22 day Cherry Blossoms of Hokkaido and Alpine Tour with Taiwan

Day 1 - HOME/TAIPEI

This evening, we board our direct flight to Taipei with China Airways . After check in, sit back and relax and you’ll be in Taiwan soon.

Accommodation - N/A

Meals - As per fight

Day 2 - ARRIVE TAIPEI/ TAOYUAN/ TAICHUNG

Arrive into Taipei Taoyuan International Airport this morning (approx. 6am). Meet your guide and drive to nearby Daxi Old Street, a charming heritage street lined with Baroque-style shopfronts - a gentle stroll to stretch your legs after the flight. Continue to Taichung (approx. 1.5 hours), visiting Shenji New Village, a trendy cultural and creative hub of cafes and boutique shops, and the Taichung Yi Railway Cultural Park. Enjoy a relaxed dinner and an early night to recover from the flight.

Accommodation - Holiday Inn Express Taichung Park or similar

Meals - As per flight / Lunch / Dinner

Day 3 - TAICHUNG/SUN MOON LAKE

Following breakfast, you will embark on a scenic drive to Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan’s breathtaking largest alpine lake. Your itinerary includes a serene boat cruise across the shimmering waters and a visit to the historic Wenwu Temple, perfectly positioned to offer stunning views. You will then check into your lakeside hotel for a tranquil overnight stay.

Accommodation - Hotel Del Lago Sun Moon Lake or similar

Meals - Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Day 4 - SUN MOON LAKE/TAINAN

Following breakfast, embark on a scenic three-hour drive south to Tainan, the oldest city in Taiwan. Dedicate your afternoon to exploring the rich heritage of Anping Old Street, the historic Anping Fort, and the fascinating Tait & Co. Merchant House, before concluding your day by watching a spectacular sunset over Anping Harbour.

Accommodation - Hotel Cozzi Ximen Tainan or similar

Meals - Breakfast / Lunch / Own Dinner

Day 5 - TAINAN/TAITUNG/CHIHPEN

This morning, we take a leisurely few hours drive along the coast to Taitung. Enjoy an easy stroll through Taitung Forest Park (Pipa Lake) and then visit Jialulan Coast for its dramatic rock formations and ocean views. Continue a short drive to Chihpen, Taiwan's hometown of hot springs. Check in to your hot spring hotel and spend the evening relaxing in the mineral waters - a gentle, restorative end to the day.

Accommodation - Chihpen Century Hotel or similar

Meals - Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Day 6 - CHIHPEN/HUALIEN

Depart Chihpen after breakfast, stopping en route at Sansiantai and the Shiaoyeliou stone sculpture park. Continue to Taroko National Park to visit the Eternal Spring Shrine and enjoy a gentle walk around the area for photos. Check in to your hotel in Hualien. This evening, explore Dongdamen Night Market at your own pace and arrange your own dinner from its many food stalls.

Accommodation - Lakeshore Hotel Hualien or similar

Meals - Breakfast / Lunch / Own Dinner

Day 7 - HUALIEN/TAIPEI

Following breakfast, begin the drive back toward Taipei, pausing to admire the breathtaking views at the scenic Qingshui Cliff. Upon your early afternoon arrival in Taipei, you will visit the historic Longshan Temple. Later, enjoy a fun, hands-on DIY pineapple cake-making class before checking into your hotel and settling in for a relaxing dinner.

Accommodation - Caesar Park Hotel Taipei or similar

Meals - Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Day 8 - TAIPEI

This morning, drive to Yehliu Geopark on the north coast to see the famous wind-eroded rock formations, including the Queen's Head, before the crowds arrive. Continue to Shifen Old Street, set along the historic Pingxi Railway, for lunch and the chance to write your wishes on a traditional sky lantern before releasing it into the sky - usually it is one lantern between 4 people. Return to Taipei by late afternoon and take in the views from Taipei 101's observation deck. This evening, enjoy a stroll through Shilin Night Market at your own pace, sampling street food for dinner.

Accommodation - Caesar Park Hotel Taipei or similar

Meals - Breakfast / Lunch / Own Dinner

Day 9 - TAIPEI/SAPPORO

This morning, we hop across over to Sapporo, Japan! We anticipate to arrive early afternoon and then your trusty local guide will take you down to the main city area for a bit of free time and dinner at a local restaurant. Then check in at hotel for overnight.

Accommodation - Sapporo Excel Tokyu Hotel or similar

Meals - Breakfast / Own Lunch / Dinner

Day 10 - SAPPORO

This morning, ascend to the Okurayama viewing point, soaring up to the summit of the Sapporo Winter Olympics ski jump by chair lift – the views over the surrounding mountains are breathtaking. Continue to the pretty port town of Otaru and take some time to walk along the streets of the village and stroll along the picturesque canal. This evening visit the Sapporo Beer Museum where there is an optional beer tasting before popping next door to the Sapporo Beer Garden to dine on a Genghis Khan dinner – barbeque lamb, a Sapporo special!

Accommodation - Sapporo Excel Tokyu Hotel or similar

Meals - Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Day 11 - SAPPORO/NOBORIBETSU

After breakfast we stop at Odori Park which is located in the heart of Sapporo, separating the city into north and south parts. From here, enjoy the view of the Sapporo TV Tower and then visit the Clock Tower. We then drop into the famous Ishiya Chocolate Factory and afterwards, we drive to Date Jidaimura - a historic theme park highlighting the Edo Period, one of the most attractive eras in Japanese history. Step back in time to enjoy traditional games, activities, theaters, street performances and more. Tonight we stay in Noboribetsu, a city in Iburi subprefecture, Hokkaido.

