Tours to Japan are quite expensive, especially compared to other countries. But Japan is so mysterious, diverse and unusual country that many tourists practically do not care about prices for tours. But still, a relatively inexpensive option for traveling to Japan is provided - last-minute tours.

The price of such tours is significantly lower than the standard one, and you can save on your trip. Intertour company offers the best price options for tours around Japan. These are exciting tours with excursions to Tokyo, visits to the ancient cities of Kyoto, Kamakura, Nara, walks around national parks and nature reserves, climbing sacred mountain Fuji.

Summer in Japan is humid and hot, with the rainy season lasting from June to mid-July. But in summer you can plan a tour to the island of Hokkaido, which is bypassed by rain. The most favorable time of year to tour Japan is spring and autumn.

By booking a last-minute tour in the spring, you will be able to admire the cherry blossoms, and in the fall - the purple leaves of Japanese maples. Even in winter, Japan experiences dry weather without severe frosts, only on ski resorts Hokkaido temperatures drop below zero and snow falls. Whenever you decide to go on a tour to Japan, you can be sure that a lot of bright and unforgettable impressions await you!

This country is developing and changing very rapidly. The Japanese are changing. And the most decisive changes are not external, but internal. The main features of the Japanese character - accuracy, modesty, patience - seem to be gradually disappearing. They say that the consequences of this are now difficult to predict.

You can be convinced of this only by going there, thanks to cheap trips to Japan. In fact, you will not be bothered by the question of how much a trip to Japan costs, because it is so beautiful there that the price will not bother you, and the walks will be exciting and interesting. The Japanese - this is noticeable almost from the first acquaintance with them - are not religious for the most part.

They are happy to get married in a Christian church (it doesn’t matter which one - Catholic or Orthodox, as long as it is beautiful). Although on New Year look into their Shinto shrine to buy an amulet. Funeral services are held for the inhabitants of the Country who have passed on to another world. rising sun Buddhist monks.

Throughout Japan's history, there have been no religious wars or religious intolerance. Even the persecution of Christianity at the beginning of the 17th century had a purely political overtones, since the Jesuit fathers were quite rightly here as the agents of those who were attacking Far East Western colonial powers.

The Japanese have always truly fervently believed in earthly, but no less essential values ​​- thrift, accuracy, modesty, the ability to endure, remain silent and believe in the future, respect parents, superiors and others, strictly fulfill their duties in small and large things.

If you are told to stand at an intersection when the light is red, you must stand. If the instructions tell you to tighten the nut five and a half turns, they will do it that way and not otherwise. If you study the Japanese more closely, you can find out how talented they are. After all, they were the first to invent such a system for constructing buildings, with the expectation of maintaining coolness in the summer and protecting buildings from earthquakes.

A transport They work like a well-oiled machine - always comfortable and safe. To learn even more about culture and life local residents, don’t hesitate to fly there, especially since now tours to Japan from tour operators offer last-minute trips to Japan and inexpensive tours to Japan. Every tenth Japanese lives in the capital of the Land of the Rising Sun, Tokyo.

• So, people taking a tour Japan - Bali and a tour Korea - Japan, and not only, can easily find here their compatriots for whom a trip to Japan, its cost, does not interest them, since in the past they found it here home for themselves and remained in this country forever.
• The image of Tokyo embodies the most characteristic features of the portrait of this country. When we talk about the national identity of the Japanese, we do not always realize that many features of their life and behavior are generated by overcrowding. It is precisely this that makes people live with their elbows tucked, as it were, which is the essence of Japanese ethics. More than 120 million people live in an area slightly larger than Finland—just a little less than in Russia.
• In addition, most of Japan is occupied by mountains. The face of the Japanese capital is not the streets or buildings. These are people. The city simply amazes with its gigantic accumulation of them. The soul of Tokyo is the element of the crowd, embodied in the endless flows of people and traffic and in the equally chaotic clusters of houses. But all this is instantly forgotten when springtime and cherry blossoms begin. There are no places in Tokyo that would personify the Japanese capital, like the Kremlin - Moscow, and Big Ben - London.
• Even the geographical center of Tokyo - the Imperial Palace - does not dominate the city and is perceived from the outside as a park surrounded by a moat. By the way, Tokyo was originally called Edo and acquired its current name only a little over 130 years ago. In 1868, Emperor Meiji removed the shoguns, the military leaders who traditionally ruled the country, from power and moved here from the ancient capital, Kyoto.
• The Meiji Memorial complex with a park and the largest Shinton temple in the capital is definitely worth a visit, as is a visit to Asakusa, where the most interesting Buddhist temple is located, around which there is a fair that has long been loved by the townspeople.

It is better to visit it in the spring, because at this time the world-famous Japanese cherry blossoms. When the cherry blossoms begin, tours to Japan invite travelers on excursions, and the beginning of summer will delight you with huge rice fields, but it can also be disappointing with rainy weather, accompanied by typhoons that come from the Pacific Ocean. Since summer is the beach season, the residents of this country devote themselves to relaxing on the shores of the island of Okinawa.

Take this opportunity and a trip to Japan, the price of which will not bother you much, will be yours. You can come here at any time of the year; it is beautiful here in winter, spring or summer, and autumn, when the red maple leaves fall. And in winter many tourists are attracted ski tours to Japan and the snow festival, which is held annually in Sapporo.

well and New Year's tours to Japan will decorate your arrival and make your stay in the country festive. Another notable place is the Nihonbashi Bridge, from which the ancient Tokaido highway once began. Traveling along it to Kyoto - on horseback or on a palanquin - used to take almost a month. Nowadays you can get here by express train in just two hours.

Opened in 1882, Ueno Zoological Gardens is Japan's oldest zoo. Here, on an area of ​​14 hectares, animals from all over the world live in comfortable conditions, as close as possible to their real habitat. Over its long history, Ueno Zoo has become home to more than three thousand animals of 400 species. In addition to the opportunity to spend time outdoors and interact with animals, park guests are offered a variety of educational and entertainment programs.

Tokyo is not rich architectural ensembles. However, this does not mean that there are no beautiful places there. It is pleasant to take a walk near the Imperial Palace, which is adjacent to the palace center of the city of Marunouchi and Hibiya Park. It is also interesting to wander among the skyscrapers of Shinjuku, where the old entertainment district is still enriched with high-rise buildings. It is worth remembering that traffic here is on the left, public transport is convenient and comfortable. For people who are used to saving on travel, a bus is suitable, since Japanese taxis are considered very expensive.

But since you are planning to take a tour to Japan, you should know that before departure you need to register tourist visa, which allows you to stay in this country for no more than 15 days. A prerequisite is to book a hotel room for the entire period.

And tourist packages to Japan will help you save money and enjoy your stay in this country. There are also combined tours to Japan and simply trips to Japan offered by travel agencies that will help you navigate visas and passport control.

They will advise you on the transportation of animals, as well as your luggage, and of course they will inform you about how much a trip to Japan costs. In addition to its chaos, Tokyo has been and remains a mysterious labyrinth not only for visitors, but also for local residents. There are practically no addresses in our understanding here. For example, the name Ginza is more of a spatial concept than a street. This is, firstly. And secondly, the numbering of houses is carried out not along the streets, but along the perimeter of the neighborhoods in the order in which they were built.

Therefore, before you go to visit some Japanese, it would be nice to have a schematic plan of how to get to him. Japan is a delightful country that amazes with its ancient history and traditions. Your stay here will be unforgettable and educational.

About Japan

Location: total length well developed coastline Japan exceeds 30 thousand km. Almost 80% of the country's territory is occupied by low mountains and plateaus, and only 10% are meridionally extended high-mountain ridges, separated by narrow tectonic basins.

Highest mountain range located in the central part of the island of Honshu. Here is highest peak Japan - Mount Fuji (3776 m). Last eruption Mount Fuji occurred in 1707. The volcanic ash ejected from the crater then covered Tokyo, located 100 km away.

The plains, occupying no more than 10% of the total area of ​​the country, are very densely populated and almost entirely occupied by arable land. The most important industrial regions of Japan are concentrated on the plains.

Population: Modern Japanese are an exceptionally hardworking and disciplined people. In a society dominated by people aged 20 to 34, women outnumber men (103:100). Along with the Japanese, who make up 99% of the population, the country is home to small communities of Koreans, Chinese and Americans.

The most densely populated part is the southern part of Honshu, as well as the northern islands of Kyushu and Shikoku, where the population density reaches 1000 people/sq. km (with an average density in the country of 335 people/sq. km). The least populated islands are Hokkaido, northern Honshu and southern Kyushu. The majority of Japan's population is concentrated in cities. Territory: 377,800 sq. km

Climate: The northern regions of Japan lie at approximately 45C. w. (latitude of Crimea and Venice). In Europe at this latitude, summers are very hot and winters are mild. A different matter is the northeastern coast of Hokkaido, where, under the influence of the cold Oyashio Current (Kuril Current washing Hokkaido and the northeastern shores of Honshu), the sea becomes covered with ice in winter.

In the southwest and west, the shores of the Japanese islands are washed by the warm Kuroshio Current, thanks to which numerous coral reefs have grown around the Ryukyu Islands. Due to its considerable length from north to south Japanese islands located in three climatic zones: warm temperate in the north, subtropical in the center and tropical in the far south. Superimposed on the latitudinal zone is a humid monsoon climate, which covers all the islands of the archipelago with its influence.

All of Japan, with the exception of Okinawa and the Ryukyu Islands, experiences a distinct pattern of four seasons. January temperatures vary from -6 -10C in Hokkaido and -4 - 0C in the northern and central parts of Honshu to +64C in Kyushu and 14 - 18C on the Ryukyu Islands located far to the south.

In the summer months, when a warm and humid monsoon blows from the southeast, temperature differences in different regions are less pronounced: from +28C in the south to 18-20C in the north. As you rise into the mountains, the temperature, regardless of the time of year, drops by an average of 0.6 C every 100 m. The climate of Japan is generally humid. Average annual precipitation increases from north to south, ranging from 800-1500 mm in Hokkaido and Honshu to 2000-3000 mm in the Ryukyu Archipelago.

The summer monsoon blowing from the ocean brings heavy rain in the east and south of the country, while the winter monsoon, coming from the depths of Asia, covers the entire north-west with snow.

Capital: Tokyo.

