Okazaki Canal
- The shot
- Cherry trees over the canal, sometimes with boats.
- When to go
- Early morning at full bloom.
- Guide’s tip
- From the bridge you can film the tunnel of blossom over the water.
Late March · early April
TikTok’s sakura: Kyoto and Osaka in spring
Cherry blossom lasts barely two weeks and is the most filmed moment of the year in Japan. You need to know where and when to go to avoid crowds.
Book on WhatsAppTikTok special price: 30,000 ¥ 38,000 ¥
Late March · early April
Osaka Castle
- The shot
- The white and gold castle surrounded by cherry trees.
- When to go
- At park opening or at sunset.
- Guide’s tip
- Shoot from the moat: castle above, blossoms below.
Kiyomizu-dera in bloom
- The shot
- The stage above pink cherry treetops.
- When to go
- First thing or at the spring night illumination.
- Guide’s tip
- Come on a weekday: peak-bloom weekends are impossible.
Kimono among cherry blossoms
- The shot
- A kimono walk through Higashiyama’s slopes in bloom.
- When to go
- Very early; book the kimono in advance.
- Guide’s tip
- Kimono rentals fill up in spring: I’ll help you book.
Deer and sakura in Nara
- The shot
- Deer lying under the park’s cherry trees.
- When to go
- In the morning, before tour groups.
- Guide’s tip
- The winning shot: a deer and a falling petal. Patience.
Arashiyama in spring
- The shot
- Hills dotted with cherry trees above the Katsura River.
- When to go
- In the morning; the bamboo before 8:00.
- Guide’s tip
- The river boats give you a shot nobody else has.
Hidden gems across Japan · Spring
What people save… and almost nobody visits
Gardens, flowers and landscapes from all over Japan that show up in saved videos, not on the usual tours.
Hitachi Seaside Park
Ibaraki (Hitachinaka) · daffodils and tulips in spring; blue nemophila arrive in late April
- Why people save it
- Whole hills that change colour with each flower; the most-saved is the nemophila “blue hill”.
- Getting there
- Bus from Katsuta Station. Arrive at opening: it gets crowded by midday. Pair it with Ōarai’s torii.
Kumagaya Sakura-zutsumi
Saitama · late March and early April
- Why people save it
- Two kilometres of cherry trees along a river with a path of yellow rapeseed below: pink and yellow in one shot.
- Getting there
- Shinkansen or JR train from Tokyo to Kumagaya; walk from the station.
Shōwa Kinen Park tulips
Tokyo (Tachikawa) · early to mid April
- Why people save it
- Fields of colourful tulips around a pond, like a Dutch painting in Tokyo.
- Getting there
- JR train from Shinjuku; the same park as the autumn ginkgos.
Chūreitō Pagoda and Mt Fuji
Yamanashi · early to mid April
- Why people save it
- The red pagoda, cherry blossoms and Mount Fuji in one shot.
- Getting there
- Climb the nearly 400 steps at sunrise: Fuji is usually clearest in the morning.
Mount Yoshino
Nara · early to mid April
- Why people save it
- Thousands of cherry trees blooming up the mountain in layers.
- Getting there
- Kintetsu train from Osaka. Arrive early: blossoms climb from bottom to top over two weeks.
Shirahige’s lake torii
Shiga (Lake Biwa) · all year, best at sunrise
- Why people save it
- A red torii standing in the water of Japan’s largest lake.
- Getting there
- JR Kosei line from Kyoto. Don’t cross the road for the photo: there is a safe viewpoint.
Motonosumi Inari
Yamaguchi · all year
- Why people save it
- Over a hundred red torii running down to cliffs above the sea.
- Getting there
- Best by car; it is far from everything, which is why it is nearly empty.
Takachiho Gorge
Miyazaki · all year
- Why people save it
- A waterfall dropping into an emerald river between rock walls, seen from a rowing boat.
- Getting there
- Boats are booked and fill up fast; reserve as soon as you know your date.
Ine no Funaya
Northern Kyoto · all year
- Why people save it
- Wooden boathouses built over the water, with boats parked underneath.
- Getting there
- Pair it with Amanohashidate on the same day; about 2–3 hours from Kyoto.
I’ll help you fit it into your trip
WhatsAppIn Kansai I guide you myself; elsewhere I help with the plan and connect you with guides from our team.
Other seasons
Questions
Will you film the videos for me?
I help with angles and timing, and film the shots you appear in on your phone. Editing and posting are up to you.
What does the special price include?
The guiding: about 4 hours of private guide for your group. Tickets, transport and meals are paid separately.
Can we add other places?
Yes. The route adapts to what you want to film. For a full day, I’ll give you the price when you book.
Is there halal food on the route?
Yes. I can plan the route with halal food stops and places to pray.