Japan in Bloom
EXPERIENCE THE BEAUTY OF CHERRY BLOSSOM SEASON
Exclusive Small Group Journey: Limited to 16 passengers
Fully hosted by Rob Blowes
March 21 to April 1, 2027
Summary
Embrace the breathtaking beauty of spring on this premium, expertly curated 11-day journey through the heart of Japan. Specially timed for the magical cherry blossom season, this itinerary seamlessly blends ultramodern metropolitan wonders with timeless cultural landscapes. You will journey from Tokyo’s neon skylines to Kanazawa's preserved samurai quarters, find tranquility in alpine villages, and experience the cultural soul of Kyoto. Complete with luxury accommodations, private artisan workshops, and authentic hot-spring ryokan retreats, this is the definitive Japanese travel experience.

Itinerary
Day 1 - March 22, 2027
Arrival in Tokyo
Receive a warm personal greeting upon landing. Step into your private airport transfer directly to your hotel.
Check into the prestigious Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo in vibrant Shinjuku. Unwind surrounded by stunning highrise views of the metropolitan skyline.

DAY 2 – March 23, 2027
Toyko
Walk beneath the towering torii gates of the serene Meiji Shrine. Discover the eccentric street styles and quirky boutiques of Harajuku. Explore Sensō-ji, the oldest Buddhist temple complex in Asakusa. Meet your fellow travelers over an exclusive gourmet Welcome Dinner.
(B,D)

DAY 3 – March 24, 2027
Hakone-Tokyo
Journey to Hakone for majestic views of sacred Mount Fuji. Sail across the pristine waters of Lake Ashi on a picturesque boat ride. Ride the Hakone Ropeway high above the steaming canyons of Owakudani. Head back to Tokyo for a relaxing evening at your luxury hotel.
(B)

DAY 5 – March 26, 2027
Toyko
March 25 is at your own pace. Enjoy a fully open Free Day in Japan's capital. Shop in luxury Ginza, explore historic Ueno Park, or visit a themed café.
(B)

DAY 6 – March 27, 2027
Kanazawa | Shinkansen Speed & Geisha Heritage
March 26 transit day. Rocket west to Kanazawa on the high-speed Shinkansen train. Feast on ultra-fresh seafood at the historic 300-year-old Omicho Market. Stroll through the lantern-lit wooden tea houses of Higashi Chaya Geisha District. Beat and apply your own delicate foil during an exclusive Gold Leaf Experience. Check into the stylish, centrally located Hyatt Centric Kanazawa.
(B)

DAY 7 – March 28, 2027
Kanazawa - Shirakawa-go - Kaga
March 28 architectural journey. Journey to the UNESCO World Heritage mountain village of Shirakawa-go. Photograph the iconic Gassho-zukuri farmhouses nestled deep within alpine valleys. Check into the tranquil Mori no Sumika Resort & Spa in Kaga. Don traditional robes, bathe in natural hot springs, and savor multi-course Kaiseki cuisine.
(B,D)

DAY 8 – March 29, 2027
Kaga - Kyoto | Arrival in the Imperial Capital & Gion
March 29 transit to Kyoto. Depart Kaga via train to the historic heart of Japan. Visit Kiyomizu-dera Temple, standing tall on massive wooden stilts over cherry blossom trees. Sip from the sacred streams of the Otowa Waterfall for health and wisdom. Explore cobblestone streets and lantern-lit alleys where traditional machiya houses stand. Learn about the historic entertainment district and try to catch a glimpse of a maiko. Check into the grand and prestigious Hotel Okura Kyoto.
(B)

DAY 9 – March 30, 2027
Kyoto | Golden Pavilions & Bamboo Groves
March 30 iconic Kyoto sites. Marvel at Kinkaku-ji, the iconic Zen temple covered in brilliant gold leaf. Travel west to Arashiyama to walk through its world-famous towering Bamboo Forest. Take in the mountain views framing the beautiful Togetsukyō Bridge. Visit the UNESCO-listed Tenryū-ji Temple to admire its landscape designs.
(B)

DAY 10 – March 31, 2027
Kyoto - Nara - Kyoto
March 31 historic capitals. Journey to Nara Park, home to over 1,200 freely roaming wild sika deer. Behold Tōdai-ji, one of the world's largest wooden buildings housing a massive bronze Buddha. Gather with your group for a heartfelt Farewell Dinner to celebrate your memories together.
(B,D)

DAY 11 – April 1, 2027
Kyoto
April 1 departures. Complete your check-out at Hotel Okura Kyoto. Board your comfortable, shared Airport Transfer for your flight home.
(B)

This itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons such as high and low water. As such, the cruise may operate altered from that stated above.
Pricing
Pricing below is per person and includes all taxes and fees.
Double occupancy: $13,499.00 CAD
Single occupancy: $17,098.00 CAD
A 1500.00 non-refundable deposit is due at time of booking.
Final payment is due November 20, 2026
We highly recommend the purchase of Travel Insurance for your holiday.
Ask your Travel Advisor for a quote.
Ready to plan your journey?
Reach out to your BST Vacations Travel Advisor for details and to book.
If you’re not currently working with an advisor, please send an email to info@bstvacations.ca
to be set up with an advisor.
Inclusions
INCLUSIONS:
- Round trip economy airfare from Toronto with one free checked bag.
- Personalized airport meet & greet.
- Arrival and departure airport transfers.
- 10 nights accommodation in handpicked luxury hotels and traditional ryokans.
- 10 breakfasts and 3 specialty dinners.
- All inter-city travel via high-speed Shinkansen Bullet Trains and express rails.
- Full-time professional tour escort and private guide services throughout the trip.
- Gratuities for the driver and tour manager.
- Signature experiences including private tea ceremony, and gold leaf class.
- Printed travel document package.
PRICING DOES NOT INCLUDE:
- Beverages during included group meals.
- Travel insurance.
- Gov’t taxes, levies, & fuel surcharges beyond our control.
- Passport or visa fees (if required).
- Items of a personal nature.
Activity Level

