One of the most spectacular sights in Japan is the annual cherry blossom display, which transforms parks, gardens and vast tracts of the countryside each spring. For the first time this year, tourists will be able to get a bird's eye view of the phenomenon on an airship cruise. The scenic flights will cruise at low-altitude over the Kansai region of Japan, which is famed for its blossom.

The cruises will take off from the city of Osaka, a two-and-a-half hour journey south of Tokyo by bullet train. Tourists ride in a small gondola below the main body of the ship, which is filled with helium gas and driven by a small engine. Three different flight paths will be offered and, depending on the length of the cruise selected, highlights will include aerial views of the cities of Osaka and Kobe and Japan's most famous cherry blossom viewing spot, Mt Yoshino, which is covered by some 30,000 cherry trees.

"We will fly much lower than an airplane at a leisurely pace," said Hiroyuki Watanabe, president of Nippon Airship Corp, which will conduct the flights on a German-built Zeppelin NT, the world's largest airship. The cherry blossom flights follow the successful launch of scenic airship cruises over Tokyo by the Japan Travel Bureau last November.

The airships are 75 metres long and each cruise will take up to eight passengers. The tours, which last from one hour to 90 minutes, will run from March 20 to May 7, with daytime and evening departures. Prices will range from 90,000 yen (£423) to 180,000 yen (£845).

Cherry trees feature prominently in Japanese culture, symbolising the transience of life. The Japanese celebrate the blossom season with hanami (cherry blossom viewing) parties under the blooming trees. Daily forecasts keep locals up to date on the progress of the sakura zensen (cherry-blossom front) as it moves northward up the country and the most popular viewing and picnic spots can become very crowded.

The blossoming begins in the southern islands of Okinawa in January and typically reaches Kyoto and Tokyo at the end of March or the beginning of April. On the northern island of Hokkaido, the trees bloom as late as May.

For more information contact the Japan Travel Bureau on 020 7808 3160