Religion: Shintoism, Buddhism, new religions (a mixture of Shintoism, Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity, Confucianism), Christianity

Language: Japanese

Currency: yen, it is best to exchange large amounts at the airport of arrival, since in hotels they exchange no more than 300 USD per person per day, and in banks the exchange procedure is complicated by bureaucratic formalities.

You can pay with common credit cards, but you must remember that some restaurants do not accept credit cards. Best course- at the airport and hotels, it is most profitable to exchange USD. It is impossible to change rubles.

Time: In summer the difference with Moscow is 5 hours, and in winter 6.

Transport: The main modes of transport in the country are railways and ships. Ultra-modern high-speed trains are divided into trains long distance and local lines, which are divided into simple express trains, limited express trains (“semi-express trains”) and ordinary trains running with all stops.

All trains are equipped with soft seats, vending machines with coffee and soft drinks, they also must have a toilet, a landline telephone and a display in Japanese and English.

For travel on the railways, a Japan Rail Pass is convenient (valid only for visitors with a tourist visa and must be purchased in advance), which allows unlimited travel on Japan Railways trains, buses and ferries, as well as on some private trains for a certain period of time ( one, two or three weeks). The ticket is personal, transferring it to another person is prohibited; during checks you must present your passport along with the ticket.

Intra-city railway lines are highlighted in color. The fare for them is 120-300 JPY, tickets are purchased from special machines at stations (long queues for them are not uncommon) and handed over at the exit of the train at the destination station. When switching from a branch of one company to a branch of another, a new ticket is purchased.

You can also pay extra for the ticket at the destination station. Japan also has an excellent bus system. Most of them operate from 7:00 to 21:00, some buses serving remote areas operate from 5:30 to 23:00. At each stop, its name, route and its number are indicated (most often - only in Japanese).

Payment is made upon boarding the bus. In the city, a trip costs about 200 JPY, outside the city - depending on the distance. There is a one-day pass that costs about JPY 1,200 (JPY 600 for children under 12 years old), which in some cases is also valid for metro travel.

The shops: Department stores are open every day from 10:00 to 21:00 or 22:00. Private shops, as well as hotel shops, operate according to their own schedule. There is a network of small stores that operate around the clock, but offer a limited range of goods, which, however, includes everything you need.

The most expensive stores located in the Shinjuku quarter, on Aoyama-Dori Street, Tokyo's Champs-Elysees. Young people prefer to dress in the Shibuya area; there are many inexpensive, super fashionable stores. Department stores in Japan are called “depato” (from the English department store) - they are truly huge here, much larger than the Parisian Gallerie Lafayette and Printemps. The most important Japanese department stores - Mitsukoshi, Matsuzakaya, Matsuya, Isetan, Keio and some others are located in the Ginza and Shinjuku areas.

Electricity: The mains voltage is 100 V, and the frequency (Hz) varies. To operate from a local network, each electrical appliance must have a function for automatically changing the voltage of 100/220 V. If it does not exist, no adapter will help.

Customs: There are no restrictions on the import of foreign currency. You can import into Japan without declaration 500 g of tobacco, 400 cigarettes, 100 cigars, three containers of wine and vodka products (each no more than 760 ml), two ounces (56 ml) of perfume, gifts and souvenirs with a total value of no more than 200,000 JPY.

When importing animals or plants, you must go to the quarantine counter. The import of firearms, pornography, drugs is prohibited (for drugs you face deportation and a lifelong ban on entry into the country), as well as fresh fruits and vegetables. There are restrictions on the import of furs, medications (especially those containing 1-deoxyephedrine) and cosmetics.

Visa: To obtain a visa, the following documents are required: a passport valid for 6 months from the end of the tour and with at least two blank pages, two photos, two completed forms, a certificate from the place of work indicating the position of the tourist, a certificate from travel company that the tour was purchased specifically from this company (provided by the tour operator), the tourist’s power of attorney for the delivery and receipt of documents by employees of the travel company.

If a child under 18 years of age is traveling on a trip without one of the parents, it is necessary to provide a notarized permission-power of attorney from the second parent for this trip and a copy of this parent’s domestic or foreign passport to verify the signatures in the passport and on the power of attorney. Visa processing time is from 10 to 14 days, cost: from 100 USD.

Kitchen: In Japanese cuisine, fresh and completely raw products are widely used, and it is based on rice, fish and seaweed.

Most popular dishes:"sushi" (or "sushi") - more than 200 types of rice balls with various fillings, "sashimi" - slices of raw fish served with soy sauce and green horseradish "wasabi" seasoning, as well as "sukiyari" - fried beef, vegetables and bean curd.

In Japan, you can try “marble meat” - the meat of a bull that is raised like sumista, fed with beer and massaged, and also taste the famous heated vodka “sake”.

Some restaurants do not have menus English language, but in this case it usually contains photographs of dishes.

Hotels: Just as a theater for a spectator begins with a coat rack, so a country for a tourist begins with the hotel where he stays. He will make his first impressions from here. How you were greeted, how you were accommodated - the level of service determines the level of hospitality for us and will certainly play a role in creating the image of the country. There is a set of international laws that determine the category of a hotel, its “star rating”.

In Japan, there is no such classification as in Europe or America - from one to five stars. There is a different gradation: there are standard hotels - the most inexpensive, hotels in national style– ryokans, business hotels, superior and deluxe hotels. All hotels are completely different, each has its own characteristics, its own personality. But all Japanese hotels without exception are united by ideal cleanliness, the complete absence of even a hint of any disorder, as well as attention and respect for the guest.

Beaches: Since Japan is surrounded by ocean, there are many beaches there.

Most are open from July to August, although the opening period varies depending on location. Wakayama is a white sand beach located on the hot springs. You can get there in 5 minutes by taxi or 15 minutes by bus from the railway station, as well as 15 minutes from the airport, which operates from May to August. Okinawa Beach is located on west coast emerald green ocean.

The most the best months The visiting period will be April – October.

Tips: It is strictly not customary to tip in Japan: 10-20% for service is already included in the bill. A Western visitor had better save his generosity for other countries and be sure to wait until the last yen for his change if he doesn't want a taxi driver or waiter chasing him down the street with a few bills in his hand.

Tokyo - Kamakura - Hakone

March 29 – April 4 (departure March 28)

The price is indicated for 1 person (in a double room with one bed) for a group of 6 people.

Supplement for accommodation in a single room with one bed - 150 USD.Supplement for accommodation in a double room with two beds - 90 USD

Included in the price

• visa application
• transfers to and from the airport
• comfortable hotel in the city center
• night at the hot springs
• 4 excursions* with guide
• 6 breakfasts, 1 dinner
• entrance fees to temples
• rented transport** (except excursion on the 4th day)

Attention:
* the order of excursions can be changed
** for a group of less than 6 people, excursions will be organized by public transport

Paid separately

• medical
• personal expenses

Flights

Meeting in international airport Narita. The Japanese driver will hold a sign with your name on it. Tour of Tokyo We will take a bird's eye view of the city by climbing to the 45th floor , from where we will then go for a walk through the youth fashion district. We will visit a Shinto shrine, where traditional Japanese weddings are often held. Our trip wouldn't be complete without a walk around the area . This is where you can fully experience the atmosphere ancient japan. We'll walk to the temple , we will buy souvenirs on the shopping street , and also take fortune predictions. The end of the tour is in the area where you can stroll and do some shopping. Return to the hotel approximately after 17:00 .

Day 2: Sakura viewing in Tokyo After breakfast, meet your guide in the hotel lobby ( 10:00 ). Sakura viewing in Tokyo We will go cherry blossom viewing in the garden, which is one of the oldest and perhaps one of the best Japanese gardens in Tokyo. It was built at the beginning of the Edo period in 1629. Like many other Japanese gardens of that time, the Koishikawa Korakuen Garden is intended to reproduce in miniature beautiful views China and Japan, using stones, ponds, trees and artificially created terrain. The landscape of the garden is so diverse that while walking through the park, you can visit the sacred mountain, Kyoto temple, as well as the famous West Lake in China. We'll head to Imperial Palace to admire the cherry blossoms while walking through the Imperial Park. Lunch - local cuisine. We will visit (towel and robe provided on site) and relax in a traditional Japanese outdoor onsen - rotenburo, the water into which is supplied from a source at a depth of 1700 meters. Guests can also enjoy massage, jacuzzi, salt sauna, steam and air (dry) sauna, low-temperature sauna, aromatherapy, color therapy and much more. Unlike other spas that have separate areas for men and women, Spa LaQua also provides a shared lounge area for couples and families.

After breakfast, meet the guide in the hotel lobby. Start of the excursion in 09:00 (8-9 hours). Travel time: 1 hour drive from Tokyo. Tour of Kamakura: Temple - famous Shintotemple located on Crane Hill surrounded by cherry trees and azalea thickets. A statue that has been preserved since the 13th century, as well as a temple that houses a gilded wooden statue of the goddess Kannon and a beautiful Japanese-style garden. Tour of Yokohama: After moving to Yokohama and lunch * you will head to the future port of Minato Mirai to see legendary sailing ship. You will climb to the observation deck of the skyscraper and admire the stunning view of the city, and then stroll along the embankment, enjoying the fresh sea air in the park * Entrance fees are included in the tour price. Upon return to Tokyo (19:00) check-in at the hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel, meet with your guide at 09:00. Transfer to Tokyo Station. Transfer by Shinkansen to Hakon e. Excursion to Hakone valley of geysers, where we will get by cable car visit to the sanctuary Lake Asi with a magnificent view of the mountain pirate lake cruise samurai In the evening you will find a well-deserved rest after such a busy day: check-in to the ryokan traditional japanese dinner visit thermal springs at the hotel Relax and have a good rest in the hot baths under open air! Hot water mineral springs not only perfectly relieves tension and fatigue, but also has a healing effect on the entire body. You will spend this night in Hakone.

✔ Relaxation at hot springs in the mountains ✔ Mount Fuji ✔ Cable car ✔ Cruise on the lake

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April 6, 2016, 10:20 Inshotei: A Place to Enjoy Spring Snacks While Admiring the Sakura

Pink fog envelops cities and villages as cherry fever begins in Japan. Resistance is useless: you need to enjoy these delicate petals. When else to do this, if not during a lunch break or during a delicious dinner? Here are a few places where you can enjoy not only hanami, but also delicious spring snacks.

