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Tokyo Skytree’s in bloom! 🌸 This spring, you can experience Tokyo’s cherry blossoms not just on the ground but up the world’s tallest tower, Tokyo Skytree, for their special sakura event! 🌸 🗻 See the panoramic view of Tokyo’s skyline from the Tembo Deck & see iconic spots like Asakusa’s Senso-ji temple & Mt. Fuji on a sunny day! ☀️ I loved being able to spot sakura from above, I could see the ones blooming in Sumida Park so I headed there after! 🌸 🍡 Stop by the cafe to enjoy their seasonal snacks, my favourites were the Haru no Sakuramiruku drink (matcha & strawberry milk is such a good combination 🤤) & the sakura mochi donut 🍵 Love that the donuts are vegan too! 🌱 ⭐ Meet Tokyo Skytree’s adorable mascot Sorakara-chan (meaning ‘From the sky’-chan 🥹) dressed in pink for this season! 🏙️ Finally, feel like you’re walking on air as you ascend the spiral skywalk to the Tembo Galleria, the highest point for an even more dramatic skyline view ☁️ 📍Tokyo Skytree 📆 the sakura event lasts until 14th April so visit soon! #PR #tokyoskytree #skytree #tokyotrip #discoverjapan

October in & around Tokyo might just be the funnest time to visit 👻 If you’re lucky enough to be in Japan this October, you have the opportunity to catch some spooky events as well as some incredible festivals! 👻 Tokyo’s Yokai Parade at Koenji Festival taking place October 24th, this is one of my all time favourite festivals! 😸 Tokyo’s Bakeneko Parade held in Kagurazaka on October 11th 👺 Enjoy a day trip to Kawagoe when their matsuri is held on October 17-18th - a traditional festival with over 100 years of history! Whilst it may not be for Halloween you can see some rather creepy masks 🦊 🍰 For a more refined way to celebrate Halloween, take a day trip to nearby Yokohama & enjoy a Halloween-themed afternoon tea at Hotel New Grand 🫖 after, go for a walk around the spookily decorated Yokohama English Garden 🎃 Tokyo Disneyland’s Halloween event run all of October (from 16th-31st you can wear Disney costumes inside the park) 🌃 Shibuya has adopted the slogan “Goodbye Bad Halloween” - basically street party Halloween is cancelled (no drinking/smoking/taking photos on the street, convenience stores will also stop selling drinks for Halloween night) but clubs in the area will still be celebrating🥂 🔖 feel free to share to someone who needs to attend one of these! #halloweeninjapan #tokyohalloween #tokyo #halloween #yokai

🇯🇵 Japan’s Most Unusual Festival…🫄 … goes to Shibukawa’s Heso Matsuri, or the Belly Button Festival! 🤭 The origin of this festival is just as charming as it looks too! It began in 1984 with an aim to revitalise this quiet town in the centre or “belly button” of Japan so this tradition of locals hopping around the town with with paintings on their stomachs & large hats hiding their faces was born🕺 Before you leave seek out the jizo statue and rub the red belly button, it’s said your wish will come true! ✨ it’s also said to be popular for those wishing to get pregnant🤰🏻 📆 Early September (this year it’ll be Saturday 5th September) #bellybuttonfestival #hesomatsuri #onlyinjapan #matsuri #japan

