Audley Travel has reintroduced the Tohoku region of Japan to its destination range, boosting opportunities to see the country’s famous cherry blossom in 2024 and beyond.
In Tohoku, the most northern region of the mainland, the iconic flowers bloom into April, which is later than the ‘Golden Route’ season of the middle to end of March.
Audley Travel senior product executive David Peat said: “Visitors to Japan often believe that the chance to see the iconic cherry blossom is limited but by heading north to Tohoku, where it blooms later in the year, this period is expanded and therefore so are the opportunities to explore more.”
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Destinations in Tohoku, known for its mountains, include Sendai, Kakunodate, Hirosaki and Yuzawa.
Sendai, the region’s largest city, is the site of the Osaki Hachimangu Shinto shrine. Half an hour away, Matsushima is considered one of Japan’s most scenic places for viewing the sunrise.
Further north, Kakunodate is a town known for its samurai history. Audley Travel’s clients have the chance to stay in a “luxuriously converted and restored former samurai residence”.
Travelling further north still, Hirosaki Park is considered to be one of the top spots for viewing the cherry blossom.
Audley Travel offers a 14-day tailor-made trip to Japan taking in Tohoku, Kyoto, Kanazawa and Tokyo from £9,300 per person based on two sharing. The price includes flights, transfers, accommodation and excursions.
Photo: Audley Travel/Akita Prefecture Tourism Board