Japan Rail Pass Now - Japan Travel Guide

7 DAY PASS – Cherry Blossoms
Delights Itinerary
Day 6: Sightseeing in and around Osaka
Osaka and its surroundings offer top-notch cherry blossom viewing spots that attract crowds of locals and tourists during the peak cherry blossom
season.
Cherry Blossom Viewing Spots in Osaka
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Kema Sakuranomiya Park – This park is located close to the Okawa River, which is lined by about 5,000 cherry trees. Take the JR Loop Line and
disembark at Sakuranomiya Station.
Osaka Castle – Home to more than 4,000 sakura trees, the grounds of Osaka Castle provide a great spot from which to view the pink cherry
blossoms and beautiful castle tower. The castle is located about a 20-minute walk from Osakajojoen Station, which is on the JR Osaka Loop Line.
Osaka Mint Bureau – With more than 100 varieties of cherry trees, the Osaka Mint Bureau is open for a week in the middle of April every year
for cherry blossom viewing. It is a 15-minute walk from JR Osaka Loop Line’s Sakuranomiya Station.
Cherry Blossom Viewing Spot Outside Osaka
If you have time for a quick trip beyond Osaka, check out the Philosopher’s Path in Kyoto for an amazing cherry blossom viewing experience.
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Philosopher’s Path in Kyoto – The Philosopher’s Path is a two-kilometre stone path found in the northern portion of Higashiyama in Kyoto. It
follows a canal that stretches from the Ginkakuji area to the Nanzenji neighbourhood, and is lined by several hundreds of different varieties of
sakura trees. From Osaka Station, take the Tokaido-Sanyo Line to Kyoto Station. The one-way trip takes about 35 minutes and is covered by the
JR Pass. Then, from Kyoto Station, hop on bus number 5, 17, or 100 for a 40-minute ride. This leg of the trip costs 230 yen and is not covered
by the JR Pass.
Day 7: Osaka to Tokyo
To return to Tokyo, get on a JR Kyoto Line local train going to Shin-Osaka Station, where you can board a Shinkansen headed to Tokyo. The whole journey
takes about three and a half hours and is fully covered by your JR Pass.
Note: Peak cherry blossom season varies per region every year, so be sure to check the internet for cherry blossom forecasts and reports before your
trip so you can plan accordingly.
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