It looks like a diner, perhaps spoiling the overall appearance of the park, but it looks exactly the same as it did many centuries ago. True, the cafe was renovated less than ten years ago, and today it serves sukiyaki (beef with vegetables) and classic Kaiseki cuisine.

During cherry blossom season, Inshotei also serves seasonal dishes in special tiered bento boxes.

The most delicious dinner is served in Hasidaya. A big plus is its location. From the second floor window there is a beautiful view of the cherry blossoms.

The restaurant's cuisine is replete with chicken dishes, teppanyaki, yakitori and tebasaki wings. Interestingly, when it gets cold outside, they offer hot nabe in pots.

Once you arrive in the Kichijoji area, you can head to Kin no Sara, a place that boasts an ideal location right at the entrance to Inokashira Park. From the magnificent open-air terrace, a magnificent panorama appears. Here you can taste delicious dishes of inventive modern Japanese cuisine.

The cherry blossoms in Tokyo were in full bloom on Thursday. The Japan Meteorological Agency said warm weather meant it happened three days earlier than usual this year. True, the 2015 record has not been broken. According to the agency, about 80% of the buds on cherry blossoms are of the Somei-Yos variety.The flowers in the Yakusuni Temple have already blossomed. On Thursday, pink blooms also blanketed the cities of Fukui, Gifu and Nagoya in central Japan, Wakayama and Tottori in the west, and Saga in southwestern Japan.

In all cities, Japanese cherry trees bloomed ahead of schedule this year. In Tokyo, a temperature of +20.2°C was recorded (which corresponds to the long-term average values ​​at the end of April), and in Gifu and Wakayama the thermometer showed even higher - 22°C of heat - the temperature usual for May in this region.

Based on materials from online publications.

25 March 2016, 17:47 Tokyo hotels turn pink for cherry blossoms

Sakura trees are beginning to bloom all over Japan. On these same days, preparations are underway for hanami, the traditional Japanese custom of admiring spring flowers. The custom originated in the Heian period (794-1185). Even though the word hanami means “admiring flowers”, in fact it means contemplating cherry blossom petals. It is a period of relaxation and fun for families and friends under the canopy of the enchanting cherry blossoms.

Restaurant Steak House Katsura

In addition to gardens and observation platforms, from which landscapes of indescribable beauty open up cherry blossoms, there are other great places in Japan where many people are celebrating the arrival of spring. Many establishments organize a range of events. For example, restaurants offer their visitors to enjoy the unusual taste of seasonal dishes.

For most Japanese restaurant chefs, spring is a period that inspires them and fills them with creative energy. Mountain vegetables and sea bass are especially popular. A unique menu featuring these ingredients is available at this time of year.

The Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo Hotel, as well as the nearby Grand Hotel The Prince Hotel Shin-Takanawa, located near Shinagawa Station, for example, hosts an annual festival. It starts on March 19 and ends on April 10. The Japanese garden located on the territory of the hotels becomes open to visitors. Everyone can enjoy the beauty of more than 230 flowering trees of 19 types of sakura, which bloom until the end of April.

The restaurant at The Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo has a special balcony. Here you can not only taste charcoal-grilled fish, but also admire the symbol of Japan. At the same time, guests feel very comfortable thanks to the heated floor. The total cost of the menu is 35 thousand yen. Dishes include lobster, grilled Kobe beef, shrimp and crab. But in the hotel restaurant Ristorante Caffe Ciliegio you can admire the sakura through the huge panoramic windows. This establishment offers guests an Italian menu for a total of 7 thousand yen.

The Tokyo Marriott Hotel is located in Gothenyama, a neighborhood of Tokyo famous for its cherry orchards. He kicked off the spring with a "Spring Delight" promotion held at the hotel restaurant and bar. There is a special themed menu dedicated to sakura available. The event will continue until April 15. Recently, the open-air sakura terrace “Sakura Terrace Box” has also become available to visitors. Here the menu is presented in themed lunch boxes wrapped in special furoshiki fabric. The obento includes 16 small dishes: from appetizers to desserts, incl. soup. The total menu price is 3,900 yen. You can order this lunch box from noon to 4 p.m. The restaurant also offers “Sakura Afternoon Tea”: amazing buns containing mashed sakura fruits. The tea set costs 3,600 yen per person. You can enjoy your meal from 13:00 to 16:30.

The gardens of Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo are another establishment that does not ignore the cherry blossom season. In its garden, located in Mejiro, guests can enjoy 120 cherry blossom trees in bloom, as well as a variety of spring dishes on the menu of the hotel's restaurant. This can be done until April 10.

Japanese restaurant Miyuki offers spring menu "Hamanu Gozen", costing 5,500 yen and "Kaiseki", costing 16,500 yen. And here Italian restaurant Il Teatro can delight visitors with pasta with veal fillet and truffles costing 5,500 yen and 16,500 yen respectively. Themed dishes are also available on the Hotel Chinzanso buffet menu. The cost for an adult is 4,200 yen, and for students and schoolchildren - 2,600 yen.

Based on materials from online publications.

Soon Japan will turn into a continuous garden. Hanami, the season of admiring cherry blossoms, will be the occasion for folk festivities and a series of national festivals. Picnics in the lap of nature under pink inflorescences covering the trees with a magical cloud is an ancient Japanese tradition.

What to drink and what to eat are determined by customs. Along with the classic sweet, sakura mochi, and other themed snacks for the spring season, the Japanese are happy to add a touch of modernity and extravagant piquancy to the time-honored custom. The present century also makes its own adjustments. Large corporations have discovered a fantastic marketing ploy. Food products that are familiar to everyone, but with the symbolism of sakura - doing business on the blossoming of the symbol of Japan is now a fashionable trend.

Global holdings have released a line of popular products “adjusted for the wind.” The high tourist season, which is built on the two-week cherry blossom season, ensures good sales and a prosperous financial future for the project. As a result, as in parks throughout Japan, everything from beer to coffee, from chocolate to chips is blooming on supermarket shelves in a riot of pink hues, and even McDonald’s has succumbed to the onslaught of hanami-mania. TOP 10 amazing and unusual products that you want to try just for the packaging design alone, in our rating.

• 2 . Now that you are the proud owner of a cherry blossom mug, why not fill it with sakura cola from Kimura? Real sakura leaf extract gives this fizzy drink a true spring taste. Interestingly, these are not the brand’s first “alchemical” experiments. Previously, they had already invented curry, tomato and wasabi flavored soda. Customers were not only alive, but also satisfied with the new product. So, definitely, the company knows what it is doing.

• 4 . If the wonder drinks sake or chu-hi are too strong for your sophisticated taste, then the sakura motifs in Sanktgalle beer are just what you need. Moreover, the manufacturer, when inventing this drink, probably drew inspiration from the original gastronomic traditions of Japan. Sakura mochi is a spring treat made from rice cake and beans wrapped in sakura leaves. It is noteworthy that this type of beer is brewed in a brewery based in Kanagawa Prefecture. Here they are very careful not only in the production process, but also in the raw materials supplied. For the production of beer, exclusively cherries from Takato (Nagano Prefecture) are used. The interesting taste of sakura mochi, together with the low hop content, makes Sanktgalle beer a light and refined drink like spring.

• 6 . It is known that Nestle has already “tested” bars with pumpkin and, of course, cherry flavors on Japanese customers. But this year, the company decided to go further with its bold ideas. Kit Kats with pistachio and raspberry flavors began to come in a spring-themed box. The owners of the company claim: this is the perfect taste of “hanami pleasure”.

Lindt

• 7 . The Lindt company presented a win-win option to customers. Sakura macarons are an apotheosis for those who are beside themselves with sakura sweets. The treats are filled with cherry ganache puree. The taste of real hanami is available from April 12 in the Lindt Chocolate chain cafe. For those for whom this is not enough, they can get culinary ecstasy by tasting an ice-cold smoothie made from cherry juice and white chocolate, decorated with white chocolate chips and a design of cherry syrup.

• 9 . What would it be like without Red Bull? The consortium could hardly stay away from the sakura trend. Rest assured, this pink energy drink is designed to keep you awake (whether you like it or not) until the early hours of all hanami parties.

Baskin Robbins

• 10 . After a 24-year lull, the company strives to literally “blow up” the taste buds of sweet tooths. The brand managed to create something... Salted ice cream with sakura flavor. Sounds weird? Take another look at the previous 9 points - are you still surprised by anything? Real sakura leaves and sea salt, combined with the sweet, creamy taste of ice cream - it clearly took a quarter of a century to come up with this. You can try this delicacy until the end of May.

Sipping a pink Red Bull, eating a sakura burger with cherry butter or macaron, you will undoubtedly remember this spring in Japan for a long time. In addition, manufacturers have provided for the delicate side of life. Sakura-print toilet paper is probably designed to make your bathroom trip as memorable as all the cherry blossom parties combined. Eat, pray, love... sakura - not a bad motto for a hanami, right?

Based on materials from online publications.

March 19, 2016, 10:10 The Cherry Blossom Front begins its journey across the archipelago, heading towards northern Japan

Sakura began to bloom in Japan on Saturday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. The trees of the Somei-Yoshino variety are always the first to bloom; they can already be observed in various regions of the country. Sakura blossomed four days earlier than usual on Saturday in Fukuoka. Seven days early in Nagoya. The agency explains this by unusually warm weather conditions. The height of flowering is expected from March 26 to 29.

« I feel the breath of spring“,” said Yasutaka Nanri from the city of Fukushima, who was just passing by a flowering tree. " I can't wait for the trees to bloom all over Japan and the cherry blossom viewing festival to begin.».

The Japan Meteorological Agency is responsible for monitoring the cherry blossom front across the country. The agency issues relevant reports and forecasts throughout the season, informing how the bloom is gradually moving from south to north Japan. Not only Japanese hanami lovers are interested in the accurate forecasts of the meteorological agency, but also tourists who come from all over the world to celebrate the cherry blossoms.

The Japan Weather Association is urging people planning to attend Hanami to organize their trip earlier than usual this year. Cherry blossoms will be in full bloom as early as late March and also in the first week of April in the western Kanto region.

Based on materials from online publications.

The transition from winter to summer is just beginning, and that means it's time for the magic - flowering season. As winter loosens its grip, delicate petals begin to push their way out of the buds on the fancy branches. In February it is plum, and at the end of March it is sakura. This is the earliest sign that, soon, warmth will gradually envelop the entire Japanese archipelago. This process, like its surreal, rose-colored results, portends something incredibly good for the Japanese, albeit difficult to describe. Even strict civil servants become kinder when the cherry blossoms bloom.

