia, Okayama
- Day 13
- Sunday 2 May 2027
Free morning to explore Okayama. Shop for traditional Japanese denim and local ‘Bizen’ ceramics. Late check-out has been arranged today.
You will be contacted by a Ross Tours Travel Consultant to confirm your details and preferred method of payment.
- Cancellations received prior to departure will incur loss of deposit.
- Cancellations received between 119-60 days prior to departure will incur a 50% cancellation fee.
- Cancellations received between 59-30 days prior to departure will incur a 75% cancellation fee plus any non-recoverable costs incurred.
- Cancellations received within 30 days prior to departure will incur 100% cancellation fee.
- Cancellations must be sent in writing.
- Cancellation fee is based upon the total amounts paid including tours, airfares and all other travel arrangements.
Please refer to the Ross Tours standard terms and conditions
Book This Tour
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Domestic flight (Okayama > Tokyo) included in Land only price -
Deluxe air-conditioned motorcoach throughout tour -
Shinkansen and express train travel -
Deluxe accommodation for 12 nights -
Breakfast daily, 2 Lunches and 7 Dinners -
National (English speaking) Japanese Guide
Entrance fees to all gardens and sightseeing including
- Ashikaga Flower Park, Hitachi Seaside Park, Rinnoji Temple, Nezu Shrine, Ueno Toshogu Peony Garden, Shiofune Kannon Temple, Kameido Tenjin Shrine, Yuushien, Adachi Museum of Art, Korakuen, Kawachi Fujien Garden, Ritsurin Park, Kanaya History House, Nikko Toshogu Shrine, Matsue Castle, Shiomi Nawate Samurai House, Himeji Castle.
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Twin Share, land only$11,131.33 USD per person
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Twin Share, including air$2,007.88 USD
- USD prices may vary slightly at booking.
- Prices based on minimum 15 passengers.
4/12/2026 -
Previous Traveller$100
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{Bon Voyage}
We`re off to Japan celebrating Golden Week with festivals of azalea, peony and wisteria. We will deep travel form deep in the mountains of Nikko, then across three islands of the archipelago: Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu. Tunnels of wisteria are a highlight. We will explore Tokyo, Matsue, Okayama and Takamatsu.
Why not come with us in 2027? Enquire via the website or give us a call on 1300 233 200 to receive the 2027 brochure.
#rosstours #rossgardentours #japan #Honshu #Shikoku #Kyushu #Naoshima #Tokyo #Matsue #Okayama #Takamatsu #travelwithfriends #rt_springfestivals
{Last 4 seats available - Japan Spring Festivals}
Don`t miss out on this fabulous tour escorted by Graham Ross. We only have 4 seats left, so book your seat now!
Travel to Japan when the country celebrates Golden Week with festivals of azalea, peony and wisteria. Our journey begins deep in the mountains of Nikko and then travels across four islands of the archipelago: Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu and Naoshima. Tunnels of wisteria are a highlight. Visit Tokyo, Matsue, Okayama and Takamatsu.
Tour Dates: 20 April - 3 May 2026
For the full itinerary, please click here: https://rosstours.com/tours/japan-festivals/
To book your seat, please call the office on 1300 233 200 or book online.
#rosstours #rossgardentours #japan #Honshu #Shikoku #Kyushu #Naoshima #Tokyo #Matsue #Okayama #Takamatsu #travelwithfriends #rt_springfestivals
{Ashikaga Flower Park, Tochigi Prefecture}
Ashikaga Flower Park in Tochigi prefecture has the world’s finest collection of wisteria with tunnels, arbours, arches and bridges smothered in weeping wisteria in white, mauve and pink. There is a 140-year-old ‘Great Wisteria’, a double petalled variety which spreads 1,000 square metres and even wisteria flavoured ice cream.
Join Graham Ross on our Japan Spring Festivals tour next April. Seats are selling fast, so make sure you book yours soon. To book, call the office on 1300 233 200 or go online.
For the full itinerary, please go here: www.rosstours.com/tours/japan-festivals
#rt_springfestivals #rosstours #rossgardentours #japan #ashigakaflowerpark #wisteria
{Hitachi Seaside Park, Japan}
Immerse yourself in vibrant color fields at Hitachi Seaside Park, where Baby Blue Eyes paint a vivid landscape against the Pacific Ocean backdrop. Miharashi Hill, the tallest point in the park, is covered with four million blossoms. Walk through the Seaside Park, and view the tulip display in the forest. It`s sensational!
Why not come with us to Japan in 2026 and have no other than Graham Ross show you around?
For the full itinerary, please go here: www./rosstours.com/tours/japan-festivals
To book your seat, please call the office on 1300 233 200 or go online.