🌊 Being Ocean Day 海の日 in Japan, I thought I’d put together my top 10 underrated coastal spots that have stood out to me most after 10 years living & travelling in Japan (although I’m sure I’m forgetting some!). For tropical beach spots in Japan see my previous reel 🏝️ In no particular order… 🎣 Tomonoura, Hiroshima - the charming port town that served as inspiration for Ghibli’s Ponyo 🗻 Moroguchi shrine, Chiba for a Mt. Fuji x ocean view ♨️ Motomomachi Hama-no-yu Onsen, Izu Oshima, Tokyo to enjoy a mixed gender onsen by the sea 🌊 Yasaka shrine, Ubara, Chiba, where a majestic white torii gate stands in front of the ocean - I love spotting the flying fish there! 🗻 Miho no Matsubara, Shizuoka - a World Heritage Site that offers an iconic pine forest x Mt. Fuji x ocean view ⛩️ Motonosumi shrine, Yamaguchi - an unforgettable scene of 123 red torii overlooking the Sea of Japan 🌇 Minatomirai, Yokohama - I’m convinced Yokohama has the prettiest waterfront skyline, strolling along as the sun sets is one of my favourite ways to spend an evening 🏞️ Tojinbo, Fukui - dramatic coastal cliffs leading to Oshima, the “Island of the Gods” 🌀 Naruto, Tokushima - for the rather terrifying but very cool whirlpools Where would you add to this list? 📝 🔖 don’t forget to save & follow along for more Japan guides 🇯🇵 #japanguide #japantrip #japantravel #japan

🤱 Things that surprise me about giving birth in 🇯🇵 vs. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 During a recent Q&A quite a few of you wondered what giving birth is like in Japan & many wondered why I’m not going home to give birth, but Japan is home these days & I prefer the Japanese approach to childbirth (although England has some good points too!) Cost 💴 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Childbirth is free for UK residents 🇯🇵 It can vary between ¥500,000 at a hospital with a shared room to ¥1.5 million at luxury clinics. Giving birth isn’t covered under the NHI but there’s a government subsidy of ¥500,000 given & some cities offer an additional ¥50,000 before & after birth - still, it’s likely you’ll be out of pocket Hospital stay 🏥 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 You can go home the day you give birth if it all goes smoothly! 🇯🇵 An average of 4-7 days Pain relief (epidurals) 😮‍💨 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Common & easily accessible, they’re also free! 🇯🇵 Much less common with most hospitals offering them only on weekdays or during daytime hours 😱 Pain relief is seen as a luxury so is not covered as part of the health insurance - costs are around ¥100-200,000 yet Tokyo residents (lucky them!) get a ¥100,000 subsidy Postpartum recovery ❤️‍🩹 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 As hospital stays are brief, postpartum recovery revolves around several midwife visits to home to support you 🇯🇵 Hospitals & clinics often provide extensive support with breastfeeding, teaching you how to change nappies, how to burp and bathe your baby, everything you need to know before you leave! They also offer nutritionally balanced, delicious meals to help mum recover & some even offer spa treatments! 🧖‍♀️ a home visit from a public health nurse/midwife will also take place! Which surprises you most? I remember being shocked that the epidural was so expensive & that women are expected to gaman through the pain 🫠 #maternity #lifeinjapan #tokyolife #pregnancyinjapan #japan

Is there anywhere more enchanting than Kaisei village during their hydrangea festival in June? 💠 I’m not sure there’s anything more picturesque than 5,000 hydrangeas reflecting in the rice paddies with Mt. Fuji in the background 🥹 This is one of my favourite festivals of the year as it really brightens up Japan’s rainy season! ☔️ Having visited in 2022 & 2025, I can guarantee you it’s well worth the day trip from Tokyo 🩵 🛖 make sure to walk along to Ashigarigo Setoyashiki, a 300 year old kominka (traditional folk house) where you can see a special exhibition of hydrangeas & bamboo along with a range of workshops to take part in 🎋 stop by café hacco for their ajisai drink & snacks too! 🍬 🧑‍🌾 as this village is known for their agriculture, you can even experience harvesting summer vegetables too! 🌽 📍 開成町あじさいまつり、Kaisei Ajisai Matsuri 📆 the festival is until June 14th but you can still enjoy seeing the hydrangeas after! 🚃 Odakyu line from Shinjuku to Kaisei station, then take the shuttle bus to the festival 🚌 🚗 plenty of parking 📸 photos from 2022 & 2025’s festivals #japantravelguide #hydrangeas #tokyodaytrip #offthebeatenpath #japan