Sakura blooms in Tokyo at the end of March

The weather still echoes the chill of winter, but the hearts and minds of the Japanese population have already begun to thaw. I can only describe it as " spring break souls." While the word "hanami" simply means "watching flowers" in Japanese, the spring festival of joy symbolizes everyone's favorite time of year: spring. So, get your raincoat and picnic utensils ready, and we'll choose a location that best suits your family's preferences. Below are a few places in Tokyo that should be on your spring walking map.

Yoyogi Park. This is one of my favorite places for hanami. Although, this place may not be the best for children. Sure, there are beautiful trees and a unique holiday atmosphere, but you'll also find broken bottles, aggressive crows, and hordes of drunken local college students. However, despite all this, there is something about this park - perhaps it is the energy of the local nature that makes you come back here every season. People here really do whatever they want: they hold costume parties, banquets and sing karaoke. Everyone around is friendly and welcoming to children. But, being drunk, they may not notice that they are lighting a cigarette a few inches from your baby’s face, so you should be careful. The best place for family recreation is located in the center of the park - right behind the fountains. There are not many flowering trees here, but there is a lot of space where children can frolic and run around without fear of bumping into other strolling passers-by.

Arisugawa Park. Located a few minutes from Hiroo Station. There are not many sakura trees in this park, but there are a lot of picturesque places. There is a good playground for kids near the library. The National Azabu supermarket is right across the road - everything you could need for a picnic can be bought there. Since Arisugawa Park is hilly, it will be fun for older children to play hide and seek. There are many stone steps in the area. Those walking with strollers can use the sidewalk that runs along the entire perimeter of the park.

Ueno Park

Ueno Park. This is the 800-pound “gorilla” that holds the lead among all Tokyo Hanami parks. But all I can advise is to stay away from this place. I've been there with my kids a few times over the last decade and I've always wanted to leave immediately. If there are child-friendly areas in the park, I would like to know them. But all I saw were dozens of hopelessly drunk bodies lying right under the flowering trees. Those with claustrophobia, beware.

Aoyama Cemetery. Here you'll find some of the most vibrant and photogenic spots of the season, but be warned - this is a cemetery, so respect and etiquette must be observed. This a nice place for walking with babies, but this is not a place where children should play. The best option- walk.

Nakameguro River

Nakameguro River. The landscape here is especially magical after sunset. This is an ideal place for a walk, although not in the afternoon. Flowering trees grow mainly on the main highway, where children have little room to maneuver. But all the coastal restaurants and kiosks are along the sidewalk, and this perfect place for walks, snacks and admiring the trees. Especially after dusk, because the cherry blossoms are illuminated with artificial illumination.

Shinjuku Gyoen National Park. My main choice for families during the hanami season (and not only) - Shinjuku Gyoen. The garden is rich in beautiful trees and picturesque places to relax. The welfare and cleanliness of the park is well maintained: there are no pigeon droppings or broken glass. Lawns are neatly mowed and not trampled. If it's cold outside, you can take a tour of the newly renovated greenhouse to warm up. By all accounts, Shinjuku Gyoen wins. In particular, it is worth considering the fact that the hanami season here lasts even longer, because “yaesakura” grow here, which usually bloom for about two weeks after other varieties of cherries have already fallen off. There are, however, a few caveats: the park closes at 4 p.m., and drinking alcohol on site is prohibited. Bags are often checked at the gate, although I have witnessed guards turning a blind eye to a bottle of wine or sake.

Based on materials from online publications.

10 March 2016, 13:43 One of the main characters at the cherry blossom festival will be a Norwegian woman

A 27-year-old Norwegian woman has become the first Western woman to be chosen to star in the cherry blossom festival in Tsubame, Niigata Prefecture. During the festival, all participants dress in costumes of courtesans from the Edo period (1603-1868).

Annette Hansen, who now lives in Tokyo, was chosen by festival organizers to play one of three oirans, or courtesans, who will parade through the city's streets on April 17. For the first time in the festival's 74 years, a non-Japanese woman has been chosen to play this key role, officials from the Tsubame City Tourism Board announced.

Hansen, who came to Japan in 2010, is a hotel reservations manager at one large company. According to official statements from local officials, the Norwegian was chosen based on a rigorous selection process consisting of two rounds.

« It is a great honor for me to be chosen to play the role of Oiran. This festival is associated with native Japanese traditions, because during its holding a special role is given to national clothing and the symbol of Japan - sakura" said Annette Hansen.

In addition to the Norwegian, two more Japanese women will take part in the festival. All three will be dressed as courtesans. The festival will also feature around 70 participants as servants. After the official part, an extensive photo session with the participants is expected.

The main heroines of the holiday will be wearing sandals with a 15-centimeter platform. They will have to demonstrate the unique Oiran walking style that they used to entertain guests back in the Edo era.

It is worth noting that when making the final decision regarding the main heroines of the holiday, among other things, their physical fitness was taken into account. The fact is that the total weight of the girl’s outfits is about 30 kilograms.

Annette Hansen also said that she was very worried, because at previous festivals there were unpleasant embarrassments when girls chosen for the role of courtesans could not complete their participation in the festival due to unbearable two-hour physical activity. In addition to the outfit, the girls will also wear a special wig from the Edo period, which was customary to wear in that era.

Based on materials from online publications.

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Pepsi with sakura flavor will appear on the market for the first time

Japanese beverage maker Suntory has announced its first-ever release of sparkling water with the unique flavors of Sakura and Pepsi, the first batch of which is due to be released this spring.

When it comes to soft drinks in Japan, local consumers are spoiled for choice with a wide range of options, from winter white Pepsi to Halloween-themed Ghost Pepsi. The Japanese national manufacturer of Pepsi, Suntory, has many original products, for example, a drink with a combined lemon and mint flavor, or even a salted watermelon flavor, but sakura-flavored Pepsi has never been released.

Something slightly similar was produced by other manufacturers, for example, cola-flavored strawberry milk, which appeared in the spring of 2014 during the cherry blossom season.

Back in the middle of winter, bottles of Asahi beer began to take on spring motifs associated with the upcoming cherry blossoms. The Japanese brewery recently released a new line of beer called Asahi Super Dry. The alcoholic drink will go on sale this spring. It will be available for purchase for a limited period: only in the spring.

The beer itself, as a drink, will not change at all - it will still be the same Asahi Super Dry beer. Only the design of its packaging will change. The bottle will be decorated in the bright pink color of sakura during their most active flowering period. Such a bottle, without a doubt, will be an excellent decoration for the holiday of contemplating Japanese cherries.

For the second year in a row, Asahi is welcoming spring with its special line of drinks. Last year, spring beer was joyfully received by the Japanese, especially by the fair half. Consumers bought about 620 thousand bottles alcoholic drink, which was twice the expected results. This year it is planned to release several times more seasonal products.

The beer line will be represented by bottles with a capacity of 633 and 500 milliliters and cans with a capacity of 135, 250, 350 and 500 milliliters, as well as a special two-liter aluminum mini-keg.

Regardless of the volume, all containers have a bright and festive design. It is worth noting that Asahi Super Dry beer has already gone on sale in cans with a capacity of 350 and 500 milliliters, the rest of the products will become available and go on sale starting March 8. Note that beer in cans of 633 and 500 milliliters was almost completely sold out on February 2, and should go on sale again on March 29.

The spring beer line Asahi Super Dry will be on sale until the end of April. Therefore, if you are going to Japan during this period, do not miss this great opportunity to purchase an exclusive offer from the Asahi brewery.

« If only we could fall like cherry blossoms in spring—so pure and radiant!»

World War II transformed the color of cherry blossoms. The twenty-two-year-old kamikaze pilot who composed this haiku before dying in action in February 1945 had no idea how soon Hiroshima and Nagasaki would give a new "bloom" to the familiar cherry blossom - a blossom transformed into the human ideal of beauty attainable thanks to a beautiful death. You need to be it in order to enjoy it to the fullest, and become a part of it, just as the suicide bombers became.

« Dear Parents", wrote another, " please congratulate me. I was given a great opportunity to die. This is my last day. The fate of our Motherland now depends on the decisive naval battle in the south, where I will fall like a blossom from a shining cherry blossom».

The cherry blossom has long symbolized extinction, beauty, the beauty of extinction, and the ideal warrior of Japan. He always glorified self-sacrifice. That is why, at the threshold of the 20th century, it was the cherry blossom that united the concept that men who die for their sacred Motherland actually became cherry blossoms, because they acquire an unearthly, superior beauty, “so pure and radiant!” they become.

Other countries also raised warriors and patriots, imbued with a vision of individual life as trivial compared to service to the Motherland. But none of them were endowed with such eerie, terrible beauty as the cherry blossom.

A more practical example of how another culture deals with the same topic is a short excerpt from a letter that a young French revolutionary fighter wrote to his father in 1792. " Our freedom can only be guaranteed if there is a mattress made of corpses on the bed.... I agree to become one of them" (Quoted by historian Simon Scham in Citizens: A Chronicle of the French Revolution). The Japanese would rightfully admire his fortitude, but it is a pity that he was not a poet.

It was, in the words of Ivan Morris, " one of the strangest and sharpest weapons in the history of war" - "a one-way glider that comes close to the target even at high altitude, and then dives sharply down at great speed in order to detonate the warhead on an enemy ship... the craft of suicide itself could disable the ships of the enemy navy, which are now ( 1944-1945) besieged the islands of slow-breathing Japan. In addition, the use of such weapons would demoralize foreigners who were not psychologically prepared for such methods of war.”

This weapon was named oka, in honor of the additional reading Cherry Blossom. The Americans gave it another name - Tank Bomb or in other words “idiot bomb”.

About 5 thousand Japanese troops “fell like a cherry blossom.” The damage they were able to inflict on US and allied ships was minor. However, as intended, it had a very strong psychological impact, but the result was unexpected. Hoping to demoralize the enemy, the Japanese did not even think that the Americans had decided to use extraordinary methods to fight such an extraordinary country. And these turned out to be bombs dropped on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, 1945.

On August 16, Japan surrendered. On the same day, Vice Admiral Takijiro Onishi, who was the initiator of the Oka terrorist attack, committed ritual hara-kiri right at his own residence in Tokyo. He was also a poet. " Today in a flower, tomorrow in the scattered wind. “This is our flourishing life.” Can we really think that its scent lasts forever?»