#rosstours #rt_springfestivals #travelwithfriends #bluebells #hitachi #hitachiseasidepark #japan #springfestivals
{Kawachi Fujien Wisteria Garden, Japan}
Kawachi Wisteria Garden is a private garden in the hills south of central Kitakyushu, famous for its spectacular planting of wisteria. Two tunnels each 100 metres long are planted with different species of wisteria, ranging from white, lilac, pink, mauve to dark purple.
Graham Ross will be leading our Spring Festivals of Japan tour next year.
For the full itinerary, please go here: www.rosstours.com/tours/japan-festivals
To book your seat, simply call the office on 1300 233 200 or go online.
#rt_springfestivals #rosstours #rossgardentours #japan #wisteria #kawachi #kawachifujien #travelwithfriends
{New Tour}
Japan celebrates Golden Week with festivals of azalea, peony and wisteria. Join Graham Ross on our journey that begins deep in the mountains of Nikko and travels across three islands of the archipelago: Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu. Tunnels of wisteria are a highlight. Visit Tokyo, Matsue, Okayama and Takamatsu.
Tour dates: 20 April - 3 May 2026
For the full itinerary, please go to our website: www.rosstours.com/tours/japan-festivals
To book, please call the office on 1300 233 200 or go online.
#rt_springfestivals #rosstours #travelwithfriends #japan #tokyo #okayama #matsue #peonies #wisteria #tulips #azaleas
{Bon Voyage}
We`re off to celebrate Golden Week in Japan with festivals of azalea, peony and wisteria. Our journey begins deep in the mountains of Nikko and then travels across four islands of the archipelago: Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu and Naoshima. We can`t wait for the flower bonanza that awaits us!
Why not join us in 2026? No other than Graham Ross will be taking our tour next year. Call our office today on 1300 233 200 to register your interest or you can also enquire via our website: www.rosstours.com.
Seats will be selling fast once we release the brochure!
#rosstours #rossgardentours #japan #Honshu #Shikoku #Kyushu #Naoshima #Tokyo #Matsue #Okayama #Takamatsu #travelwithfriends #rt_springfestivals
{Last room available - Japan Spring Festivals}
Don`t miss out on this fabulous tour to Japan when the country celebrates Golden Week with festivals of azalea, peony and wisteria. Our journey begins deep in the mountains of Nikko and then travels across four islands of the archipelago: Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu and Naoshima. Tunnels of wisteria are a highlight. Visit Tokyo, Matsue, Okayama and Takamatsu.
Tour Dates: 20 April - 3 May 2025
For the full itinerary, please click here: https://rosstours.com/tours/japan-festivals/
To book our last room, please call the office on 1300 233 200 or book online.
#rosstours #rossgardentours #japan #Honshu #Shikoku #Kyushu #Naoshima #Tokyo #Matsue #Okayama #Takamatsu #travelwithfriends #rt_springfestivals
{Bookings closing 14 February - Japan Spring Festivals}
Don`t miss out on this fabulous tour to Japan when the country celebrates Golden Week with festivals of azalea, peony and wisteria. Our journey begins deep in the mountains of Nikko and then travels across four islands of the archipelago: Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu and Naoshima. Tunnels of wisteria are a highlight. Visit Tokyo, Matsue, Okayama and Takamatsu.
Tour Dates: 20 April - 3 May 2025
For the full itinerary, please click here: https://rosstours.com/tours/japan-festivals/
To book your seat, please call the office on 1300 233 200 or book online.
#rosstours #rossgardentours #japan #Honshu #Shikoku #Kyushu #Naoshima #Tokyo #Matsue #Okayama #Takamatsu #travelwithfriends #rt_springfestivals
{Wisteria Heaven}
Kawachi Wisteria Garden is known for its wisteria tunnels, featuring various species that bloom in different colors. Ashikaga Flower Park is home to Japan`s oldest and largest wisteria tree, over 100 years old, and a wide variety of wisteria plants that bloom in spring.
We will be visiting both gardens on our Spring Festival tour in April.
Don`t miss out as bookings are closing next week.
For the full itinerary, please click here: www.rosstours.com/tours/japan-festivals/
#rt_springfestivals #japan #wisteria #wisteriatunnels #kawachi #ashikaga
{Shiofune Kannon Temple, Japan}
During April & May Shiofune Kannon Temple, Northwest of Tokyo, is a treat for the eye and a must-see for any azalea lover. The garden surrounds an ancient 1300-year-old Buddhist temple, known as the ‘Temple of Flowers’ because of its extensive planting of 17,000 Japanese azaleas. Level pathways zigzag through the valley so you can walk through banks of colourful azaleas to reach the giant Buddha statue at the top for a beautiful bird’s eye view. What a treat!
We will be visiting Shiofune Kannon Temple during our Spring Festivals Tour of Japan.
To book your seat, please call the office on 1300 233 200 or go online.
