Join the ‘Hanami’ Waitlist!

The 2025 ‘Hanami’ 10-Day Japan Flower Tour & Workshop has reached full-capacity!

Join our Wailist via the form below and if additional spots open up, individuals on the waitlist will have priority registration. *For Tour & Workshop Details, scroll down the page for confirmed dates & itinerary.

Enter your Name & Email Address below to be placed on our 'Hanami' Flower Tour Waitlist!

‘Hanami‘ Tour & Workshop Details

Tour Dates: March 2nd - 11th, 2025
Tour Hosted by: Hitomi Gilliam, Kiyomi Kurihara, Yukari Mitsui

‘Hanami’ means ‘flower viewing’, a Japanese traditional custom of enjoying the transient beauty of flowers. This 10-Day Tour will feature ‘flower viewing’ of all kinds, from visiting Japanese Flower Farms on Shikoku Island, to the gorgeous Makino Botanical Garden in Kochi, Naoshima Art Island, studying with an Ikebana master, the Japanese art of flower arranging. View our complete 10-Day schedule below, with specific details on what is included with your registration. *tour details are updated as of June 30th, 2024. Some final confirmations are being finalized and updates will be posted as they are confirmed.

Day by Day Tour Overview

All Transportation included. All Tours & Sightseeing Admission also included. For included meals & lodging, please see notes below each day on itinerary.

'Hanami' 10-Day Japan Flower Tour & Workshop (March 2025)

This exciting Guided Flower Tour & Workshop will be taking place from March 2nd to the 11th, 2025.

Hosted by Hitomi Gilliam, Kiyomi Kurihara, & Yukari Mitsui, this 10-Day Flower Adventure will take you through the Japanese countryside visiting Flower Farms, historical cities and landmarks, Botanical Gardens, and more! From Shikoku Island to Kyoto, Himeji, and Osaka, this exciting trip blends Japanese Culture with Japanese Flowers & Art! This Tour also incudes (2) Hands-On Workshops. (scroll down page for most up-to-date tour details)

Registration:

Full Price of the Tour is US$6,500/person (Single Occupancy)

DAY ONE (March 2)

Our group will begin the 10-Day Tour with a short flight (included in tour fee) from Osaka to Kochi on Shikoku Island where we will spend the first several days. Once there, we will enjoy an Izakaya Experience group dinner before settling in for the night. Night One hotel in Kochi is also included in your tour registration.

Day One What’s Included:

Travel (Flight) from Osaka to Kochi
Hotel in Kochi
Group Dinner (Izakaya Experience)

Day One What’s NOT Included:

Breakfast (breakfast on your own prior to our flight from Osaka to Kochi)
Lunch (lunch on your own prior to our flight from Osaka to KochI)

DAY TWO (March 3)

Witness the beauty and attention to detail that Japanese Flower Farmers exhibit in this Full Tour Day. Day Two will be spent touring multiple Japanese Flower Farms in Kochi, including Misato Gloriosa Farm! Night Two hotel in Kochi is also included in your tour registration.

Day Two What’s Included:

All Transportation from Hotel to Kochi Flower Farms
Hotel in Kochi
Hotel Breakfast
Group Lunch

Day Two What’s NOT Included:

Dinner (Dinner on your own)

DAY THREE (March 4)

Day Three will feature a Full-Day Demo/Lecture PLUS Hands-On Workshop with Hitomi Gilliam at the famous Makino Botanical Garden! Spend the day learning about designing with Japanese Flowers and getting to touch and design with flowers from the farms you visited one day earlier. Night Three hotel in Kochi is also included in your tour registration.

Day Three What’s Included:

All Transportation from Hotel to Makino Botanical Garden
Admission to Makino Botanical Garden
Workshop Day 1 with Hitomi Gilliam (at Makino Botanical Garden)
Hotel in Kochi
Hotel Breakfast
Group Lunch at Makino Botanical Garden

Day Three What’s NOT Included:

Dinner (Dinner on your own)

DAY FOUR (March 5)

Day Four will feature a Part-Day Demo/Lecture PLUS Hands-On Workshop with Hitomi Gilliam at the famous Makino Botanical Garden, followed by a tour of the gardens! Night Four hotel in Kochi is also included in your tour registration.