Based on materials from online publications.

The celebration of the Chinese New Year is still in full swing, but it is already known that a record number of foreign tourists came to Japan to celebrate this holiday. After this event, the country's hotels and restaurants will have only a month to prepare for the next huge wave of tourists who will arrive in March and April to welcome spring and see the cherry blossoms.

Predicting the exact start date of hanami has always been considered a matter of primary importance for the Japanese tourism industry. The popularity of the country is growing rapidly, everything more tourists from different countries want to visit the island state.

According to Japanese experts, this year sakura will first bloom in the southwestern part - the cities of Fukuoka and Kumamoto. This will happen around March 25th. Behind them, on March 26, sakura will bloom in Tokyo and Nagoya. The ancient capital of Kyoto will see cherry blossoms bloom on March 29, while residents and tourists northern city Sapporo on the island of Hokkaido will be able to enjoy cherry blossoms only from May 2. As a rule, it takes about a week for a flower to fully bloom.

The forecast is based on ongoing temperature studies taking into account data from the last few months. Typically low temperatures in late fall and early winter and high temperatures in early spring lead to early flowering. As for 2016, this year the timing corresponds to the annual average.

China's airlines intend to take measures to fully accommodate increased passenger air travel in March and April. It was during this period that there was a rapid increase in the number Chinese tourists, coming to Japan.

According to the staff of the Tokyo representative office of China Southern Airlines, they have taken measures to increase the number of places for transporting tourists during the cherry blossom period. In March - April 2015, 3 million 200 thousand tourists visited Japan. Among them, about 800 thousand are guests from China.

The Japan Meteorological Center will update its cherry blossom forecast every day starting February 24. If we talk about last year, the forecast for the beginning of cherry blossoms was with an error of three days.

Based on materials from online publications.

May 5, 2015, 11:57 Sakura, planted by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, bloomed in Moscow

The cherry tree that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe planted in Moscow two years ago has blossomed. As a sign of hope for the development of friendly relations between Japan and Russia, Abe, while on an official visit in April 2013, planted a tree in the Japanese garden managed by the Russian Academy of Sciences. The sapling was taken from a cherry tree planted in the garden in 1986 by his late father, former Foreign Minister Shintaro Abe, who promoted Japan's relations with the former Soviet Union.

Tokyo

Arrival in Tokyo at Narita or Haneda airport. Meeting with a Japanese driver at the airport and transfer to the hotel on a shuttle bus with other tourists (without a guide). Independent check-in to a hotel of the selected category. Please note that most Japanese hotels allow check-in after 15:00/16:00. If desired, you can order early check-in for a fee, but this must be done in advance, at the stage of booking the tour.

Optional tour (for tourists arriving in Tokyo no later than 13:00) - evening tour of Tokyo with Russian speaking guide(approximate excursion time from 17:00 to 20:00). The cost of the excursion is $165/person.

In the evening, when the lights come on, the city transforms. At the end of March - beginning of April, you can admire a rare sight: cherry blossom alleys in the evening light. You'll visit the world-famous luxury shopping district of Ginza, cross Tokyo Bay on the picturesque Rainbow Bridge, visit the artificial island of Odaiba, which offers stunning views of Tokyo and the bay, and see the recognized symbol of the city - Tokyo Tower. You will also visit the Shibuya area, where the famous monument to the faithful dog Hachiko is located and the busiest intersection in the world - about 3,000 people cross it at the same time during rush hours.

Day 2

Tokyo, Kamakura

Breakfast in the hotel. Excursion to Kamakura with a Russian-speaking guide.

The ancient city of Kamakura, located on the ocean, is the first capital of Japan's military rulers, the shoguns, a city of ancient temples, shrines, magnificent gardens, picturesque hills and coastlines.

You will visit a Shinto Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine- the main Shinto shrine of the city, built in 1063 and dedicated to the patron deity of the samurai class, which for a long time was the center of not only spiritual, but also political life region. The road to the temple is decorated with an elegant alley of sakura, and delicate fragile flowers make a wonderful contrast to the solid architecture of the temple complex. Dinner.

Next you will visit Hasedera Buddhist Temple, the main relic of which is a 9-meter wooden statue of the Bodhisattva of Mercy Kannon, created back in the 8th century. The temple is also famous for its picturesque gardens and the wonderful panorama of the city and coast that opens from here.

And, of course, one cannot ignore the main symbol of Kamakura - the 11-meter bronze statue of the Great Buddha at Kotokuin Temple. The majestic statue, cast by masters of the past back in 1252, sits right in the open air, as if from century to century patiently watching the life passing at its foot.

Return to the hotel in Tokyo.

Day 3

Tokyo, Osaka

Breakfast in the hotel. Sightseeing tour around Tokyo with a Russian-speaking guide.

The tour will begin with a walk around Shinjuku Gyoen Park. It was founded in 1906 and originally belonged to the imperial family, but now it is one of the most famous parks in Tokyo and one of the most popular places for admiring sakura. More than a thousand cherry trees of 65 varieties grow in Shinjuku Gyoen, some of which bloom as early as early February, while others delight visitors as early as the end of April.

Then you will visit the observation deck of the world's tallest television tower - SkyTree(634 meters), from where you can admire breathtaking panoramas of Tokyo from a height of 350 meters.

Having moved to Asakusa area– one of the few places where the spirit of old Tokyo has been preserved. You will visit the oldest Buddhist temple in Tokyo, Sensoji, and stroll along the Nakamise shopping street, where the largest number of souvenir shops in Tokyo are located.

At the end of the tour you will visit square near the Imperial Palace– has been located here since 1869 official residence Emperors of Japan, the oldest ruling dynasty in the world.

Transfer to the railway station. Moving to Osaka by high speed train Shinkansen. Meeting with the coordinator at Shin-Osaka station near the carriage. Accommodation in a hotel of the selected category.

Day 4

Osaka, Kyoto

Breakfast in the hotel. Tour of Kyoto with a Russian-speaking guide.

Kyoto, which was the imperial capital of Japan for more than a thousand years, is still considered the main center of the country's traditional culture. The bombing of World War II did not affect Kyoto, so it is here that the richest cultural and historical heritage has been preserved, many of which are included in the UNESCO List.

Explore one of the main attractions of Kyoto - the world famous Golden Pavilion(Kinkakuji) - a temple lined with gold, resting over the waters Mirror Lake.

Then move and visit the famous philosophical Garden of 15 stones at the Ryoanji Zen Buddhist Temple, in which the stones are arranged in such a way that no matter where you look at the garden, one of the stones invariably eludes your gaze. Dinner.

Visit Temple of Pure Water(Kiyomizu), named after the waterfall inside the temple itself. The temple is located on a hill, and from its observation deck a wonderful panorama of Kyoto opens.

Walk through the Gion Geisha District. Return to the hotel in Osaka.

Day 5

Osaka, O. Itsukushima (Miyajima), Hiroshima, Okayama, Kaike

Breakfast in the hotel. Excursion to Hiroshima and Miyajima with a Russian-speaking guide by public transport.

One of the most famous landscapes in Japan is the bright red gate of a Shinto shrine standing directly into the sea. Sacred Island of Miyajima– this is the place where you can see famous landscape with my own eyes. The gate itself belongs to the ancient Shinto shrine located here, Itsukushima ( World Heritage UNESCO). The green mountains of the island, the surrounding sea and the temple, created more than 1,400 years ago, merge in amazing harmony, so characteristic of traditional Japanese architecture. Deer (sacred animals according to Japanese beliefs) walk freely along the streets - they are not at all afraid of people and, on the contrary, show an active interest in guests.

Dinner. The tour will end with a visit Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima.

Transfer by train to Ionago Station with a transfer to Okayama (without a guide). Meeting on the platform near the carriage with a coordinator and transfer to a hotel of the selected category, located in the resort area of ​​Caike. Accommodation in a traditional hotel with a natural mineral spring, on the shores of the Sea of ​​Japan. Free time, relaxation at the springs.

Day 6

Kaike

Breakfast in the hotel. Free time at the hot springs. We recommend booking excursions for an additional fee.

Optional tour - excursion to the samurai city of Matsue and the flower and bird park (including lunch).

Matsue Castle, around which the samurai city once grew, was built in 1611. This is one of twelve castles in Japan that have survived to this day in their original form. The main tower of the castle, made of wood, survived, unlike many castles in Japan that were destroyed by fires, earthquakes or during the mass destruction of castles in the 19th century. You can go inside the castle, see the collection of samurai armor and weapons and admire the view of the city from its main tower. Dinner.

You will also visit the Vogel Flower and Bird Park. A park located on green hills near a lake, all year round buried in flowers. It is also famous for its rich collection birds: more than 90 species of birds from different parts of the planet, from tropical hornbills to penguins. You can feed the toucans, learn a lot about the nocturnal owl birds and watch a show with the participation of feathered artists.

Day 7

Kaike, Okayama, Kurashiki, Tokyo

Breakfast. Check out from the hotel, transfer to the station with a coordinator. Travel on your own by train to Okayama station, meet your guide on the platform.

Excursion to Okayama and Kurashiki with a Russian-speaking guide.

The excursion will begin with a visit to the famous "Raven's Castle" in Okayama, which received its name due to the black color of the outer walls, reminiscent of the plumage of a raven. Then you will visit Koraku-en garden, which is considered one of the three great gardens of Japan. Dinner.

Transfer to the city of Kurashiki, a walk through the old quarter on the banks of the canal, along which there are many old warehouses. Weeping willow trees growing along the canal give the quarter a special picturesque quality. Then you will visit the family home of the Ohashi family, which was built in 1796. The traditional house, with tatami-lined rooms, elegant sliding partitions and hanging scrolls, is built in a style typical of wealthy Kurashiki merchants.

Transfer to Tokyo by Shinkansen high-speed train. Meeting with the coordinator at Tokyo Station near the carriage. Accommodation in a hotel of the selected category.

Day 8

Tokyo, Russia

Breakfast. Independent check-out from the hotel. Meeting with a Japanese driver in the hotel lobby. Transfer to Narita/Haneda airport by shuttle bus with other tourists (without guide). Flight to Russia.

Tokyo - Kamakura - Hakone

March 29 – April 4 (departure March 28)

The price is indicated for 1 person (in a double room with one bed) for a group of 6 people.

