The Real Japan Travel Bulletin

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Hello from sunny Japan!

My wife and I are now almost 2 weeks into our 3-month stay and finally the weather is warming up.

Last week there was footage on TV of Tokyo deep in snow, but today it's a sunny 13C/55F there. But we're in Hyogo - close to Osaka - where the temperature is set to rise to a welcome 19C/66F.

Next week I'm meeting up with some Concierge clients in Kobe for coffee and cake (a combination Kobe is famous for). They're both British actors - travelling with a 5-month old baby, and wisely started their first trip to Japan in warmer Okinawa.

That should be fun! I always enjoy meeting clients in Japan when our itineraries overlap.

Anyhow, welcome to this month's Japan Travel Bulletin. In this issue:

New Unique Short Stays Across Japan
Stay Connected In Japan With Ease
Sakura Season Offers For Food Lovers
UPDATED! Latest Sakura Cherry Blossom Forecast

In Case You Missed It...

Latest Guides on TheRealJapan.com:

Latest Podcasts:

New Unique Short Stays Across Japan

Wabunka has been expanding their collection of unique stays across Japan.

These are not typical accommodation listings, but places where the stay itself is the reason to book, just as their cultural experiences are chosen for the experience they offer.

Pages have a slightly different layout from regular experience pages, with larger photos and more detailed information about the property, room types, and included meals.

Here's 4 highlights across Japan that caught my eye that I thought you'd appreciate seeing...

🏯 Auberge TOKITO | Tokyo | From circa $2,415/£1,817/group

Escape the city without leaving it.

Tucked away in Tokyo's tranquil western reaches, Auberge TOKITO is an intimate boutique auberge just one hour by train from Tokyo Station - yet a world apart.

Four private 106-square-metre suites feature private open-air onsen baths fed by natural springwater drawn from over a kilometre underground, earthen walls, shoji screens, and audiophile-quality vinyl systems.

The centrepiece of your stay is an exclusive counter-seat dinner served by Michelin-starred chef Yoshinori Ishii - whose résumé spans the UN ambassadorial circuit and London's acclaimed restaurant UMU.

As an optional add-on, guests can create their own ceramic vessel in Ishii's private pottery studio using his original clay and glazes, fired and shipped to your door.

👉 Discover Auberge TOKITO and check availability

Discover Auberge TOKITO and check availability

🌿 Gora Hanaougi | Hakone | From circa $659/£495/group

Hakone's forested hills hide one of Japan's most beguiling small hotels.

Gora Hanaougi is an exclusive 20-room property set amid seasonal forests, featuring traditional Hida craftsmanship - from latticed sliding doors to a lobby chandelier fashioned from over a thousand pieces of wood.

Every guest room comes with its own private open-air onsen bath fed by a single hot spring source exclusive to the hotel, so you can soak at leisure while the trees change colour around you.

Dinner arrives kaiseki-style, with highlights including Arima duck, wild yellowtail, and wagyu beef, followed by a locally-sourced Japanese breakfast to set you up for the day.

👉 Explore Gora Hanaougi and check availability

Explore Gora Hanaougi and check availability

🌊 UMITO Atami Bettei | Atami, Izu | From circa $1,235/£930/group

Sea, sky, and silence - all yours.

UMITO Atami Bettei is a boutique clifftop retreat of just five luxury suites, perched above the Pacific Ocean on the Izu Peninsula, just 45 minutes from Tokyo by shinkansen.

Floor-to-ceiling picture windows blur the line between interior and ocean, while your private balcony holds both an infinity pool and an onsen bath fed by natural hot spring water - perfect for stargazing or watching the sun melt into the sea.

Dinner is a French-influenced multi-course affair using the finest local seasonal ingredients, served privately in your suite.

👉 Discover UMITO Atami Bettei and check availability

Discover UMITO Atami Bettei and check availability

🏮 Hiiragiya Ryokan | Kyoto | From circa $1,179/£888/person

To stay at Hiiragiya is to step into living history.

Founded in 1818, this legendary Kyoto ryokan has welcomed guests - from Nobel laureates to heads of state - for over two centuries, guided by its philosophy of rai-sha-nyo-ki: "as if returning home."

Rooms in the sukiya-style main building look out onto an elegant inner garden, while private ofuro baths crafted from Japanese umbrella pine are filled with soft underground spring water.

Dinner is a meticulously composed Kyoto kaiseki served in your room, followed by a breakfast of charcoal-warmed tofu, grilled fish, and rice from a clay pot - a gentle, grounding start to a Kyoto morning.

