With the arrival of Japan’s cherry blossom season, it is predicted that this year foreign tourists visiting Japan will increase by 18% and domestic travel will increase by 28% over last year.

Airbnb recommends 3 kinds of overnight stays and 4 experiences for this cherry blossom viewing season.

Three popular overnight stays for the cherry blossom　viewing season

■House made of Yoshino cedar

This house is located in the town of Yoshino in Nara Prefecture, a town known as one of Japan’s most famous places for cherry blossom viewing.  The room is made of Yoshino cedar and white cedar so you can enjoy viewing cherry blossoms enveloped in the nice tree smell. One overnight stay is approximately 9900 yen ~

■An overnight stay near West Park in Fukuoka Prefecture

There are about 1300 cherry trees in Nishi Park and it has been chosen as one of the 100 best cherry blossom viewing sites in Japan. You can walk to this park in 5 minutes. One overnight stay is approximately 7900 yen~

■A cabin in Sapporo

You can walk to Maruyama Park in 5 minutes from this cabin. Murayama Park is famous for its cherry blossoms. You can enjoy drinks and cakes in an old Japanese-style house café near here. One overnight stay is approximately 7000 yen~

■A flower arranging experience “Ikebana” 

Not only will you learn how to do floral arrangement, but also you can learn floral arrangement philosophy by visiting a shrine and participating in a tea party for 3 days. Mika who has a 30 year career in flower arranging will help you to enjoy this experience!

■A “Furoshiki” parcel wrapping experience / Wrap Artist

This experience will be taught by Kyoko who runs a Furoshiki (Japanese wrapping cloth) online shop. You will learn how to wrap different things using a Furoshiki on this 3 day-trip. Using your newly learned technique you can wrap your lunch box and go on a cherry blossom-viewing picnic.

■An AMAZAKE (sweet fermented rice drink)making experience

An Amazake making experience and a tasting of different kinds of Amazake over a 3 day-period. The host will be Mayu who is a sommelier and the owner of a SAKE BAR.

■A Japanese-style painting experience / Pigment & Inc

The host of this event, Maria has experienced teaching Japanese-style painting in Japan and in New York. She will guide the program both in Japanese and in English. You will learn about the history, and about pigmented ink by visiting an art store. You can enjoy Japanese-style painting over a 3 day-period.

It’s getting warmer everyday and the cherry blossoms will be at their best very soon. Have some wonderful spring experiences!

■Information

https://www.airbnb.jp/

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