Supplement for accommodation in a single room with one bed - 150 USD.Supplement for accommodation in a double room with two beds - 90 USD

Included in the price

• visa application
• transfers to and from the airport
• comfortable hotel in the city center
• night at the hot springs
• 4 excursions* with guide
• 6 breakfasts, 1 dinner
• entrance fees to temples
• rented transport** (except excursion on the 4th day)

Attention:
* the order of excursions can be changed
** for a group of less than 6 people, excursions will be organized by public transport

Paid separately

• medical
• personal expenses

Flights

Meeting at Narita International Airport. The Japanese driver will hold a sign with your name on it. Tour of Tokyo We will take a bird's eye view of the city by climbing to the 45th floor , from where we will then go for a walk through the youth fashion district. We will visit a Shinto shrine, where traditional Japanese weddings are often held. Our trip wouldn't be complete without a walk around the area . This is where you can fully experience the atmosphere of ancient Japan. We'll walk to the temple , we will buy souvenirs on the shopping street , and also take fortune predictions. The end of the tour is in the area where you can stroll and do some shopping. Return to the hotel approximately after 17:00 .

Day 2: Sakura viewing in Tokyo After breakfast, meet your guide in the hotel lobby ( 10:00 ). Sakura viewing in Tokyo We will go cherry blossom viewing in the garden, which is one of the oldest and perhaps one of the best Japanese gardens in Tokyo. It was built at the beginning of the Edo period in 1629. Like many other Japanese gardens of that time, the Koishikawa Korakuen Garden is designed to reproduce in miniature the most beautiful views of China and Japan, using stones, ponds, trees and artificially created terrain. The landscape of the garden is so diverse that while walking through the park, you can visit the sacred mountain, Kyoto temple, as well as the famous West Lake in China. We will head to the Imperial Palace to admire the cherry blossoms while walking through the Imperial Park. Lunch - local cuisine. We will visit (towel and robe provided on site) and relax in a traditional Japanese outdoor onsen - rotenburo, the water into which is supplied from a source at a depth of 1700 meters. Guests can also enjoy massage, jacuzzi, salt sauna, steam and air (dry) sauna, low-temperature sauna, aromatherapy, color therapy and much more. Unlike other spas that have separate areas for men and women, Spa LaQua also provides a shared lounge area for couples and families.

After breakfast, meet the guide in the hotel lobby. Start of the excursion in 09:00 (8-9 hours). Travel time: 1 hour drive from Tokyo. Tour of Kamakura: Temple - famous Shintotemple located on Crane Hill surrounded by cherry trees and azalea thickets. A statue that has been preserved since the 13th century, as well as a temple that houses a gilded wooden statue of the goddess Kannon and a beautiful Japanese-style garden. Tour of Yokohama: After moving to Yokohama and lunch * You will head to the port of the future Minato Mirai to see the legendary sailing ship. You will climb to the observation deck of the skyscraper and admire the stunning view of the city, and then stroll along the embankment, enjoying the fresh sea air in the park * Entrance fees are included in the tour price. Upon return to Tokyo (19:00) check-in at the hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel, meet with your guide at 09:00. Transfer to Tokyo Station. Transfer by Shinkansen to Hakon e. Excursion to Hakone valley of geysers, where we will get by cable car visit to the sanctuary Lake Asi with a magnificent view of the mountain pirate lake cruise samurai In the evening you will find a well-deserved rest after such a busy day: check-in to the ryokan traditional japanese dinner visit to the thermal springs at the hotel Relax and unwind in the open-air hot tubs! Water from hot mineral springs not only perfectly relieves stress and fatigue, but also has a healing effect on the entire body. You will spend this night in Hakone.

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April 6, 2016, 10:20 Inshotei: A Place to Enjoy Spring Snacks While Admiring the Sakura

Pink fog envelops cities and villages as cherry fever begins in Japan. Resistance is useless: you need to enjoy these delicate petals. When else to do this, if not during a lunch break or during a delicious dinner? Here are a few places where you can enjoy not only hanami, but also delicious spring snacks.

It looks like a diner, perhaps spoiling the overall appearance of the park, but it looks exactly the same as it did many centuries ago. True, the cafe was renovated less than ten years ago, and today it serves sukiyaki (beef with vegetables) and classic Kaiseki cuisine.

During cherry blossom season, Inshotei also serves seasonal dishes in special tiered bento boxes.

The most delicious dinner is served in Hasidaya. A big plus is its location. From the second floor window there is a beautiful view of the cherry blossoms.

The restaurant's cuisine is replete with chicken dishes, teppanyaki, yakitori and tebasaki wings. Interestingly, when it gets cold outside, they offer hot nabe in pots.

Once you arrive in the Kichijoji area, you can head to Kin no Sara, a place that boasts an ideal location right at the entrance to Inokashira Park. From the magnificent open-air terrace, a magnificent panorama appears. Here you can taste delicious dishes of inventive modern Japanese cuisine.

The cherry blossoms in Tokyo were in full bloom on Thursday. The Japan Meteorological Agency said warm weather meant it happened three days earlier than usual this year. True, the 2015 record has not been broken. According to the agency, about 80% of the buds on cherry blossoms are of the Somei-Yos variety.The flowers in the Yakusuni Temple have already blossomed. On Thursday, pink blooms also blanketed the cities of Fukui, Gifu and Nagoya in central Japan, Wakayama and Tottori in the west, and Saga in southwestern Japan.

In all cities, Japanese cherry trees bloomed ahead of schedule this year. In Tokyo, a temperature of +20.2°C was recorded (which corresponds to the long-term average values ​​at the end of April), and in Gifu and Wakayama the thermometer showed even higher - 22°C of heat - the temperature usual for May in this region.

Based on materials from online publications.

25 March 2016, 17:47 Tokyo hotels turn pink for cherry blossoms

Sakura trees are beginning to bloom all over Japan. On these same days, preparations are underway for hanami, the traditional Japanese custom of admiring spring flowers. The custom originated in the Heian period (794-1185). Even though the word hanami means “admiring flowers”, in fact it means contemplating cherry blossom petals. It is a period of relaxation and fun for families and friends under the canopy of the enchanting cherry blossoms.

Restaurant Steak House Katsura

In addition to gardens and observation decks, from which you can admire the indescribable beauty of cherry blossom landscapes, in Japan you can also find other excellent places where many people rejoice at the arrival of spring. Many establishments organize a range of events. For example, restaurants offer their visitors to enjoy the unusual taste of seasonal dishes.

For most Japanese restaurant chefs, spring is a period that inspires them and fills them with creative energy. Mountain vegetables and sea bass are especially popular. A unique menu featuring these ingredients is available at this time of year.

The Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo and the nearby Grand Prince Hotel Shin-Takanawa, both near Shinagawa Station, for example, host an annual festival. It starts on March 19 and ends on April 10. The Japanese garden located on the territory of the hotels becomes open to visitors. Everyone can enjoy the beauty of more than 230 flowering trees of 19 types of sakura, which bloom until the end of April.

The restaurant at The Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo has a special balcony. Here you can not only taste charcoal-grilled fish, but also admire the symbol of Japan. At the same time, guests feel very comfortable thanks to the heated floor. The total cost of the menu is 35 thousand yen. Dishes include lobster, grilled Kobe beef, shrimp and crab. But in the hotel restaurant Ristorante Caffe Ciliegio you can admire the sakura through the huge panoramic windows. This establishment offers guests an Italian menu for a total of 7 thousand yen.

The Tokyo Marriott Hotel is located in Gothenyama, a neighborhood of Tokyo famous for its cherry orchards. He kicked off the spring with a "Spring Delight" promotion held at the hotel restaurant and bar. There is a special themed menu dedicated to sakura available. The event will continue until April 15. Recently, the open-air sakura terrace “Sakura Terrace Box” has also become available to visitors. Here the menu is presented in themed lunch boxes wrapped in special furoshiki fabric. The obento includes 16 small dishes: from appetizers to desserts, incl. soup. The total menu price is 3,900 yen. You can order this lunch box from noon to 4 p.m. The restaurant also offers “Sakura Afternoon Tea”: amazing buns containing mashed sakura fruits. The tea set costs 3,600 yen per person. You can enjoy your meal from 13:00 to 16:30.

The gardens of Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo are another establishment that does not ignore the cherry blossom season. In its garden, located in Mejiro, guests can enjoy 120 cherry blossom trees in bloom, as well as a variety of spring dishes on the menu of the hotel's restaurant. This can be done until April 10.

Japanese restaurant Miyuki offers spring menu "Hamanu Gozen", costing 5,500 yen and "Kaiseki", costing 16,500 yen. But the Italian restaurant Il Teatro can delight visitors with pasta with veal fillet and truffles costing 5,500 yen and 16,500 yen, respectively. Themed dishes are also available on the Hotel Chinzanso buffet menu. The cost for an adult is 4,200 yen, and for students and schoolchildren - 2,600 yen.

Based on materials from online publications.

Soon Japan will turn into a continuous garden. Hanami, the season of admiring cherry blossoms, will be the occasion for folk festivities and a series of national festivals. Picnics in the lap of nature under pink inflorescences covering the trees with a magical cloud is an ancient Japanese tradition.

What to drink and what to eat are determined by customs. Along with the classic sweet, sakura mochi, and other themed snacks for the spring season, the Japanese are happy to add a touch of modernity and extravagant piquancy to the time-honored custom. The present century also makes its own adjustments. Large corporations have discovered a fantastic marketing ploy. Food products that are familiar to everyone, but with the symbolism of sakura - doing business on the blossoming of the symbol of Japan is now a fashionable trend.

Global holdings have released a line of popular products “adjusted for the wind.” The high tourist season, which is built on the two-week cherry blossom season, ensures good sales and a prosperous financial future for the project. As a result, as in parks throughout Japan, everything from beer to coffee, from chocolate to chips is blooming on supermarket shelves in a riot of pink hues, and even McDonald’s has succumbed to the onslaught of hanami-mania. TOP 10 amazing and unusual products that you want to try just for the packaging design alone, in our rating.

• 2 . Now that you are the proud owner of a cherry blossom mug, why not fill it with sakura cola from Kimura? Real sakura leaf extract gives this fizzy drink a true spring taste. Interestingly, these are not the brand’s first “alchemical” experiments. Previously, they had already invented curry, tomato and wasabi flavored soda. Customers were not only alive, but also satisfied with the new product. So, definitely, the company knows what it is doing.

