Sakura and Snow: Spring Rail Travel in Japan

Pushing the limits of the JR Pass (26th April – 10th May 2015). Through 14-days on the JR Pass, our travels would probably be best described as ‘extreme sightseeing’ where each day we would travel ridiculous distances to photograph stuff, only to travel ridiculous distances back again. Our first day is an early example, when we travelled 1,200 km from Tokyo to the northern parts of Japan, to photograph sakura blooms, only to return back to Tokyo again. And while we did have initial reservations in our extensive itinerary and time in transit, the journey proved to be a harmonious mix of both local culture and far-flung sightseeing on Japan’s nifty railway lines.

Destinations include Tokyo, Morioka, Matsushima, Kyoto, the ‘Snow Wall’ at Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, Shirakawa-go UNESCO village, Sendai, Osaka, the 8 Hells of Beppu in Kyushu, the Wisteria Tunnel at Kawachi Fuji Garden, a ryokan with views at Lake Kawaguchiko, and The Fuji Shibazakura Festival.