Spring in Japan: The Cherry Blossom Experience

Asia, Japan

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Who doesn’t love to see cherry blossoms in real life – especially in full bloom? So here we are, planning for another Japan Trip and excited to see the beauty of Sakura flowers.

We saw cherry blossoms in Nara during our winter trip before, but it was just a small tree. Seeing one for the first time already made us so happy, so imagine how amazing it would be to see them during peak season.

The full bloom of Sakura has different dates in every prefecture. Since our itinerary includes Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Osaka, and Nara, we made sure to book our trip for the first week of April because those were the officially forecasted dates.

From our 1 hour and a half flight from Seoul, we arrived in Fukuoka in the afternoon just in time for our check-in. From Fukuoka International Airport to our hotel in Hakata, it takes more or less 15 minutes to arrive.

You can also read more about our South Korea trip HERE!

What apps to use while in Japan?

Navitime: This is very helpful with route searches for trains and buses.
Google Maps: Just the same with Navitime but can be used even offline.
Google Translate: For translations, obviously. There’s also Papago, which I haven’t tried yet, but I’ve read that it’s also great to use.
Klook: For hassle-free tour bookings.

Where to Stay in Fukuoka, Hiroshima and Osaka?

We are APA Hotel babies because, first, they’re always near MRT stations and right in the heart of the city. Second, everything you need is either inside the APA Hotel or just nearby. So even if the rooms are small, it’s not a big deal because we still fit perfectly… probably because we’re small too LOL!

Fukuoka – APA Hotel Hakataeki Chikushiguchi
Hiroshima – APA Hotel Hiroshima-Ekimae Ohashi
Osaka – APA Hotel Namba-Shinsaibashi (our favorite APA hotel in Osaka)

Trust me when I say that these hotels are the best spots to stay in.

Where to go in Fukuoka?

Day 1: Hakata, Fukuoka

On our first day in Fukuoka, we are looking forward to eat one of their ramen houses because as mentioned, this is the birthplace of Hakata Ramen. But wait! What’s Hakata Ramen? Hakata Ramen is a creamy, rich pork bone broth with super thin noodles and we tried it in Shin-shin Ramen, which is a very popular ramen house in Hakata, Fukuoka.

Day 2: Yanagawa, Fukuoka

Yanagawa is an hour away from Hakata and is known as the Venice of Kyushu. It is famous for its 470 kilometers of canals, which you can enjoy while taking a boat ride.

To know more on how to get to Yanagawa, you can read it HERE.

Nishi Park

As you know, Japan has a lot of parks where you can enjoy the view (and have snacks) peacefully. After our trip to Yanagawa, since we still have a lot of time, I looked for parks where we could also enjoy Sakura trees and this place didn’t disappoint!

Day 3: Itoshima, Fukuoka

Itoshima is coastal city in Fukuoka Prefecture known for its relaxed seaside vibe, scenic beaches, and laid-back countryside charm just outside the bustle of Fukuoka City.

This is one of my favorite destination in Japan because it’s less crowded and we were able to ride a bike around the city.

You can read more about our Fukuoka adventure HERE

Where to go in Hiroshima?

Day 4: Fukuoka – Peace Memorial Park, Hiroshima

After 2 hour travel via Shinkansen from Fukuoka, we have arrived in Hiroshima. Hiroshima is one of the cities that we’re bombed during World War 2 and we are excited to learn more about what happened during that time.

The shinkansen non-reserved ticket from Fukuoka to Hiroshima is more or less 3,500 pesos each.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this is where you can find the A-Bomb Dome, the only structure left standing after the first atomic bomb was dropped. There is no need to worry about radiation, as levels today are extremely low and have no effect on the human body.

Day 5: Miyajima Island

Miyajima Island, also known as Itsukushima, is a charming island often visited as a day trip from Hiroshima. It is best known for its iconic giant torii gate, which appears to float on the water during high tide, and for the friendly wild deer that freely roam the island.

To be honest, I wasn’t expecting much from Miyajima because I didn’t really research it as I was trying to be spontaneous in Hiroshima, since it’s such a laid-back prefecture. But to our surprise, it was the highlight of our Hiroshima trip.

Day 6: Dotomburi, Osaka

As usual, we end up in Osaka as our exit city from Japan – just because it has a direct flight to Cebu lol. For our sixth day, we just ate a lot of street food, ate at our favorite tonkatsu restaurant and went to shopping haha!

Day 7: Katsuō-ji Temple or Daruma Temple in Osaka

Katsuoji Temple is a serene Buddhist temple best known as the “Daruma Temple”. Situated in the peaceful Minoh mountains of northern Osaka. The Daruma dolls have been associated with good fortune and success, which explains why many locals go here.

You can read more about our Katsuō-ji Temple trip HERE