• 4 . If the wonder drinks sake or chu-hi are too strong for your sophisticated taste, then the sakura motifs in Sanktgalle beer are just what you need. Moreover, the manufacturer, when inventing this drink, probably drew inspiration from the original gastronomic traditions of Japan. Sakura mochi is a spring treat made from rice cake and beans wrapped in sakura leaves. It is noteworthy that this type of beer is brewed in a brewery based in Kanagawa Prefecture. Here they are very careful not only in the production process, but also in the raw materials supplied. For the production of beer, exclusively cherries from Takato (Nagano Prefecture) are used. The interesting taste of sakura mochi, together with the low hop content, makes Sanktgalle beer a light and refined drink like spring.

• 6 . It is known that Nestle has already “tested” bars with pumpkin and, of course, cherry flavors on Japanese customers. But this year, the company decided to go further with its bold ideas. Kit Kats with pistachio and raspberry flavors began to come in a spring-themed box. The owners of the company claim: this is the perfect taste of “hanami pleasure”.

Lindt

• 7 . The Lindt company presented a win-win option to customers. Sakura macarons are an apotheosis for those who are beside themselves with sakura sweets. The treats are filled with cherry ganache puree. The taste of real hanami is available from April 12 in the Lindt Chocolate chain cafe. For those for whom this is not enough, they can get culinary ecstasy by tasting an ice-cold smoothie made from cherry juice and white chocolate, decorated with white chocolate chips and a design of cherry syrup.

• 9 . What would it be like without Red Bull? The consortium could hardly stay away from the sakura trend. Rest assured, this pink energy drink is designed to keep you awake (whether you like it or not) until the early hours of all hanami parties.

Baskin Robbins

• 10 . After a 24-year lull, the company strives to literally “blow up” the taste buds of sweet tooths. The brand managed to create something... Salted ice cream with sakura flavor. Sounds weird? Take another look at the previous 9 points - are you still surprised by anything? Real sakura leaves and sea salt, combined with the sweet, creamy taste of ice cream - it clearly took a quarter of a century to come up with this. You can try this delicacy until the end of May.

Sipping a pink Red Bull, eating a sakura burger with cherry butter or macaron, you will undoubtedly remember this spring in Japan for a long time. In addition, manufacturers have provided for the delicate side of life. Sakura-print toilet paper is probably designed to make your bathroom trip as memorable as all the cherry blossom parties combined. Eat, pray, love... sakura - not a bad motto for a hanami, right?

Based on materials from online publications.

March 19, 2016, 10:10 The Cherry Blossom Front begins its journey across the archipelago, heading towards northern Japan

Sakura began to bloom in Japan on Saturday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. The trees of the Somei-Yoshino variety are always the first to bloom; they can already be observed in various regions of the country. Sakura blossomed four days earlier than usual on Saturday in Fukuoka. Seven days early in Nagoya. The agency attributes this to unusually warm weather conditions. The height of flowering is expected from March 26 to 29.

« I feel the breath of spring“,” said Yasutaka Nanri from the city of Fukushima, who was just passing by a flowering tree. " I can't wait for the trees to bloom all over Japan and the cherry blossom viewing festival to begin.».

The Japan Meteorological Agency is responsible for monitoring the cherry blossom front across the country. The agency issues relevant reports and forecasts throughout the season, informing how the bloom is gradually moving from south to north Japan. Not only Japanese hanami lovers are interested in the accurate forecasts of the meteorological agency, but also tourists who come from all over the world to celebrate the cherry blossoms.

The Japan Weather Association is urging people planning to attend Hanami to organize their trip earlier than usual this year. Cherry blossoms will be in full bloom as early as late March and also in the first week of April in the western Kanto region.

Based on materials from online publications.

The transition from winter to summer is just beginning, and that means it's time for the magic - flowering season. As winter loosens its grip, delicate petals begin to push their way out of the buds on the fancy branches. In February it is plum, and at the end of March it is sakura. This is the earliest sign that, soon, warmth will gradually envelop the entire Japanese archipelago. This process, like its surreal, rose-colored results, portends something incredibly good for the Japanese, albeit difficult to describe. Even strict civil servants become kinder when the cherry blossoms bloom.

Sakura blooms in Tokyo at the end of March

The weather still echoes the chill of winter, but the hearts and minds of the Japanese population have already begun to thaw. I can only describe it as “spring break for the soul.” While the word "hanami" simply means "watching flowers" in Japanese, the spring festival of joy symbolizes everyone's favorite time of year: spring. So, get your raincoat and picnic utensils ready, and we'll choose a location that best suits your family's preferences. Below are a few places in Tokyo that should be on your spring walking map.

Yoyogi Park. This is one of my favorite places for hanami. Although, this place may not be the best for children. Sure, there are beautiful trees and a unique holiday atmosphere, but you'll also find broken bottles, aggressive crows, and hordes of drunken local college students. However, despite all this, there is something about this park - perhaps it is the energy of the local nature that makes you come back here every season. People here really do whatever they want: they hold costume parties, banquets and sing karaoke. Everyone around is friendly and welcoming to children. But, being drunk, they may not notice that they are lighting a cigarette a few inches from your baby’s face, so you should be careful. The best place for a family holiday is in the center of the park - right behind the fountains. There are not many flowering trees here, but there is a lot of space where children can frolic and run around without fear of bumping into other strolling passers-by.

Arisugawa Park. Located a few minutes from Hiroo Station. There are not many sakura trees in this park, but there are a lot of picturesque places. There is a good playground for kids near the library. The National Azabu supermarket is right across the road - everything you could need for a picnic can be bought there. Since Arisugawa Park is hilly, it will be fun for older children to play hide and seek. There are many stone steps in the area. Those walking with strollers can use the sidewalk that runs along the entire perimeter of the park.

Ueno Park

Ueno Park. This is the 800-pound “gorilla” that holds the lead among all Tokyo Hanami parks. But all I can advise is to stay away from this place. I've been there with my kids a few times over the last decade and I've always wanted to leave immediately. If there are child-friendly areas in the park, I would like to know them. But all I saw were dozens of hopelessly drunk bodies lying right under the flowering trees. Those with claustrophobia, beware.

Aoyama Cemetery. Here you'll find some of the most vibrant and photogenic spots of the season, but be warned - this is a cemetery, so respect and etiquette must be observed. It's a beautiful place to take babies, but it's not a place where children should play. The best option is a walk.

Nakameguro River

Nakameguro River. The landscape here is especially magical after sunset. This is an ideal place for a walk, although not in the afternoon. Flowering trees grow mainly on the main highway, where children have little room to maneuver. But all the coastal restaurants and kiosks are along the sidewalk, and this is a great place for walking, having a snack and admiring the trees. Especially after dusk, because the cherry blossoms are illuminated with artificial illumination.

Shinjuku Gyoen National Park. My top pick for families during hanami season (and beyond) is Shinjuku Gyoen. The garden is rich in beautiful trees and picturesque places to relax. The welfare and cleanliness of the park is well maintained: there are no pigeon droppings or broken glass. Lawns are neatly mowed and not trampled. If it's cold outside, you can take a tour of the newly renovated greenhouse to warm up. By all accounts, Shinjuku Gyoen wins. In particular, it is worth considering the fact that the hanami season here lasts even longer, because “yaesakura” grow here, which usually bloom for about two weeks after other varieties of cherries have already fallen off. There are, however, a few caveats: the park closes at 4 p.m., and drinking alcohol on site is prohibited. Bags are often checked at the gate, although I have witnessed guards turning a blind eye to a bottle of wine or sake.

Based on materials from online publications.

10 March 2016, 13:43 One of the main characters at the cherry blossom festival will be a Norwegian woman

A 27-year-old Norwegian woman has become the first Western woman to be chosen to star in the cherry blossom festival in Tsubame, Niigata Prefecture. During the festival, all participants dress in costumes of courtesans from the Edo period (1603-1868).

Annette Hansen, who now lives in Tokyo, was chosen by festival organizers to play one of three oirans, or courtesans, who will parade through the city's streets on April 17. For the first time in the festival's 74 years, a non-Japanese woman has been chosen to play this key role, officials from the Tsubame City Tourism Board announced.

Hansen, who came to Japan in 2010, works as a hotel reservations manager for a large company. According to official statements from local officials, the Norwegian was chosen based on a rigorous selection process consisting of two rounds.

« It is a great honor for me to be chosen to play the role of Oiran. This festival is associated with native Japanese traditions, because during its holding a special role is given to national clothing and the symbol of Japan - sakura" said Annette Hansen.

In addition to the Norwegian, two more Japanese women will take part in the festival. All three will be dressed as courtesans. The festival will also feature around 70 participants as servants. After the official part, an extensive photo session with the participants is expected.

The main heroines of the holiday will be wearing sandals with a 15-centimeter platform. They will have to demonstrate the unique Oiran walking style that they used to entertain guests back in the Edo era.

It is worth noting that when making the final decision regarding the main heroines of the holiday, among other things, their physical fitness was taken into account. The fact is that the total weight of the girl’s outfits is about 30 kilograms.

Annette Hansen also said that she was very worried, because at previous festivals there were unpleasant embarrassments when girls chosen for the role of courtesans could not complete their participation in the festival due to unbearable two-hour physical activity. In addition to the outfit, the girls will also wear a special wig from the Edo period, which was customary to wear in that era.

Based on materials from online publications.

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Pepsi with sakura flavor will appear on the market for the first time

Japanese beverage maker Suntory has announced its first-ever release of sparkling water with the unique flavors of Sakura and Pepsi, the first batch of which is due to be released this spring.

When it comes to soft drinks in Japan, local consumers are spoiled for choice with a wide range of options, from winter white Pepsi to Halloween-themed Ghost Pepsi. The Japanese national manufacturer of Pepsi, Suntory, has many original products, for example, a drink with a combined lemon and mint flavor, or even a salted watermelon flavor, but sakura-flavored Pepsi has never been released.

Something slightly similar was produced by other manufacturers, for example, cola-flavored strawberry milk, which appeared in the spring of 2014 during the cherry blossom season.

Back in the middle of winter, bottles of Asahi beer began to take on spring motifs associated with the upcoming cherry blossoms. The Japanese brewery recently released a new line of beer called Asahi Super Dry. The alcoholic drink will go on sale this spring. It will be available for purchase for a limited period: only in the spring.