🇯🇵 Kamakura 1 Day Itinerary for June 💠 💠 start your day in Kitakamakura at Meigetsuin known as *the* hydrangea temple, it’s famous for its deep blue ‘Princess Hydrangea’ type 💙 💠 visit the often overlooked Kitakamakura Old Private House Museum for a hidden hydrangea garden, plenty of hydrangea art & your chance to buy unique local souvenirs - the hydrangea exhibit is on til July 5th 📆 ☕️ stop for lunch at the cosy Mamiana Café, I loved their seasonal ajisai drink & spice curry! 🍛 🚃 catch the JR train from Kitakamakura to Kamakura (or walk down to Kamakura!) then take the charming Enoden to Hase 💠 explore Hase-dera & enjoy the Hydrangea Path which overlooks the ocean 🌊 make a reservation online to guarantee entry & an additional fee is charged when the hydrangeas are 50%+ bloomed 🎟️ even though this is perhaps the busiest temple, the precincts are large & it also has an iris garden this time of year so it’s still worth a visit in my opinion! 💜 🍸 grab a pre-dinner cocktail at the beautifully restored 1927 Kamakura Bank 🌅 catch the sunset at Kamakura Yuigahama beach 🍽️ top off the day with a special Spanish x Japanese fusion dining experience with wine pairing at the very highly rated MI CASA🍷 🔖 don’t forget to save for your Kamakura trip & follow @bassetts.bouken for more Japan guides! 🇯🇵 #kamakura #kamakurajapan #tokyotrip #japanitinerary

🏮 Shinjuku’s Grand Festival 🪭 By chance as I was shopping in Shinjuku I came across Hanazono’s Shrine’s Grand Festival today! 🏙️ Located in the heart of Tokyo in between Shinjuku’s tall buildings & a stone’s throw from Kabukicho (the infamous nightlife district 💃) & Golden Gai (the popular alleyways with tiny bars 🍻), is this greenery filled shrine - a shrine known for being where entertainers & celebrities pray for good fortune! 🎊 Tomorrow is the even bigger celebration where the large mikoshi will leave the shrine at around 9:40, parade around Shinjuku & return by 19:30 - you can see the map of the full route & timings on their official website to make sure you don’t miss out! 🗺️ 🍡 Around 100 stalls fill the shrine’s precincts so you can enjoy trying lots of festival foods (many of which come from different regions of Japan!) & playing traditional festival games 🎯 📍 Hanazono Shrine, Shinjuku 🚃 Shinjuku-sanchome station 📆 this festival takes place towards the end of May so save for next year if you’re not in Tokyo this weekend 🔖 📸 taken today 23/05/2026 #shinjuku #tokyo #matsuri #japanesefestival #japanfestival

Locations ⬇️ Thousands of hydrangeas or ‘ajisai’ will soon be brightening up Tokyo, providing the much needed bursts of colour in the midst of rainy season! 🌧️ if you are travelling to Japan in June, try not to be too disappointed with the weather & instead enjoy seeing ajisai as the locals do! Here are my favourite spots to check out in Tokyo… 💠 Minamizawa Ajisai Mountain, Akiruno - the most charming place with little elves hidden everywhere 🥹 10,000 hydrangeas were planted in the forest hillside by a beloved ojiichan. Yes it’s not central Tokyo but if you venture there, you’ll see a completely different side to Tokyo you never knew existed! Truly has such an enchanting atmosphere rain or shine! ☔️ around mid-June is usually best to visit 📆 💠 Hakusan Shrine ⛩️ Bunkyo 📆 from June 6-14th the Bunkyo Hydrangea Festival is held to celebrate the 3000 hydrangeas blooming with taiko & music performances, a mikoshi parade & food stalls. Don’t miss the Mt. Fuji shaped hill of hydrangea! 🗻 💠 Juban Inari Shrine ⛩️ Azabujuban - a hidden, smaller spot in the heart of Tokyo known for its frog & 7 Lucky God statues which has a lovely little hydrangea festival running til early/middle June 📆 💠 Shinjuku Central Park, the Ajisai Road within it has so many hydrangeas & it’s right next to the Metropolitan Government Building where you can enjoy free views over Tokyo too! 🏙️ #tokyotravel #tokyoguide #japantiktok #tokyolife #rainyseason