Accommodation - Noboribetsu Manseikaku or similar

Meals - Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Day 12 - NOBORIBETSU/LAKE TOYA

This morning we drive to an Ainu village, where you can get a better picture of the indigenous Ainu lifestyle through the display of the precious heirlooms and household utensils and traditional embroidery. Afterwards, we head to Mt Showa Shinzan, which is still an active volcano. At the foot of the mountain you can see Ezo grizzly bears and their cubs at the Bear Ranch. Tonight we stay in the region of Lake Toya.

Accommodation - Toya Manseikaku or similar

Meals - Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Day 13 - LAKE TOYA/HAKODATE

After a good night’s rest we depart Lake Toya region for Hakodate – a Japanese city often called the gateway to Hokkaido. Upon arrival, enjoy a city tour covering Kanemori Red Brick warehouse, Goryokaku Fort and also a cable car ride at Mount Hakodate to see the city views and hopefully the vibrant Cherry Blossoms as well! To finish off the day, enjoy a bit of free time at Motomachi shopping arcade.

Accommodation - Hakodate Kukusai Hotel or similar

Meals - Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Day 14 - HAKODATE/TOKYO (VIA BULLET TRAIN)

This morning, we bid farewell to Hakodate as we make our way to the train station for our bullet train experience to Tokyo! This relaxing ride should take at around 4 hours before arriving into the busy city of Tokyo. Upon arrival, we will check into our hotel and then enjoy a bit of free time to explore our surroundings before gathering again for our first dinner at Tokyo.

*Note: We will arrange to have your large suitcase delivered to Tokyo region 2 days beforehand. We will provide more instructions before departure.

Accommodation - Tokyo Dome Hotel or similar

Meals - Breakfast / Own Lunch / Dinner

Day 15 - TOKYO FREE DAY

Today is a full rest day in Tokyo with no organised excursions for our guests, allowing you to explore Tokyo on your own or simply use the time to rest up before we head to the Alpine Route.

Accommodation - Tokyo Dome Hotel or similar

Meals - Breakfast / Own Lunch / Own Dinner

Day 16 - TOKYO/MATSUMOTO/NAGANO

Before we depart Tokyo this morning, we will have a photostop at Tokyo Tower and the Imperial Palace. We will then have lunch in the Shibuya region with a bit of free time to explore. Later, we drive via Matsumoto for a brief visit before heading through to Nagano area for overnight.

Accommodation - Mercure Nagano Matsushiro Resort & Spa or similar

Meals - Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Day 17 - NAGANO/ALPINE ROUTE/KANAZAWA

The major highlight of this itinerary will be the famous Alpine Route called the Tateyama Kurobe! A magnificent mountain sightseeing route, the pride of Japan, connects Toyama City and Omachi City. In spring, snow plow trucks carve out the road, creating 20m-high walls on both sides, called the “Yuki-no-Ohtani” (Towering Wall of Snow). This is normally seen between mid April to June annually and is truly a unique experience. Overnight in Kanazawa.

Accommodation - Kanazawa Kokusai Hotel or similar

Meals - Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Day 18 - KANAZAWA/SHIRAKAWAGO/KANAZAWA

After breakfast we drop into Shirakawago for a quick visit - this area is famous for its traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouses and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. Then we head back to Kanazawa - the capital of Ishikawa, well known for its well preserved Edo Period districts, art museums and handicrafts. Enjoy a visit to Kenrokuen Garden, one of Japan’s three most beautiful plantations and then spend some time in Higashi Chaya. This district is well-known as having the most tea houses in Kanazawa. Besides that, there are many long established and new craft shops, so you’ll enjoy strolling, having a coffee break, and enjoying the overall atmosphere.

Accommodation - Kanazawa Kokusai Hotel or similar

Meals - Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Day 19 - KANAZAWA/KYOTO

After breakfast this morning we drive towards the famous city of Kyoto for a visit. Kyoto was once the capital of Japan and is home to thousands of classical Buddhist temples. Here we will visit the Kiyomizu temple – one of the most celebrated temples in Japan. Afterwards we also visit the other well known temple – Kinkakuji – also known as the Golden Pavillion. Overnight in Kyoto.

Accommodation - Miyako hotel Kyoto or similar

Meals - Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Day 20 - KYOTO/OSAKA

This morning stroll through Nishiki Market, dubbed ‘Kyoto’s kitchen’, where there are many interesting food and sake stores. walk the vermillion, torii gate-lined pathways of the Fushimi Inari Shrine and tour a traditional sake brewery, where you can try some of the local sake. Afterwards we finish off the day in Osaka.

Accommodation - Sheraton Miyako Hotel Osaka or similar

Meals - Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Day 21 - OSAKA/TAIPEI/HOME

This morning, visit the famous Osaka Castle before a bit of free time in Shinasaibashi and then check in at aiport in the afternoon for our flight home. Upon arriving into Taipei airport, there will be a few hours transit before flying back home.

Meals - Breakfast / As per flight

Day 22 - ARRIVE HOME

Your overnight flight arrives back home today and we hope you had a fantastic time abroad!

Meals - As per flight