If you are planning a trip to Japan this summer, you’re not alone. New research has revealed the most popular destinations for the coming peak travel season – and there are a few surprises.
05.03.2024 - 02:09 / forbes.com
As fleeting as they are beautiful, sakura season is upon us. Here’s what hotels across Japan are doing to rise to the occasion.
The season of all things pretty and pink is upon us.
In an effort to give visitors and locals a chance to map out their sakura (cherry blossom) plans, a Cherry Blossom Watch forecast was released last month, revealing a slightly earlier-than-expected arrival of the country’s beloved blooms.
In 2023, sakura season brought the highest number of travelers since the country re-opened its borders to travelers according to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO). Tokyo, which was named 2024’s top trending destination in the world by TripAdvisor, is expected to burst into a beautiful ballet of pink blooms starting as early as March 23rd, with a full bloom anticipated around March 30. Meanwhile, the temple studded city of Kyoto will reach peak blossoms in early April.
Whether you’re planning a visit or dreaming of visiting one day, here’s a look at what hotels across the country are doing to celebrate the magic of sakura season this year.
More than 200 cherry blossom trees of 17 varieties bloom in the garden ofThe Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo. The early-blooming Kawazu-zakura usually starts blooming in early February, and the late-blooming Kanzan usually blooms in late April, so you can expect a prolonged cherry blossom experience this year, the hotel says.
Designed by famed landscape designer Teiji Kusuoka, the Japanese garden that encircles the property provides an unforgettable setting to experience the magic of the season. From March 8 to April 14, hotel guests can check out the Takanawa Sakura Matsuri festival which includes guided tours on Japanese rickshaws, a spectacular outdoor breakfast served under the cherry trees, and sakura morning yoga.
Guests can also opt to book a Sakura View Stay Package which promises views of the stunning cherry blossoms from the comfort of your room, as well as convenient access to enjoy the Sakura Matsuri in your backyard.
Enjoy the beauty of Someiyoshino cherry blossoms adorning the Ooyoko Riverbanks during HOSHINOYA Tokyo’sSpring Warmth Hanami Boat experience.
The private boat charter is a seasonal experience takes guests on a scenic journey along the Sumida River and Ooyoko River from Nihombashi. While onboard you can savor a traditional hanami bento lunch box and Japanese sake reminiscent of the Edo period's cherry blossom viewing tradition.
At Tokyo EDITION, Toranomon, a Sakura Package is on offer for guests to enjoy running from March 16th-April 7th. The special offer includes a nightly sakura cocktail at Lobby Bar, an exclusive sakura-inspired room amenity, and an Urban Hamami (picnic) map providing a detailed guide of the top
If you are planning a trip to Japan this summer, you’re not alone. New research has revealed the most popular destinations for the coming peak travel season – and there are a few surprises.
Hoshino Resorts is small but punches above its weight. It only has 68 hotels, but several of them regularly top the most-recommended lists of Conde Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure.
While Japan is famous for its cherry blossoms, South Korea offers its own unforgettable cherry blossom experience. Known locally as "beotkkot," the cherry blossom season in South Korea transforms the country into a breathtaking palette of pink, beguiling both locals and tourists alike. The 2024 bloom season for these beloved blooms is expected to be particularly stunning, with experts estimating that this year’s flowering with arrive seven days earlier than normal.
The Asia-Pacific region is expected to play a key role in the travel industry’s growth this year. Skift Research projected the region would see travel revenue jump 20% in 2024 from the previous year as outbound travel from China is expected to increase substantially.
For over 20 years, Melissa Goldstein worked as a magazine photo editor. While researching imagery, she developed a fascination with Scandinavian ceramics, 17th-century botanical illustrations and Japanese woodblock prints dating back to the 1500s. It wasn’t until she moved to Brooklyn and began rehabilitating the overgrown garden behind her brownstone that she began combining her interests: “[My brand MG by Hand] was the merging of my research, the garden and making things for my family,” Goldstein says of the fine English porcelain ceramics she now sells in select shops and online. In 2008, the artist began hand-making everyday dinnerware in her home studio in Carroll Gardens, decorating the pieces with floral motifs in a cobalt stain. Black irises, poppies and flowering quince from her garden adorned vases, shallow banchan dishes and scalloped serving trays. Her new Poppy and Cherry collections, which were fired in a gas kiln for 12 to 15 hours, channel Dutch Delftware while depicting local flora. “I have a wall that separates my garden from my neighbor’s, and I’ve interwoven quince in it,” Goldstein says. “I’m very into blooming trees.”
If you’re a sakura - or cherry blossom - lover, you’ll likely have Japan and Washington DC on your travel bucket lists. But did you know there are countless places across Europe with equally impressive pink blooms to take in this spring?
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