A day trip from Tokyo & you’re in a sea of blue atop this hill of 1 million nemophila 💠 And there’s a lot more to see beyond the beautiful flower garden & panoramic Chiba views! It’s a working farm so you can see cows grazing in the field (a rare sight in Japan 👀), enjoy the tastiest ice creams 🍦 shop farm groceries 🥛 & for families there’s petting areas for sheep & goats 🐑 Isn’t Japan’s spring blue just as pretty as the pink? 🌸 📍 Mother Farm, Chiba 🚃 Takes around 2.5 hours by train/bus from Tokyo, but if you can drive it’s much less, around hour and a quarter 🚗 🎟️ ¥1800 entrance 🧍🏻‍♀️ It might be pricier than other parks & a little further than the last place I posted but the flower field was really quite empty on the weekend, it surprised me! 📆 best to visit now (mid-April to early May each year) #japantiktok #motherfarm #tokyodaytrip #tokyotrip #tokyotravel

Can you believe this is Japan too? 🥹 🎡 A field of icelandic poppies & nemophila swaying in the wind against a backdrop of colourful houses, a ferris wheel & even Mt. Fuji if you’re lucky 🗻 this place is renowned for its stunning flower fields but is also a fun family day out as there’s lots of attractions for kids too! Plus it’s only 70 minutes from Tokyo & you only have to pay for parking! 🔖 don’t forget to save & make sure to follow along for more Japan travel tips, events & more 🇯🇵 📍 Soleil Park, Yokosuka, Kanagawa 📆 blooming now with best timing to carry on til end of April/beginning of May! 📸 taken 18/04/2026 🍩 must try the Nemophila & Honey Lemon Mimosa donut from Misaki donuts, a local specialty! 🍋 #tokyotrip #japantrip #japantravel #tokyodaytrip

🌸 Kyoto’s newest must-visit attraction - Uzumasa Kyoto Village 🏯 At this real life film set, you’ll feel like you’ve travelled back in time to the Edo era (1603-1868) by immersing yourself in a wide range of authentic experiences! Here’s all that’s featured… 🌸 seeing a Japanese bridal procession is rare but here you can see a beautiful bride up close & see the procession through the town 🎭 explore the techniques used to sing and act in Noh (authentic Japanese musical) 👘 rent a kimono, period costume or unique traditional Japanese clothing like I did at SOU・SOU 🔮 draw your love, money & Kyoto dialect fortune-telling 🎯 test your aim with archery 🎰 learn how to play casino games from the Edo era ✨ a numbered ticket is required to participate - check their website for details! ⛓️ see how criminals were treated in the Edo era & even take part in the interactive experience 🥷 as you walk around the village, you’ll come across ninjas, samurai, geisha, and townsfolk bring alive the traditional townscape 🍵 try delicious food & drinks at the many vendors, my favourites were the seasonal Uji Matcha Sakura Latte (until late April) from Uzu Chaya & the Sakura Soda Float from SASAYAIORI & the simmered beef Curry Udon! don’t forget to save for your trip to Kyoto! 🔖 📍 Uzumasa Kyoto Village 🚃 Only 20 minutes from Kyoto station #kyototrip #kyototravel #kyotojapan #kyoto #japantrip