The beer itself, as a drink, will not change at all - it will still be the same Asahi Super Dry beer. Only the design of its packaging will change. The bottle will be decorated in the bright pink color of sakura during their most active flowering period. Such a bottle, without a doubt, will be an excellent decoration for the holiday of contemplating Japanese cherries.

For the second year in a row, Asahi is welcoming spring with its special line of drinks. Last year, spring beer was joyfully received by the Japanese, especially by the fair half. Consumers bought about 620 thousand bottles of alcoholic beverages, which was twice the expected results. This year it is planned to release several times more seasonal products.

The beer line will be represented by bottles with a capacity of 633 and 500 milliliters and cans with a capacity of 135, 250, 350 and 500 milliliters, as well as a special two-liter aluminum mini-keg.

Regardless of the volume, all containers have a bright and festive design. It is worth noting that Asahi Super Dry beer has already gone on sale in cans with a capacity of 350 and 500 milliliters, the rest of the products will become available and go on sale starting March 8. Note that beer in cans of 633 and 500 milliliters was almost completely sold out on February 2, and should go on sale again on March 29.

The spring beer line Asahi Super Dry will be on sale until the end of April. Therefore, if you are going to Japan during this period, do not miss this great opportunity to purchase an exclusive offer from the Asahi brewery.

« If only we could fall like cherry blossoms in spring—so pure and radiant!»

World War II transformed the color of cherry blossoms. The twenty-two-year-old kamikaze pilot who composed this haiku before dying in action in February 1945 had no idea how soon Hiroshima and Nagasaki would give a new "bloom" to the familiar cherry blossom - a blossom transformed into the human ideal of beauty attainable thanks to a beautiful death. You need to be it in order to enjoy it to the fullest, and become a part of it, just as the suicide bombers became.

« Dear Parents", wrote another, " please congratulate me. I was given a great opportunity to die. This is my last day. The fate of our Motherland now depends on the decisive naval battle in the south, where I will fall like a blossom from a shining cherry blossom».

The cherry blossom has long symbolized extinction, beauty, the beauty of extinction, and the ideal warrior of Japan. He always glorified self-sacrifice. That is why, at the threshold of the 20th century, it was the cherry blossom that united the concept that men who die for their sacred Motherland actually became cherry blossoms, because they acquire an unearthly, superior beauty, “so pure and radiant!” they become.

Other countries also raised warriors and patriots, imbued with a vision of individual life as trivial compared to service to the Motherland. But none of them were endowed with such eerie, terrible beauty as the cherry blossom.

A more practical example of how another culture deals with the same topic is a short excerpt from a letter that a young French revolutionary fighter wrote to his father in 1792. " Our freedom can only be guaranteed if there is a mattress made of corpses on the bed.... I agree to become one of them" (Quoted by historian Simon Scham in Citizens: A Chronicle of the French Revolution). The Japanese would rightfully admire his fortitude, but it is a pity that he was not a poet.

It was, in the words of Ivan Morris, " one of the strangest and sharpest weapons in the history of war" - "a one-way glider that comes close to the target even at high altitude, and then dives sharply down at great speed in order to detonate the warhead on an enemy ship... the craft of suicide itself could disable the ships of the enemy navy, which are now ( 1944-1945) besieged the islands of slow-breathing Japan. In addition, the use of such weapons would demoralize foreigners who were not psychologically prepared for such methods of war.”

This weapon was named oka, in honor of the additional reading Cherry Blossom. The Americans gave it another name - Tank Bomb or in other words “idiot bomb”.

About 5 thousand Japanese troops “fell like a cherry blossom.” The damage they were able to inflict on US and allied ships was minor. However, as intended, it had a very strong psychological impact, but the result was unexpected. Hoping to demoralize the enemy, the Japanese did not even think that the Americans had decided to use extraordinary methods to fight such an extraordinary country. And these turned out to be bombs dropped on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, 1945.

On August 16, Japan surrendered. On the same day, Vice Admiral Takijiro Onishi, who was the initiator of the Oka terrorist attack, committed ritual hara-kiri right at his own residence in Tokyo. He was also a poet. " Today in a flower, tomorrow in the scattered wind. “This is our flourishing life.” Can we really think that its scent lasts forever?»

Based on materials from online publications.

The celebration of the Chinese New Year is still in full swing, but it is already known that a record number of foreign tourists came to Japan to celebrate this holiday. After this event, the country's hotels and restaurants will have only a month to prepare for the next huge wave of tourists who will arrive in March and April to welcome spring and see the cherry blossoms.

Predicting the exact start date of hanami has always been considered a matter of primary importance for the Japanese tourism industry. The popularity of the country is growing rapidly; more and more tourists from different countries want to visit the island state.

According to Japanese experts, this year sakura will first bloom in the southwestern part - the cities of Fukuoka and Kumamoto. This will happen around March 25th. Behind them, on March 26, sakura will bloom in Tokyo and Nagoya. The ancient capital of Kyoto will see cherry blossoms on March 29, while residents and tourists in the northern city of Sapporo on the island of Hokkaido will only be able to enjoy cherry blossoms from May 2. As a rule, it takes about a week for a flower to fully bloom.

The forecast is based on ongoing temperature studies taking into account data from the last few months. Typically, low temperatures in late fall and early winter and high temperatures in early spring result in early flowering. As for 2016, this year the timing corresponds to the annual average.

China's airlines intend to take measures to fully accommodate increased passenger air travel in March and April. It was during this period that there was a rapid increase in the number of Chinese tourists coming to Japan.

According to the staff of the Tokyo representative office of China Southern Airlines, they have taken measures to increase the number of places for transporting tourists during the cherry blossom period. In March - April 2015, 3 million 200 thousand tourists visited Japan. Among them, about 800 thousand are guests from China.

The Japan Meteorological Center will update its cherry blossom forecast every day starting February 24. If we talk about last year, the forecast for the beginning of cherry blossoms was with an error of three days.

Based on materials from online publications.

May 5, 2015, 11:57 Sakura, planted by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, bloomed in Moscow

The cherry tree that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe planted in Moscow two years ago has blossomed. As a sign of hope for the development of friendly relations between Japan and Russia, Abe, while on an official visit in April 2013, planted a tree in the Japanese garden managed by the Russian Academy of Sciences. The sapling was taken from a cherry tree planted in the garden in 1986 by his late father, former Foreign Minister Shintaro Abe, who promoted Japan's relations with the former Soviet Union.

The tour price includes a standard 7-day JR PASS. JR Pass is a voucher that, upon arrival in Japan, is exchanged for a travel ticket that allows you to freely travel around Japan on intercity trains and buses of the JR group of companies. The exchange of vouchers you have purchased will be centrally carried out by a guide or a representative of our company (partially in your presence, since your passports with temporary visitor visas will be required for the exchange).

Excursions on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th days are carried out on a chartered bus. In the 5th (Miyajima) and 8th (Himeji) - transfer to the island of Miyajima and Himeji by public transport, walking around the territory of the island and the castle.

If the group consists of 8 people or less, then all excursions will be carried out by public transport.

The company reserves the right to change the sequence of places visited during excursions.

Hotels

Heat 1
March 25-28, Tokyo, Mitsui Garden Hotel Gotanda 4*
March 28 - April 1, Osaka, Hotel Quartz Shin-Osaka 4*
April 1-3, Mitsui Garden Hotel Gotanda 4*

Questions and answers

Usually in Tokyo, sakura blooms around March 25th, and the peak of flowering occurs on last days month and the beginning of April. So both the first and second runs will definitely see sakura in all its glory.

If there are three of us traveling, how much will the trip cost for triple occupancy? Or will we have 2 double rooms?

In Japan, triple rooms are rare, and the third bed is usually designed for a teenager. Therefore, triple rooms are not available for this tour. You can consider the option of sharing a room or finding a travel companion to move into a room for two. A room for one will cost slightly more +450$.

Should we buy our own tickets as soon as we book them? What are the best lines to fly and the most convenient time? Maybe you have the right website where it’s cheaper to buy?

Our tourists are people from different countries and cities, so everyone purchases their tickets on their own. You need to fly out for the first round on March 24th, and for the second round on March 31st. But since flight prices may be lower on other days, you may arrive earlier or depart later; in any case, transfer from the airport to the hotel and back will be provided. We will also help with hotel reservations in the days before and after the end of the tour. On additional days, the hotel will probably not be the one indicated in the program, since we make reservations for the tour in advance - half a year before arrival. Tickets can be purchased on the website

How much does insurance cost for 9 or 10 days, and where can I buy it? I have insurance for a year - the insurance territory is the whole world! Can I provide it?

Medical insurance is not required for travel in Japan, but we recommend purchasing it. All detailed information you can look on the website And if you have ready-made insurance all over the world, then it is suitable for Japan, but it is better to clarify this question with the insurance company itself.

Bank payment fee - what is it? How much per person? and who should I pay it to? And where?

A bank fee is a fee that a bank charges for international payments, so it varies depending on the amount of the transfer and the bank making the transfer. Usually this is up to $50 per bank transfer, so it is more profitable to transfer the entire amount for several people in one payment, rather than separately.

According to the program, days 5 and 8 are transfers by train, will we move along with our suitcases ourselves, or leave them somewhere?

On the fifth day you take an excursion from Osaka to the island. Miyajima and return back to Osaka, so there is no need to take luggage with you. Day 8: You take an excursion from Osaka to Himeji, and then transfer to Tokyo via Osaka, where you pick up your luggage from the hotel. We recommend that you send your luggage from Osaka directly to your hotel in Tokyo by courier service (for an additional fee of ≈$15 per suitcase). Delivery will not take more than one day, but it will be much more convenient.

The tour includes payment for all excursions, entrance fees, hotel accommodation with breakfast, transfers according to the tour program and lunches during excursions. Therefore, there are actually expenses left for personal expenses - water, Japanese delicacies, souvenirs and dinner. 20$ per day is enough economically, but we would recommend taking from 50$ per person per day. Take additional excursions you don’t need it - even on the only day free from excursions in Tokyo, we provide an escort for shopping and walking around Odaiba.

• Will you get us a visa, but can we buy a plane ticket without a visa?

  You can buy a plane ticket without a visa. We apply for a visa in advance, immediately after paying for the tour, but not earlier than 3 months before the start of the tour. Visa support for citizens Russia And Ukraine included in the tour price, excluding postage costs within Russia or Ukraine.