Terms & Conditions
BST Escorted Group Terms & Conditions
(These Terms & Conditions do not apply to Charters. Separate T & C apply.)
Please carefully review the Terms & Conditions outlined below. Any reservation made with BST constitutes a binding agreement
signifying your acceptance of, and your agreement to follow, these Terms & Conditions, and to be bound by them.
To process your reservation, we will need your personal information including your name, address,
telephone number, email address, passport number, date of birth, citizenship, and information you have disclosed regarding health, medical, dietary, mobility and other special requirements. BST will require a copy of your valid passport at time of deposit.
Deposit and Final Payment
A Non refundable Deposit of $1,500.00 CAD per person due at time of booking to secure your reservation.
The final payment deadline is due in our office on or before November 20, 2026 All payments once received are non-refundable. Please refer to insurance sections below.
Please make cheques payable to Blowes and Stewart Travel. We also accept in-office cash / debit payments, or Visa, Mastercard and American Express credit cards. E-transfers are accepted, please send to pgraham@ bstvacations.ca Completion of the electronic credit card authorization form or the PDF credit card authorization form commits you to your reservation and the charges on your credit card. The Company reserves the right to cancel a reservation if payment has not been received by the specified due date. Final Travel details will be issued 2 weeks prior to departure.
Not Included in the Trip Cost
All quoted trip costs do not include items of a personal nature such as but not limited to; medical insurance, cancellation/interruption insurance, alcoholic beverages, gratuities, phone calls, airline baggage fees where applicable and meals that are not included or listed in the itinerary.
Escorted Group Cancellation Policy
All escorted groups require a minimum number of passengers to travel. Should minimum numbers not been reached, the Company has the right to cancel the tour with a full refund to the passengers booked. Refund will be processed
in manner received. Tours unable to operate due to Travel Advisory, acts of God, Terrorism or any other event and no fault of BST, will be subject to cancellation charges as
listed above. BST highly recommends the purchase of cancellation/interruption insurance for all trips. BST will
not be held responsible for loss of monies due to cancellation/changes. Your travel advisor will review your travel insurance options at booking. Medical insurance is mandatory for all trips outside of the Province of Ontario. If client has out of province medical insurance with a separate insurance provider, BST must be advised of insurance company name, policy number & company contact information prior to trip commencement. Persons leaving the tour during operation will not receive a refund of unused services and all
costs of returning to the point of
embarkation will be borne by the client. For additional information on packages/plans offered,
please visit https://www.igoinsured.com/Direct/ManulifeGlobal.aspx?ag=STEWPET&lang=E
Global Pandemic
Customer acknowledges the risks related to the spread of infectious or contagious diseases. It remains the customer's responsibility to take the necessary precautions applicable to any health hazards, including but not limited to a Global Pandemic. To ensure the safety of all guests and employees, suppliers may have mandatory safety protocols in place, and the
availability of their services and facilities may be impacted. Customer agrees to follow all current and future regulations/protocols set forth for safety in compliance with government policies at your own expense. BST is not responsible for any fees for, or associated with, mandatory government testing in destination or for returning to Canada,
quarantine or expenses relating to any Global Pandemic or similar. If additional insurance protection is declined, it remains the customer's responsibility to verify if their travel insurance policy covers a Global Pandemic. BST will not be held liable should customers be denied boarding due to insufficient proof of a negative Global Pandemic test prior to departure, or displaying symptoms of a Global Pandemic upon check in. No monies will be refunded to customers who have been denied boarding or refunded at port of entry.
Additional Notes
All prices listed are per person in Canadian Dollars unless otherwise noted. Pricing is based on supplier cost, currency exchange rates and conditions in effect at the time of brochure printing. Final payment may fluctuate based on changes to the currency exchange at that time. Should there be a pricing increase, a maximum of 7% of base cost, may be applied, or to the taxes and/or government-imposed fees, fuel surcharges or additional airline fees before final payment, these increased charges will be levied to the customer and applied to the final invoice. No additional surcharges may be applied after the trip is paid in full. All trips may be subject to change in situations beyond our control.
When travelling outside of Canada all Canadian passengers require a valid passport. If travelling with a foreign passport (not Canadian) BST must be advised at time of booking so we can advise accordingly. Most countries require passports to be valid for 6 months beyond the expected return date.
Some countries may also have visa requirements for entry. Any fees to obtain visas or additional travel documentation that may be required are the responsibility of the traveler. Entry into another country cannot be guaranteed and is at the sole discretion of the local authorities. BST takes no responsibility for a customer being denied entry into another country. Cancellation charges and any additional fees will be at the customer’s expense.
It is the passenger's responsibility to obtain information, and to have in their possession, all the required documentation to travel (such as passports, visa where applicable, etc.) required by the relevant governmental authorities, for themselves and passengers in their care. Note that the documents required for the outbound portion of your travel may differ from those required for the return.
BST is not responsible for any missing or inappropriate documents. Failure to have proper travel documents will result in denied boarding and automatic cancellation of your reservation without refund.
BST accepts any passengers that have a disability, intellectual or physical condition providing they are able to care for themselves during the trip which includes boarding the plane/bus on their own; participating in any included tours/sightseeing without assistance; the ability to understand meeting points/times and the ability to care for their own documents. BST will accept any passenger who’s intellectual or physical condition is such as to render him/her incapable of caring for him/herself without assistance, provided that he/she is accompanied by an attendant (at an additional cost) who is responsible for the passenger enroute and with the care of such attendant, he/she will not require attention or assistance beyond that which is usually provided by BST tour escort. Some destinations may not be suitable for physical mobility issues.
Baggage restrictions vary by airline and destination. Specific details will be provided with your final travel documents.
Please ensure that you have secured baggage tags to your luggage prior to arriving at the airport, train station or boarding the coach.
Please note that you are responsible for carrying your own luggage and are responsible for the safety and security of your luggage at all times. BST will not assume liability for loss, theft, or damage due to breakage, fire, water, or theft, during transport on the plane, coach, train or at hotel. Ask your agent for details of Baggage and Personal Effects Insurance coverage.
Airline seating requests are taken into consideration and sent to each airline if applicable. Additional charges apply for premium seating on aircraft. Specific seating on coaches or trains cannot be guaranteed. BST will try to accommodate all requests.
BST reserves the right to decline any person as a member of the trip at any time before or during the trip should such person’s presence be considered detrimental to the interest, comfort, and enjoyment of the other members. Persons leaving the trip after commencement will not receive a refund of unused services and all costs of returning to the point of embarkation will be borne by the client.
When travelling outside of Ontario, please note local customs may differ and conditions of travel may not be the same as home. Clients not travelling on full itinerary as outlined assume full responsibility for any cancellation penalties or fees incurred due to cancellation or alteration to itinerary in any way.
Our Role
In offering travel arrangements for sale, BST acts solely as the organizer of the tours and responsible for making all reservations as outlined. BST cannot be held responsible for supplier errors or omissions. We do not maintain any control over the personnel, equipment or operations of any supplier and we assume no responsibility for, and shall not be expected or required to pay for any financial loss, personal injury, other loss, accident, delay, inconvenience or irregularity which you may experience either by reason of (1) non-performance by any supplier for whatever reason (2) wrongful causes, negligent or unauthorized acts or omissions on the part of any supplier or its employees or on the part of any other party not under the control of BST (3) any defect, breakdown or other failure of any aircraft, train, bus, automobile, accommodation, ship or other equipment or instrumentality operated and owned or otherwise used by a supplier or (4) BST is not liable for any loss, damage, injury or death resulting from circumstances beyond its direct control such as unexpected weather conditions, civil unrest, acts of God, force Majeure or any other unforeseen circumstances.
Book early to secure your spot. Reach out to your BST Vacations Travel Advisor for details.