🗻 Mt. Fuji in pink or blue? 🩷🩵 Cherry blossom season might be over in the Tokyo area but that doesn’t mean you can’t see some magical spring sights in Japan! 🇯🇵 Two spots you absolutely must put on your Japan bucket list are seeing Mt. Fuji with a vivid pink carpet of shibazakura (“lawn sakura” you can see why it has that name 🤭) or seeing Mt. Fuji in pretty pastel blue with a nemophila (baby blue eyes) carpet 💠 Which will you choose? Send to a friend you’d love to visit with! And if you’re not in Japan right now, save for the future! 🔖 Make sure to follow @bassetts.bouken for more Japan travel tips, events & more 🇯🇵 🩷📍 Fuji Motosuko Resort 📆 Fuji Shibazakura Festival is on until May 25th 📸 taken on April 16th 2023 🩵📍 Kokia no Sato, Nishiriabatake Park, Matsuda, Kanagawa 📆 event is on until May 10th 📸 taken on 28th April 2024 #mtfujiview #mountfuji #fujishibazakurafestival

🌸 Kyoto’s sakura season doesn’t have to be chaotic with crowds… Right in the middle of Kyoto, there’s a peaceful little oasis that many tourists miss & is said to be the oldest garden in the city. Its name translates to “Sacred Spring Garden,” and is actually a remnant of a Heian-period (around 794 AD) garden near Nijo Castle 🏯 I first visited this shrine in January 2024 when the camellias were blooming and I noticed how many cherry blossom trees there were so when I had the opportunity to visit this year, I was so happy my timing was perfect for full bloom! As this shrine is tucked away to the side, many visiting the garden still miss this pretty spot, so I was lucky to enjoy these serene moments by myself ⛩️ 🐢 look out for the turtles & koi fish, I loved seeing the phrase 生き物を大切に there “take care of living creatures” 🥹 🔖 Save for your trip to Kyoto, it’s beautiful no matter the season! 🌸 📍 Yatsurugi Inari Shrine, Shinsen-en Garden 🚃 Nijo station (JR line) or Nijo-jo mae station (subway) 📆 taken 30/03/2026 around midday (no early starts needed!) #kyoto #kyototrip #kyotojapan #kyototravel #sakuraseason

🗻 Mt. Fuji + a 330 year old iconic sakura 🌸 Reaching full bloom as of yesterday, this uniquely shaped 17m high Edohigan cherry blossom tree might be the most beautiful I’ve ever seen in Japan! 📍 Wanitsuka Sakura, Nirasaki, Yamanashi 📆 Visit asap before the rain takes it out 🥹 ✨ Night light up is on until the 30th 🚃 2.5-3.5 hours by train from Tokyo depending on the route/lines taken #mtfuji #mtfujiview #cherryblossomseason #japansakura #japan

Sakura lined river without the crowds? 🌸 Less than 1 hour from Tokyo is this beautiful long river lined with different types of cherry blossoms… Some are full bloom now like you see in this reel taken today, and many of the Somei Yoshino, Japan’s most iconic cherry blossom variety are beginning to bloom 🌸 What I love about this river is that there are some yatai (food stalls) and a festival atmosphere in parts on the weekend & other parts are nice & quiet. Today was just locals walking along & enjoying the spring scenery, many scenes looked just like an anime 🥹 📍 follow & DM for location! 📸 taken 27/03/2026 📆 will be good to visit over the next week #cherryblossomseason #offthebeatenpath #japaninspring #sakura #japansakura

A sakura day escape from Tokyo 🌸 Just past full bloom now but worth visiting in the next day or two so you might catch 桜吹雪 - a sakura snowstorm of falling petals! In order… 🌸 Mitsuzoin temple (密蔵院) - so many sakura in & surrounding this temple! I loved picking up their little sakura charm & the road by the temple is one of the most impressive sakura lined roads i’ve seen! 🌸 Den-u river sakura (on Google Maps as: 伝右川桜並木) - a river side walk with Kawazu sakura on one side & Angyo sakura on the other (this type’s blooming now) 🌸 Kozenin temple (興禅院) not only does this have sakura, it also has camellias & magnolia blooming, & has hydrangeas, spider lillies & autumn leaves in other seasons. A beautiful, peaceful temple throughout the year! 📷 taken 26/03/2025 🌸 #sakuraseason #cherryblossoms #c#cherryblossomseasontokyodaytrip #japan

