Let Carol Klein guide you to the wonders of Japan
Exclusively for MoS readers: Join the TV star on an amazing trip
NOBODY ever forgets hanami – the Japanese tradition of viewing the brief but beautiful blossoms that adorn the nation’s trees in springtime. The broadcaster and gardener Carol Klein certainly won’t. After joining our exclusive Mail on Sunday itinerary to Japan in April, she was so taken by it that she has signed up to accompany readers again in 2019.
On this wonderful trip, you will be joined by the Gardeners’ World presenter in Tokyo when the pink and white shades of sakura – the local word for cherry blossom – are due to bloom.
Transforming the parks and framing the country’s mountains and temples, this is a magical sight.
Following a brilliant tour exploring Tokyo and Mount Fuji, including a journey on the bullet train, you will board Diamond Princess for the start of an unforgettable nine-day voyage around ancient temples, feudal castles and an extraordinary coastline, including a stop in South Korea. REASONS TO SET SAIL Cherry blossom season Your visit is timed to witness the blossoms at their most beautiful. The cherry season timings vary from year to year, but in early April the Japanese capital is usually resplendent with blossom. Explore Tokyo with Carol and enjoy exclusive talks. See the best of Japan This is a fascinating destination at any time of year, and there will be ample opportunity for you to make the most of it. You will travel on a bullet train, visit Mount Fuji, sail through the Kanmon Straits and visit Shinto temples. Exceptional value Japan is not a budget place to visit – especially during cherry blossom season – but this itinerary offers one of the best-value ways to explore it. Sail aboard Diamond Princess Built in Japan, this magnificent ship will take you on an unforgettable voyage around Japan. On board, there’s a wide choice of restaurants, including a sushi bar, 24-hour panoramic buffet, theatre and Japanese baths. Stop in South Korea You will stop in the fascinating port of Busan, described by Lonely Planet as ‘one of the great unheralded cities in Asia’, where skyscrapers stand alongside temples.