Day Four What’s Included:

All Transportation from Hotel to Makino Botanical Garden
Admission to Makino Botanical Garden
Workshop Day 2 with Hitomi Gilliam (at Makino Botanical Garden)
Hotel in Kochi
Hotel Breakfast
Group Lunch at Makino Botanical Garden

Day Four What’s NOT Included:

Dinner (Dinner on your own)

DAY FIVE (March 6)

Day Five will feature another Full Day of Farm Tours, this time in near the capital of Shikoku, Takamatsu. In addition to the farm tours, you will enjoy the Kagawa Udon Experience. Located on the island of Shikoku in Japan's Island Sea, Kagawa, or “Sanuki” as it was once known, is the smallest of the country's 47 prefectures. It’s also one of Japan’s most beautiful spots, filled with traditional villages and overflowing with excellent sake. Night Five hotel in Takamatsu is also included in your tour registration.

Day Five What’s Included:

All Transportation from Hotel to Flower Farms & Attractions in Shikoku
Hotel in Takamatsu
Hotel Breakfast
Group Lunch (Kagawa Udon Experience)

Day Five What’s NOT Included:

Dinner (Dinner on your own)

DAY SIX (March 7)

Day Six will be spent on Naoshima. Naoshima, commonly known as Japan’s art island, is a tiny island in the Seto Inland Sea, and one of our absolute favorite places in Japan. It’s home to whimsical sculptures and installations, and modern museums and galleries featuring impressive architecture and artwork.. Night Six hotel is also included in your tour registration.

Day Six What’s Included:

All Transportation from Hotel to Naoshima Art Island
Admission to Naoshima Art Island
Hotel
Hotel Breakfast
Group Lunch at Naoshima Art Island

Day Six What’s NOT Included:

Dinner (Dinner on your own)

DAY SEVEN (March 8)

On Day Seven we will be crossing the scenic bridge to mainland Japan and the city of Himeji. Once there, we will take you on a comprehensive tour of the Himeji Flower Auction, as well as visit the famous and Iconic Himeji White Castle, regarded as the finest surviving example of prototypical Japanese castle architecture. We will then transfer and ride the Shinkansen (commonly known as the ‘Bullet Train’ to the city of Kyoto, where you will book your own accommodations for the next 3 nights (we can provide you with recommendations) Night Seven hotel is NOT included in your tour registration.

Day Seven What’s Included:

All Transportation from Hotel to Himeji.
Transfer and Transportation to Kyoto via the Shinkansen (Bullet Train)
Admission to Day 7 Sightseeing locations
Hotel Breakfast
Group Lunch

Day Seven What’s NOT Included:

Dinner (Dinner on your own)
Hotel/Accommodations in Kyoto

DAYS EIGHT THRU TEN (March 8-11)

Enjoy Japanese Culture in the historic city of Kyoto over the final 3 Days of our Tour. We will be visiting a number of historical shrines & temples throughout the region, including the Bamboo Forest, Kinkakuji Golden Temple, Ryoanji Temple Rock Garden, Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kyoto Imperial Palace, Kiyomizutera Temple, & Toji Temple. We will also be visiting and touring the world famous Ikenobo School of Ikebana, where we will learn the history of Ikebana and you will be able to purchase supplies from their school store. We will also be arranging a 1-Day Ikebana Workshop for all tour participants, as well as a Traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony Demo and Kimono Dressing! Night Seven hotel is NOT included in your tour registration.

Day 8-10 What’s Included:

All Transportation and Transfers to Kyoto Tour Locations (from a to be determined Central Meeting Location)
Admission to ALL Day 8-10 Sightseeing locations
1-Day Ikebana Workshop
Kimono Rental for our Kimono Dressing Experience
Group Lunch Daily
Final Night (Day 10) Group Dinner