14-Day Japan's Crafts & Cherry Blossoms

Tokyo's port is a vibrant gateway to both cultural and culinary experiences, uniquely blending traditional Japanese heritage with modern innovation. Must-do experiences include savoring fresh sushi at Tsukiji Outer Market and exploring the natural beauty of Fuji Hakone Izu National Park. The best season to visit is spring, when cherry blossoms bloom, transforming the city into a picturesque landscape.

Kochi, on Japan's island of Shikoku, is a Pacific coast port city renowned for its remarkably preserved 17th-century castle, vibrant Hirome Market food hall, and the iconic katsuo no tataki — straw-seared skipjack tuna that defines the region's bold culinary identity. Visitors should not miss exploring the castle grounds and savouring sawachi communal platters paired with crisp Tosa sake. The best time to visit is spring for mild weather and cherry blossoms, or autumn when typhoon season has passed and the yuzu harvest perfumes the countryside.

Hososhima is a tranquil port on Miyazaki Prefecture's Pacific coast, serving as a gateway to mythical Takachiho Gorge, the subtropical Aoshima Island, and the cave shrine of Udo Jingu. Visitors should savour chicken nanban and charcoal-grilled jidori, both Miyazaki originals. October through May offers the best weather for exploring this uncrowded corner of southern Japan.

Kagoshima, the "Naples of the East," is a dramatic port city on Japan's southern coast defined by the active Sakurajima volcano and a rich samurai heritage dating to the powerful Shimazu clan. Visitors should not miss the fifteen-minute ferry crossing to Sakurajima's lava fields and a tasting of legendary Kurobuta black pork paired with local sweet-potato shōchū. Spring (March–May) offers mild temperatures and cherry blossoms, while autumn (October–November) brings clear skies ideal for volcano views.

Nagasaki is a historically rich port city on Japan's Kyushu island, shaped by centuries of Portuguese, Dutch, and Chinese influence — offering visitors the Glover Garden heritage district, the moving Peace Park, and the spectacular Mount Inasa night panorama. Must-do experiences include tasting the city's signature champon noodle soup and exploring the atmospheric hillside lanes lined with stone churches and Chinese temples. The best months to visit are March through May for mild weather and cherry blossoms, or October through November when autumn colours set the surrounding hills ablaze.

Busan, a bustling port city in South Korea, is known for its stunning coastal scenery, rich history, and vibrant culinary scene. Must-do experiences include visiting the iconic Jagalchi Fish Market for fresh seafood and exploring the ancient sites of Gyeongju. The best time to visit is during the mild spring or autumn months when the weather is pleasant and local festivals abound.

Fukuoka is widely regarded as Japan's greatest food city, where legendary tonkotsu ramen, evening yatai street stalls, and mentaiko spicy cod roe define a culinary culture without rival. Must-dos include slurping ramen at a Nakasu yatai, visiting Dazaifu Tenmangu shrine, and exploring the Hakata old quarter. Spring and autumn offer the best weather, with the spectacular Yamakasa festival heating up early July.

Hiroshima is a deeply moving yet vibrantly reborn Japanese city, home to the UNESCO-listed Peace Memorial Park and the iconic A-Bomb Dome. Must-dos include savouring the city's famous layered okonomiyaki, tasting fresh Inland Sea oysters, and taking the ferry to Miyajima to see the floating vermilion torii gate. Spring cherry-blossom season and autumn foliage (March–May and October–November) offer the most spectacular visits.

Osaka is Japan's exuberant culinary capital, a neon-drenched metropolis where Edo-period merchant culture lives on in vibrant street food markets and Michelin-starred kaiseki restaurants alike. No visit is complete without savouring *takoyaki* and *kushikatsu* along the Dōtonbori Canal, or venturing north to witness Hirosaki's legendary cherry blossoms. The ideal window is late March through May for spring blooms and mild weather, or October through November when autumn foliage transforms the surrounding Kansai region into a tapestry of amber and gold.

Shimizu is Japan's premier Mount Fuji gateway port on Suruga Bay, where a storied tea-trading heritage meets exceptional coastal cuisine — most notably the prized sakura ebi cherry blossom shrimp found nowhere else. Visitors should not miss the UNESCO-listed Miho no Matsubara pine grove for iconic Fuji views and the vibrant Kashi no Ichi fish market for the freshest tuna and whitebait in Japan. The ideal window stretches from late March through May, when cherry blossoms frame the snowcapped volcano and spring's first tea harvest perfumes the hillsides.

Tokyo's port is a vibrant gateway to both cultural and culinary experiences, uniquely blending traditional Japanese heritage with modern innovation. Must-do experiences include savoring fresh sushi at Tsukiji Outer Market and exploring the natural beauty of Fuji Hakone Izu National Park. The best season to visit is spring, when cherry blossoms bloom, transforming the city into a picturesque landscape.