🌸 Clouds of sakura blooming now? Yes please ☁️ A hillside of 120 Harumeki sakura trees are blooming less than 2 hours from Tokyo which are an absolute dream to see 🥹 You can enjoy strolling along the promenade beneath them or feel like you’re floating amongst the cherry blossoms at this spot! ☁️ 🧑‍🌾 support the local farmers selling fresh veggies out of their little trucks & enjoy tasting the local produce! I picked up some tasty mikan for ¥200, drank some soybean coffee, and picked a free bouquet of nanohana flowers! 🌼 If you’re looking for another nearby cherry blossom spot to make a full day of it, visit Shiawase michi (幸せ道) - “path to happiness” 🌸 🔖 don’t forget to save this spot for your spring adventure & follow for more blooming updates 🌸 📍 Ichinoseki-Harane Harumeki Sakura Cherry Blossom Trees, Minamiashigara, Kanagawa 🚃 take the Odakyu line to Shin-Matsuda station, then a 10 minute bus ride on the Hakone Tozan bus, get off at Ashigara High School then a 10 minute walk 🚌 (altogether less than 2 hours from central Tokyo!) 📆 the mini festival with food trucks is on next weekend too from 20th-22nd! 🚗 Temporary car park is available at Fukuzawa Elementary School, a short walk away 📷 taken 14/03/2026 🌸 #cherryblossoms #sakura #japan #japantiktok #japantrip

♨️ A hidden onsen town full of sakura? 🌸 Hands down this is the prettiest cherry blossom place I’ve ever visited 🥹 and what made it even more magical is that it was completely unexpected, we turned up expecting just an onsen town & what we got was this sakura wonderland 🌸 It’s the oldest hot spring in Yamaguchi renowned for its powerful waters for beautiful skin & its location makes for the perfect base for exploring local sights like Motonosumi Inari Shrine ⛩️ & Akiyoshidai National Park 🏞️ What’s unique about this onsen town (apart from having cherry blossoms absolutely everywhere you look!) is that when you bathe in Onto, the public bathhouse, you can actually see the onsen water coming out of the rock! ♨️ 📍 Nagato Yumoto, Yamaguchi 🚄 60 minute car ride from Shin-Yamaguchi station or 70 minutes from Yamaguchi Ube airport ✈️ a rental car is recommended 🚗 📸 taken April 2nd 2025 so visit early April for 🌸 #sakuraseason #japantrip #cherryblossoms #beautifuljapan #unknownjapan

Tokyo in bloom today 🌸 If you’re in the Asakusa area, don’t miss these 5 beautiful nearby sakura spots in full bloom now! In order of busyness, from most to least… 🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸 Kawazu sakura on Tobu Bridge - visit early in the morning or be prepared to queue to get ‘the Tokyo Skytree shot’ 🌸🌸🌸🌸 Oyokogawa Promenade - very busy at the start of the promenade closest to Kiba station but surprisingly very empty if you walk towards Toyozumi Park 🌸🌸🌸 Sumida Park - not too busy, like a typical city park 🌸🌸 Shiori Park - so quiet & relaxing! Only a few locals jogging, cycling & sitting under the trees 🌸 Ishihama Shrine - incredibly peaceful, perfect for the atmosphere of a shrine so bear that in mind when visiting ✨ These are early blooming varieties of sakura known as Kawazuzakura, Okanzakura & Okamezakura so hurry quick to visit before more of their petals begin to fall! Watch to the end to see the prettiest sakura snowstorm 🥹🌸🍃 📸 taken 7th March 2026 ⚠️ reminder - please don’t be one of those tourists that move or shake the branches of cherry blossoms, it damages the trees, ruins it for others & is very disrespectful 🥺 #sakuraseason #cherryblossoms #tokyotravel #asakusa #japan