Our detailed itinerary can be found here: www.rosstours.com/japan-festivals
#rt_springfestivals #rosstours #rossgardentours #travelwithfriends #shiofune #azalea #temple #springfestival #flowerfestival #templeofflowers #japan #goldenweek
{2025 Tours Programme}
If you are on our mailing list, our printed programme for next year should arrive in your mailbox this week. We have a packed programme full of new exciting tours like Bhutan & Nepal, Spain & Morocco, Ireland and Sabah and old favourites like Japan Spring Festivals, Northern India and Melbourne Flower Show.
You can see all our 2025 tours on our website: www.rosstours.com/tours
Or if you wish to receive our printed programme, please enquire via the website or call us on 1300 233 200.
#rosstours #rossgardentours #travelwithfriends #rt_norfolk #rt_indianorth #rt_mifgs #rt_cherryblossom #rt_nzautumn #rt_bhutan #rt_springfestivals #rt_englandchelsea #rt_spainmorocco #rt_sabah #rt_ireland #rt_singapore #rt_hawaii #rt_wildflowers #rt_flinders #rt_ki #rt_vicspring #rt_tassiespring #rt_nzspring #rt_southamerica #rt_mexico #rt_japanautumn #rt_christmas
{Kawachi Wisteria Garden, Japan}
Kawachi Wisteria Gardena is a private garden in the hills south of central Kitakyushu, famous for its spectacular planting of wisteria and in particular for its wisteria arches. The two wisteria tunnels each 100 meters long are planted with different species of wisteria, ranging from white, lilac, pink, mauve to dark purple. It`s spectacular!
We will be visiting Kawachi Wisteria Garden on our Spring Festival Tour in 2025.
For the full itinerary, please head to our website: www.rosstours.com/japan-festivals
To book your seat on the tour, please call the office on 1300 233 200 or go online.
#rosstours #rossgardentours #travelwithfriends #japan #wisteria #kawachi #wisteriatunnels #rt_springfestivals
{New Tour}
Japan celebrates Golden Week with festivals of azalea, peony and wisteria. Our journey begins deep in the mountains of Nikko and then travels across four islands of the archipelago: Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu and Naoshima. Tunnels of wisteria are a highlight. Visit Tokyo, Matsue, Okayama and Takamatsu.
Tour Dates: 20 April - 3 May 2025
For the full itinerary, please click here: https://rosstours.com/tours/japan-festivals/
To book your seat, please call the office on 1300 233 200 or book online.
#rosstours #rossgardentours #japan #Honshu #Shikoku #Kyushu #Naoshima #Tokyo #Matsue #Okayama #Takamatsu #travelwithfriends #rt_springfestivals
{On tour}
Wisteria galore at Ashikaga Flower Park. The Wisteria Festival was in full swing with tunnels, arbours, arches and bridges smothered in weeping wisteria in white, mauve and pink. You can`t leave without trying their wisteria flavoured ice cream - what a treat for all senses!
Follow our tour here: https://rosstours.com/tours/japan-festivals/
Why not come with us in 2025? Enquire today: https://rosstours.com/contact/
#japan #wisteria #rhododendron #ashikaga #flowerpark #ashikagaflowerpark #rosstours #rossgardentours #travelwithfriends #rt_springfestivals
{Bon Voyage}
We`re flying to Japan today to celebrate Golden Week with festivals of azalea, peony and wisteria. Our journey begins deep in the mountains of Nikko and then travels across four islands of the archipelago: Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu and Naoshima. Tunnels of wisteria are only one of many highlights.
Come with us in 2025 - this is a very popular tour & sells out quickly. Register your interest today & be one of the first to receive next year`s brochure.
#japan #goldenweek #Honshu #Shikoku #Kyushu #Naoshima #goldenweek #peony #peonies #wisteria #nikko #tokyo #rt_springfestivals
{Appreciation post}
How gorgeous are these paintings in progress by Ross Garden Tours traveller and artist Delcooley_artist?
“Inspired by a recent tour to see the gardens in Japan with Ross Garden Tours...The paintings in progress bring to mind - gentleness, beauty, wisteria tunnels, peonies, authenticity, unpretentious, derived from a cultural base in contrast to a trendy style.”
#rosstours #rossgardentours #travelwithfriends #japan #visitjapan #wisteria #rt_springfestivals
{On tour}
The famous wisteria tunnels today at Kawachi Wisteria Garden, a private garden in the hills south of central Kitakyushu, famous for its spectacular planting of wisteria. Two tunnels each 100 metres long are planted with different varieties of wisteria, ranging from white, lilac, pink, mauve to dark purple. No filter needed!
If you would like to join us on this tour in 2024, register your interest today. This is one of our most popular tours and sells out quickly. Go online or call our office today on 1300 233 200.
#rosstours #rossgardentours #travelwithfriends #wisteria #tunnels #kawachi #japan #wisteriatunnel #rt_springfestivals
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