👉 Experience Hiiragiya Ryokan and check availability

Experience Hiiragiya Ryokan and check availability

Stay Connected in Japan With Ease

Mobal have launched a new 5G Unlimited Data eSIM.

They're marketing it as the best way to stay connected while you're in Japan. You get unrivalled coverage and superfast 5G speeds, and it really is unlimited.

You get unlimited data at 5G speeds for 16 Days with this eSIM.
You get access to Starlink-enabled WiFi hotspots at mountain huts and on select ferry services.
You can also use up to 15 GB for personal hotspot/tethering during your 16 Days.
The eSIM is data-only (no Voice or SMS).
It uses the KDDI network, ensuring near-universal coverage across Japan.
Quick and hassle-free setup – you'll get access to your eSIM within minutes.

You'll need to make sure your device is unlocked and eSIM compatible. Details on checking this are on the Mobal website HERE.

See What's Included

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🌸 Sakura Season Offers For Food Lovers

🌸 byFood Sakura Special - Save 30% on Food Experiences Across Japan

Cherry blossom season is the perfect excuse to eat your way through Japan, and byFood is making it even sweeter. Their Sakura campaign offers 30% off a wide range of curated food experiences with local hosts, valid for bookings made until 30 April 2026 - and the discount is applied automatically at checkout, no code needed.

The sale spans four categories, so there's something whatever your travel style:

Experiences: from temari sushi-making in Nara to a private home cooking and riverside bento picnic in Kyoto, these are the kind of hands-on moments that make a trip memorable.

Restaurants: select Tokyo sushi restaurants, including Sushi Ginza and the five-star-rated Akasaka Sushi Aoi, are included with sakura-season table pricing.

Food Tours: join a wagyu gourmet tour through Osaka, a scenic e-bike ride through Himeji, or an Asakusa street food walking tour through Tokyo under the blossoms.

Cooking Classes: roll up your sleeves for ramen and gyoza masterclasses, homemade katsu, and more, all led by local chefs in Tokyo and beyond.

There are also dedicated picks for solo travellers and families, and a sake and drinks section for those who want to toast the season properly.

👉 Browse all Sakura Special deals at byFood

Offer valid on eligible bookings made 16 February – 30 April 2026. Discount applied automatically at checkout. Cannot be combined with other promotions. Availability may be limited.

Browse all Sakura Specials at byFood

Latest Sakura Cherry Blossom Forecast

The Japan Meterological Association just released the 8th Cherry Blossom forecast for 2026. You can read my updated post HERE.

Here's just some my Key Takeaways when planning a viewing trip...

Plan ahead (seriously!): Cherry blossom season is the most popular time to visit Japan, so book your flights and accommodation well in advance - sometimes even a year ahead!
Follow the forecast: The Japan Meteorological Corporation (JMC) releases its first forecast in January and provides regular updates. This will help you predict the best time to see the blossoms in different regions.
The blossoms move north: The cherry blossom season starts in the south (Okinawa) in January and moves north, reaching Hokkaido in early May. This gives you a wide window to catch them somewhere in the country.
It's a nationwide party: Cherry blossom festivals, or sakura-matsuri, are celebrated all over Japan with picnics and parties under the blooming trees.
Hirosaki is a must-see: The Hirosaki sakura-matsuri in Aomori Prefecture is one of the most famous festivals, with thousands of cherry trees surrounding the beautiful Hirosaki Castle.
There's an app for that: The "Sakura Navi - Forecast" app will give you up-to-date information on the cherry blossom forecast, a "Flowering Meter" to track their progress, and notifications for nearby viewing spots.

Unless you're already in Japan, it's too late to plan viewing this year. But now if the perfect time to start planning for next year!

See My Compete Guide

That’s it for this issue of my Japan Travel Bulletin {{contact.first_name}}.

Look out for more dispatches from the frontline of spring in Japan!

Rob

Book Your Trip: Japan Travel Essentials

Book Your Flights
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Book Your Accommodation
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Book Your Cultural Experiences
I recommend Wabunka for enriching cultural and artisan experiences.

Book Your Japan Rail Pass
The only official agent I recommend is JRPass.com.

Book Your eSIMs/SIM cards
I recommend Mobal's eSIMs and SIM cards.

Book Your WiFi
I never travel in Japan without pocket WiFi. Get Ninja WiFi.

Book Your Hire Car
Rent a car in Japan without speaking or reading Japanese via Booking.com Car Rental.

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🌸 Japan in bloom: unique stays, sakura food deals & the latest blossom forecast