Japan hotel deals by Agoda for sakura (cherry blossom) season

The cherry tree – a.k.a as in scientific vommunity as Prunus serrulata – can be seen throughout Japan in great numbers, that for most of the year sit silently in the background. Come spring, the trees erupt with blossoms in a wave that moves slowly from the southern district of Okinawa to the northern island of Hokkaido, creating lush pink, white, and red canopies in parks and along streets throughout the country. In addition to being extremely beautiful, the blossoms are highly symbolic of life, death, unity, and the pursuit of perfection, all significant elements in Japanese culture.

Predicting the date of the blossom arrival is somewhat of a sport and guessing game in Japan. This  year the Japanese weather service has said the best viewing areas will be in Fukuoka during the last week of March, moving slowly north and finishing up near Iwaki, about 200km north of Tokyo in early April. They can be seen further north than this, but the colder weather makes their appearance less predictable.

When the blossoms arrive, crowds of people gather in favorite spots to take photos, stroll among the colors, and partake in hanami, a centuries-old custom of picnicking in the shade of a tree in full bloom. Photo shoots for weddings are a common sight, and couples dressed in traditional kimonos mingle with suit-and-tie businessmen as they relax after a long day in the office.

Agoda.com, one of the most popular (if not the most popular) online booking company in Asia,  is offering great hotel deals to celebrate Japan's famed sakura season – known commonly outside of Japan as the cherry blossom season – one of the country's most popular and beautiful annual events.

Hotel New Otani Tokyo, 5-Star

Stay for a minimum of 3 nights in a Garden Standard Twin/Double or Garden Tower Triple and enjoy 15% off. Special lasts throughout the Sakura season.

The Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo Hotel, 4.5-Star
Get the Agoda.com Best Price Guarantee, from USD $213!

Hotel AGORA Osaka Moriguchi, 3.5-Star
Stay for at least 2 nights and save 10%. Expires 31 July, 2014.

Imperial Hotel Osaka, 5-Star
Book at least 40 days in advance for a minimum of 3 nights and enjoy 15% off. Expires 30 June, 2014.

Hotel Hokke Club Kyoto, 3-Star
Stay for a minimum of 2 nights and enjoy 10% off. Must stay between 6 April-31 July, 2014.

Amenity Hotel Kyoto, 2-Star
Book at least 5 days in advance and enjoy 40% off. Special lasts throughout the Sakura season.

Nagoya Ekimae Montblanc Hotel, 3-Star
Book at least 14 days in advance and enjoy 10% off. Must stay between 30 March-27 April, 2014.

Hotel Wing International Nagoya, 3*
Stay for at least 2 nights and enjoy 10% off. Special lasts throughout the Sakura season.

Candeo Hotels The Hakata Terrace, Fukuoka, 4-Star
Book at least 20 days in advance and enjoy 15% off. Special lasts throughout the Sakura season.

Agora Fukuoka Hilltop Hotel, 4-Star
Book at least 30 days in advance and enjoy 30% off. Special lasts throughout the Sakura season.

Japan’s cherry blossom season (Sakura)

New Japan visa rules for Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia passports

Japan has relaxed visa rules for some selected Southeast Asia countries as a bid to boast tourism in Japan. From 1 July 2013, citizens of Philippines and Vietnam will be able to apply for multiple-entry visas for short-term trips to Japan while visa requirements for citizens of Thailand and Malaysia have been lifted for short-term stays.

"In celebration of the 40th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation, the Government of Japan has decided to begin issuance from July 1, of multiple entry visas for short-term stay to nationals of the Republic of the Philippines (ordinary passport holders) who reside in their home country" said Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in a press release Tuesday, June 25. "The further development of Japan-Philippines exchange is expected as a result of the issuance of multiple entry visas, including increases in the number of tourist from the Philippines who visit Japan and the enhancement of the ease of business transactions between the two countries."

The Filipino and Vietnamese applicants should have a Machine-Readable passport (MRP) meeting International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards or an ordinary IC passport. The multiple-entry visas will allow them to stay in Japan for a period of 15 days, and the visas will be valid for up to 3 years.

On the other hand, length of stay for Indonesia citizens is extended from 15 days to up to 30 days. Indonesians are already eligible for multiple-entry Japan visas for short-term stays.

Before this rules were relaxed, Japan issued multiple-entry visas only to businessmen, artists, and specialists, as well as immediate family members of Japanese residents.

Thailand and Malaysia citizens will be able to enter Japan for short term without visa. For Malaysia, citizens must have an ordinary IC passport to use this privilege; those who do not have an IC passport will still be encouraged to apply for a visa.

Only Southeast Asia citizens who could enter Japan without visa was Brunei and Singapore citizens before the changes.

Japan is targeting 10 million tourists this 2013. The Japan Times reported that visitors from the Philippines rose 28.2% in the period of January to April this year, compared to the same period last year.