My husband and I are keen gardeners and we're toying with the idea of visiting Japan in spring to see the magnificent cherry blossoms. We'd also like to plan a two-week tour around the blossom-viewing, taking in some of the country's best parks and gardens. When is the best time to see the blossoms in full bloom?
Mary Selby
Late March or early April is traditionally the best time to view the riotous display of scent and colour that is Japan's sakura cherry blossom season. Depending on climate and location, the blossoms can appear as early as January in the southern part of the country, or as late as May on the northern island of Hokkaido.
With the much-anticipated coming of the season, the entire nation is glued to the TV to follow the sakura-zensen ("cherry-blossom front"), as it makes its way slowly northward.
If your travel plans are flexible and luck is on your side, you could aim to begin your Japanese travels in late March. Follow the media reports of the cherry-blossom front and jump on a bullet train to follow it as it heads north.
The annual cherry blossom forecast by Japan's Meteorological Agency is announced each year in March. A list of the most popular cherry blossom locations across Japan can be found at Japan Guide, which also includes a useful list of average blooming dates.
The locations with outstanding cherry blossoms also happen to be some of the country's biggest drawcards, making them perfect for planning a Japanese itinerary. Top locations include Yokohama's Sankeien Garden and Mitsuike Park, Kamakura's Dankazura, Nagoya Castle, Osaka Castle and Kema Sakuranomiya Park, Yoshinoyama, Himeji Castle and Hiroshima Peace Park. Of course, the biggest drawcard of all is Kyoto, renowned for its exquisite historic gardens as well as cherry blossom viewing at Maruyama, Arashiyama and Daigoji Temple.
Best spots for the tots
We are planning a trip to Europe with our two children (aged 3 and 5). We would like to hire a villa in France and a villa in Croatia, each for around four to six weeks during the European summer. What is the best way to rent a villa for that length of time? We have found most websites rent on a weekly basis and are very expensive. We enjoy luxury but don't want to be silly. How would a house swap work, considering we live in inner-city Auckland and are looking for a more rural or small village location to stay in when we're in Europe?
Delwyn & Brent Goldsack
Renting a home to use as a base for your travels is a great idea, particularly when you're holidaying with children. However, travelling during the European summer is a lot more expensive than out of season, with prices sometimes trebling, especially in France.
Popular areas include the Dordogne and Provence in France, and the coast between Split and Dubrovnik in Croatia.
For a comprehensive listing of over 7000 privately owned French properties aimed at independent travellers, have a look at Chez Nous. Similarly, Vacation Rentals by Owner has a very comprehensive listing of rentals, which also includes Croatia. Rentals France is another site worth looking at as it also caters to long-term rentals of one month or more.
Like France, Croatia is an extremely popular holiday destination for travellers during the European summer months. Holiday Rentals has a good listing of holiday villas and properties in Croatia.
A home exchange is a cost-saving alternative to renting and there are many websites dealing in house swaps. Regardless of your city location and destination of choice, home exchange is potentially a terrific holiday budget option. For information on how it works, have a look at the International Home Exchange website's FAQ page.
Killing time in paradise
I have a four-day stopover in Honolulu en route to Los Angeles and was wondering if you could suggest any tours I could take. I'll be travelling alone and would prefer to take a couple of day tours rather than make my own way around the islands.
Brian Hathaway
Honolulu is a fun place to stopover. Aside from the famous beaches, coral reefs, Hawaiian history, shopping and dining on Pac Rim cuisine, you can go island-hopping, whale-watching, visit active volcanoes, wander through pineapple plantations and hike through rainforest.
Hawaii is made up of a chain of islands, with six of the islands garnering most notice. You'll be landing in Oahu, home to Honolulu, the bulk of Hawaii's population, the North Shore surfing mecca, the evocative site of Pearl Harbor and legendary Waikiki beach. North of Oahu is Kauai, known for its golden beaches and Waimea Canyon, the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific". Traditional Polynesian culture is highlighted on Molokai, while Lanai is the place for romance and luxury resorts. Hawaii's second-largest island is Maui, but the biggest island by far is Hawaii, or the Big Island, home to Volcanoes National Park.
You'll find plenty to entertain you on Oahu alone. The capital, Honolulu, is a delightful blend of ethnicities, languages, customs and cuisines. Among its many cultural offerings, it has the only royal palace in the United States, Iolani Palace, and has become a foodie haven.
Popular pursuits in Oahu include attending a night-time luau for a tropical buffet dinner and Polynesian cultural show, visiting the Polynesian Cultural Centre, or taking a sobering tour of Pearl Harbour. One of the most popular day trips is doing a circle of the island, taking in a visit to a pineapple plantation plus scenic views from places such as Diamond Head, Hanauma Bay and those famous surfing beaches. Or perhaps you'd like to go on a snorkel and dolphin-spotting cruise, do some whale-watching or end the day with a sunset cocktail or dinner cruise.
You could fly to one of the other islands. A day trip could take you to the Big Island to visit Volcanoes National Park, to Kauai to visit Waimea Canyon, or to Maui to tour Haleakala and the Iao Valley. You can organise tours through hotels and travel agents, or through tour-booking companies such as Viator.
Ask Lonely Planet: Chasing a flowery front
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